Yesterday evening we attended the most amazing chamber concert at Peter’s school. The performing group was The Tempest Trio, with Ilya Kaler on violin, Alon Goldstein on piano and Amit Peled on cello. All three are world renowned musicians, and the instruments they were playing were exceptional as well: a 1900 Steinway, a 1735 “Sennhauser” Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesu violin, and a 1689 Andrea Guarneri cello. And then there was the venue. The Sant Bani School that Peter attends is not your typical private school. It is at the end of a dirt road, and although the education is first rate, the buildings are humble and perhaps a wee bit shabby. The auditorium has a stage, but is really a small multi-purpose room. However, the acoustics are incredible. Because the space is so intimate in scale, we were close enough that I could make out the individual strands on the bows. What a rare and special treat.
This evening we will head south to Ipswich, to attend a good friend’s 50th birthday party. Ipswich was our home for 11 years, and tonight we will have a chance to mingle with a number of our old friends. We will be sleeping over at another friend’s home, and we are looking forward to catching up with her as well.
These entertaining pursuits are a nice break from the pre-Christmas preparations. Not that I am into baking, sending greeting cards or decorating. I am, in fact, the anti-Martha Stewart. I do love setting up the Christmas tree and I adore giving presents. I have a big family (actual and extended) and I try to make each gift really special. The treasure hunting that I engage in comes in quite handy at this time of year. Not only are thrift shops a good antidote to a tough economy, they pretty much guarantee that the selections I make will be one of a kind. Case in point: This year my brother John (I can post this because he already knows) is getting a vintage 1960’s leather motorcycle jacket. I had found one for myself that he adores, and eventually one in his size materialized. It’s just what he wanted and I think even Santa would have been hard pressed to find one. 
While on the subject of treasures and unexpected delights, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone who makes the effort to tune in to this blog. I know you are all out there because my “dashboard” allows me to see the number of views each day. As well, some of you submit comments. I just think that is so cool, when you decide to reach out to me. Your responses to what I have written make this a conversation, and about us, rather than just the musings of one person. I don’t even know how to express how connected I feel to each of you, and how important some of these relationships have become to me. I just visualize each of us holding hands as we walk through this sometimes scary place, and it makes me feel stronger and more confident.
Fine music, celebrations and family, and the gifts of time and friendship. In this busy season, I must remind myself to step back and take a breath: as my good friend Jose says, “it’s all good”.
life and breath: outliving lung cancer 