Sunday, May 27, 2012

My Trumpet Fanfare

Contrary to the sought after relaxation of a weekend without schedules, there is one time every weekend that I’m fixated on, Sunday morning at 9 AM (EST).  I set my alarm, plan my morning around it, and if my husband is working, he generally sends me a text reminder around 8:55 that reads “5 minutes to trumpets!”
I stop what I’m doing, turn on the television and wait.  More often than not, I close my eyes and listen as the beauty of the Sunday Morning theme plays.  The theme is the trumpet fanfare “Abblasen”, with the current version being played by Wynton Marsalis. 
The short play time of 27 seconds, belies its staying power with me.  It sounds overly dramatic to say it touches my heart and fills my soul with its simplicity and clarity, but it does just that.  Something in the flow of the notes, the crescendos and holds, speaks to me like nothing else.  Every time I hear it, it connects to and mirrors the emotion I feel at that moment.  It has shared the simplest elation of a fresh spring morning to the intense joy of the birth of our son; it’s provided solace during the many stages of grief when I lost my parents; and echoed the melancholy times when I have felt unsettled.  It’s provided a light in the darkness during times of depression.    
I’ve listened to it for too many years to count and when a few Sundays pass and for one reason or another I’ve missed it, I am thankful for the wonder of the internet and the ability to listen to it at will.  I’m very careful not to abuse that avenue, because I recognize there’s something inherent in the process of setting aside the time, in the planned ritual of listening to it each week that is part of the connection. 
Things that have that type of connection in my life are often those that I seek out, make time for and value the moment of above everything else I could be doing.  The striking difference in this connection above any other in my life is that is so completely one-sided. There is no give and take.  I have nothing to give in return.  It expects nothing from me.  And still it provides, every time, what I need, whether I know what that need is or not.

And it’s just enough to last for seven days, until it does it all over again.

10 comments:

  1. This is so cool! Thanks for sharing :) I love little rituals like this!!

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  2. I will do this next Sunday. I think you should write to the station and tell them what you do. Whoever is responsible for this would be so pleased.

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  3. Thank you very much ladies. Just hit me this morning that I should share this. And hey, I think I will send it to CBS - that's a nice idea!

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  4. I'm a creature of routine myself. Very nice!

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  5. Thanks for reading and commenting Susan and Sandra!

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  6. I think it is awesome that you have this ritual. If it makes you happy--content--and is satisfying--then I think you are wise not to abuse listening to it over the internet--just when you need to hear it the most. Great post!! Cheers, Jenn

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  7. Taking this kind of time is so important. I'm happy you have this moment just for you. :)

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  8. Amy, I have been in the process of changing my email address and trying to get the new one connected to blogger and other accounts. In doing so I ended up checking my comments that were in the spam box and found a bunch from you during the A to Z. I am so sorry I didn't check this sooner and respond to you. I hope you can forgive me. The last comment you made showed up on the blog. Strange! I hope you know that I truly appreciated every comment. XOXO

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