The Voices of Women : Linda Ronstadt

I have always loved Linda Ronstadt, though it is likely her name would not have come to mind when asked to list my favorite singers.  But for the last year or so I have been listening to my iPod almost every day. First I realized how many songs I have of hers, and then I realized how really wonderful she is.  She sings every song as if it is her own experience and she is letting you in on her deepest, most secret feelings. 

Recently she announced that she has Parkinson's disease and she can no longer sing.  For her to lose her voice is devastating for her, and for us. Already she is dealing with it bravely and gracefully.  And I will be putting more of her music on my iPod.

I could select any of her songs and be happy to listen.  But this, Long Long Time (written by Gary B. White), is most definitely my favorite.        

Love will abide, take things in stride
Sounds like good advice but there's no one at my side
And time washes clean love's wounds unseen
That's what someone told me but I don't know what it means.

Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you for a long long time

Caught in my fears
Blinking back the tears
I can't say you hurt me when you never let me near
And I never drew one response from you
All the while you fell all over girls you never knew
Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine
And I think it's gonna hurt me for a long long time

Wait for the day
You'll go away
Knowing that you warned me of the price I'd have to pay
And life's full of flaws
Who knows the cause?
Living in the memory of a love that never was
Cause I've done everything I know to try and change your mind
and I think I'm gonna miss you for a long long time
Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you for a long long time.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie wanted to show me a lot of things today so we Skyped upstairs and downstairs.  There were only a few opportunities for pictures but check out Rosie's hair -- it took a while to get started but it sure is growing fast now.

Alice Munro

Today Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize in Literature.  I can think of no living author who deserves this more.  She is now 82 and sadly she recently declared that her 14th book (Dear Life) would be her last.  I discovered Alice late in my reading life.  A friend gave me one of her books (The Love of a Good Woman) and assured me that I would love her.  And I do.  I am often conflicted by her stories and I do not particularly like many of her protagonists but I am always drawn to each one. Her writing and her storytelling are seductive.  So I am actually lucky to have only found her now, because there are so many stories I have yet to read.

There is an additional reason to be happy for this recognition.  Alice Munro is Canadian and this is the first time the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to a Canadian.  When I started reading Alice I considered how many wonderful authors are Canadian.  Certainly there is my favorite Robertson Davies, as well as Margaret Atwood, Carol Shields, Yann Martel, Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)...
Update : Since writing this today I have learned that Saul Bellow won this prize in 1976.  He was born in Canada but his family moved to Chicago while he was still a boy.  He is known as being an American writer but he was indeed Canadian by birth.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie Resumes

After Gus, Meara and Rosie visited New York in August, Gus started a new year at school and Rosie started going to preschool every day.  So September was pretty busy and there have been no opportunities to Skype until today.  I can't believe how much Rosie has changed in the month since I last saw her.  Look at all that hair (finally) coming in -- she can't wait for a pony tail.

She read me the book 'No Dogs Allowed!'.  She's really good about showing me the pictures as she reads.

Rosie and her Dad are taking swimming lessons.  Here she is showing me how she swims.

She jumped and she danced with her Mom and she blew me a kiss goodbye.  Yay for Skyping!