The power of a simple song...

Last night after dinner my father in law dug out some sheets of pale yellowing paper. And on them were lyrics of some old Japanese songs. The elderly Aunties and Uncle got excited as they remembered this song and that. I got the feeling that despite what they have told us about the hunger and cruelty of the Japanese occupation it would seem that there must have been some sweet moments in the ugliness of their youth. Last night my dad-in -law played the harmonica with such passion and gusto. And the quavering voices of the two elderly aunties filled the night with songs of long ago. Our elderly uncle who suffers from dementia, was "awakened" by the songs they sang and in the glimmer of the night he became young again as his memory recovered fleetingly to speak of days gone by.

They sang songs of love, songs of moonlight and laughter in a language I had never heard them speak.. and as I watched them I felt as if I was looking in on a memory . Whatever regrets, whatever disappointments each one may have had, whatever troubles in their health they may be facing.. was suspended last night.. as songs brought them all to another place and time.

If I could I would have liked to freeze that moment for them.. to capture it in a frame. Last night more than ever I felt the power of another generation who had lived through great hardship arise to show us younger ones ( or not so young ) that life is not diminshed by circumstances but that we can choose to overcome hardship. That we should .. relish moments instead of wallowing in regrets, focus on each other instead of our enemies, make time for simple stuff instead of overplanning for tomorrow.

Tomorrow will come whether we like it or not.. but today, today we have a chance to live our best , and one day when we grow old we can sit around and remember .. that in a time of great turmoil and economic hardship, we overcame with joy , laughter , love .. and maybe , a simple song.