April Hodge Podge

April 16, 2024

My husband and I went to a local concert by a choir called “Resound” this past Sunday evening that featured some of the most glorious musical notes, ranging to at least three octaves above middle C on a piano. Way beyond my musical range, even when I was in my younger years. It was stunning, beautiful, and uplifting. A harp, trombones, and trumpets accompanied some of the songs, some written by the fairly well-known composer and director, Alice Parker. Grateful for such a heavenly evening! The evening concluded with the director, Jay Hartzler, inviting the entire audience to sing along. Somehow I can sing better when there is a whole group lifting their voices. (Video is from a rehearsal.)

We enjoyed stepping out of our usual Sunday evening routines of watching America’s Funniest Videos—and popcorn.

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Recently I was leafing through a book I own and happened onto this memento from a small group I belonged to for a number of years. At one meeting – or perhaps it was a retreat—the leader, Patti, prepared parchment-type slips of paper and wrote on each a description of our gifts or traits.

My special message said this: “Melodie: To be the note that makes harmony out of diverse tones.” That was probably 25 or so years ago now.

I immediately appreciated her description then, and now: it was a rich reminder to me implying that she read me as a person who liked to have harmony or accord between people and in our diverse lives. Thank you, Patti!

Patti was certainly not writing about singing or music but something that is so necessary in our lives today: finding harmony with others across political, religious, race and ethnicity, family issues and more, that often bring discord.  

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In our family, when I was born, I was the third daughter. I know my dad was disappointed with the gender BUT never held it against me. I know he cherished all of his children—and finally got the little son he had waited on for so long.

And my little brother? Somehow my parents liked my idea for a name for our new baby brother: Terry. Pretty cool to name your own brother when you are a little girl just four years of age.

My mother chose my somewhat unusual name (and spelling, ending in “ie” instead of the more traditional “y”). She had read a long-ago book, “Unspoken Love,” written by Christmas Carol Kauffman. (Yes, I’ve written about her before on this blog. And talk about unusual names!!) But the book had a very likeable character whose name was spelled Melodie and that’s how I got my  name and spelling. The main character in that book was a soldier in World War II who had major discord with his father and on a spur of the moment decision, decided to enlist in the Army, mainly to get away from home. I bet that happens more than we know. And I think the author wrote it as a true story that was fictionalized for a novel.

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Speaking of novels, I was invited to be part of an author’s festival at our local Massanutten Library last Saturday in Harrisonburg, from 12-4 p.m. I enjoyed talking to other authors about their books, bought a book, and sold some myself. More than 200 visitors turned out. It too was a nice break from the normal cleaning and cooking I tend to do on a Saturday.

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Have you ever slipped a note or comment into your Bible or other favorite books? Or on your dresser in the bedroom? Sometimes those notes and reminders can be just the lift that you need on a down day.

For all my readers, I hope you have a good one. You deserve a boost!

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Comments very welcome.

Let me hear about your weekend, your Sunday, (or your Tuesday), your life!