Ok, this entry has nothing to do with Holland or, in fact, my life at all. But I wanted to share something cool with you.
And Missing Andy is not a complete description of this entry, but I'd hoped the title might make you curious.
Missing Andy, a UK band, performed in (yes, yet another) a tv talent show called "Must Be the Music" (one of the judges is Dizzy Rascal - very fun to watch). This competition is a bit different than others I've seen as nearly all of the competitors write, compose and perform their original work.
Anyway, I was instantly inspired by this song/anthem in particular, and thought it might win, if only because so many of those watching would strongly identify with it (although I admit that Emma's Imigination, the winner, certainly deserved to win). Missing Andy deserved to win - they all did - but there would only be one. I chose to show you the video of the song rather than the actual story as it paints quite a picture (and perhaps helps you interpret/translate from "the Queen's English" sung with the London affect to "American Engish")
Anyway, this song, "Made in England," geared to the average UK working man, also has a message that rings true for many Americans as well, since both our cultures and economies have experienced similar challenges, resulting in a similar feeling for many citizens of both countries. In case you can't understand the lyrics, the chorus is:
I'm made in England
I call it my kingdom
She may let me down
She would never take a bow for me
Sold down the river
You scream till they hear ya
And I'm still standing proud
Even as every town has fallen down to it's knees
They didn't win the competion, but I imagine this exposure will take them places (as is true with all of these contestants.)
There were several artists that were just so amazing, including Kyan, Hero, The Pictures, and Pepper and Piano. Such amazing talent. All of these artists have written and performed their own music. It is pretty impressive.
Emma's Imagination (the winner) also performed "Focus" (below) and another more upbeat song called "This Day" which was also great. She has been making a living as a busker (street performer) in Glasgow until now (she's going places):
Pepper and Piano - this one gave me chills and made me cry. The singer, Pepper, is singing a song written by her friend who has seen (as they both have) some pretty hard times. I'm playing it as I compose this entry and have goosebumps.
Kyle, a self-taught musician and composer has had no formal musical training. This clip doesn't play the whole song, which is beautiful, but the reactions of Dizzy Rascal and Jaime Cullum (who was more than impressed) say a great deal about his talent.
Hero, an 11-year-old girl, sings a song she wrote and composed about a boy she met on holiday who said he'd call her and then never did. If you didn't know the story, you'd be hearing a grown-up love song. You can look for her performance of "Swept Away" on YouTube or on the Must Be the Music website. I won't post the video, but you can find it if you're curious. This one made me cry, too :)
Also noteworthy is Kyle, a young man with a condition in which he sees music in colors and taught himself to play the piano by studying endless hours of YouTube videos.
And then there is Danny Lane, a profoundly deaf pianist who wants to inspire children.
Wow.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
And my speech
Yaz and Jimmy, thank you so much for making us part of your special day.
For those who don’t know, I’m Leslie – and my husband Alex and I have travelled more than 3,000 miles to be here. But there was never any question that we would be here.
I have never seen Yaz look so beautiful, and so happy.
Yaz and I became friends in our early college days. And for nearly 30 years, over long distances and sometimes years without seeing each other, we’ve remained close friends. She is a trusted friend with whom I can share anything.
We’ve sometimes been partners in mischief and we've had a lot of fun together. And we’ve been there for one another other when things were tough. We’ve prayed a LOT! We’ve shared so many laughs, plenty of tears – and a hangover or two!
Back in college we began our own unique method of therapy -- sitting on a bench on the campus the quad at St. Mike’s, drinking (very) cheap champagne and eating Wheat Thins while we pondered life and lessons learned and, of course, love and boys, heartaches and thrills, and the day we would find “the one”.
The ritual and the Wheat Thins are the same, the champagne a bit better – so Yaz, here are some supplies for the next chat (gift of Wheat Thins and champagne)
We used to get together in Boston when she came to the annual Yankee Dental Convention where, over the years, we managed to crash an Art Garfunkle Concert, charm our way into the front row of a Doobie Brothers concert – and just before I moved to Holland, we had our last hurrah at a Cheryl Crowe concert – where we smuggled out more than thirty unclaimed gift bags full of Crest night time toothpaste! Two years later, I still haven’t used it all!…
When my husband met Yaz for the first time, he was “gobsmacked” (that’s British for flabbergasted :o) He loved her from the moment she set his designer shirt on fire with a sparkler – while he was wearing it!
Yaz is one of those precious friends that I’m blessed to have. My husband ‘gets’ our friendship (inasmuch as any man can understand women…) and appreciates the bond. A husband knows that a wife is just a little more whole and happy if she has such a friend.
Alex is somewhat perplexed and actually quite amused by her obsession with dolphins, and whenever we see anything that relates to dolphins, we think of Yaz.
Anyway -
When I look at Yaz and Jimmy right now, I get a little teary-eyed! I know that Yaz has found her true match in Jimmy – he is the one.
If you’ll indulge me for just another minute –
Yaz, you have raised the most amazing son – he’s a testament to and a reflection of the remarkable person that you are. Shaun is one of the most charming, articulate, respectful, responsible and genuine young adults I have ever known.
Don’t get me wrong, Shaun is a perfectly normal kid, and he’s not perfect. But when you meet him, you’ll KNOW he has an amazing mother.
Jimmy, you, Ben and Lexa are so blessed to have this woman in your life – but you know that already.
Finally, as an old married lady, I am obliged to dispense some marital advice, so I’ll say this:
Jimmy, the most important phrase you’ll ever know isn’t three little words, but two
“yes, dear!”
I think my husband would agree? Alex? (he says “yes, dear!”)
Yaz, my dear friend - and Jimmy, the man of her dreams - May the life ahead of you be all you’ve ever dreamed of – and congratulations!
For those who don’t know, I’m Leslie – and my husband Alex and I have travelled more than 3,000 miles to be here. But there was never any question that we would be here.
I have never seen Yaz look so beautiful, and so happy.
Yaz and I became friends in our early college days. And for nearly 30 years, over long distances and sometimes years without seeing each other, we’ve remained close friends. She is a trusted friend with whom I can share anything.
We’ve sometimes been partners in mischief and we've had a lot of fun together. And we’ve been there for one another other when things were tough. We’ve prayed a LOT! We’ve shared so many laughs, plenty of tears – and a hangover or two!
Back in college we began our own unique method of therapy -- sitting on a bench on the campus the quad at St. Mike’s, drinking (very) cheap champagne and eating Wheat Thins while we pondered life and lessons learned and, of course, love and boys, heartaches and thrills, and the day we would find “the one”.
The ritual and the Wheat Thins are the same, the champagne a bit better – so Yaz, here are some supplies for the next chat (gift of Wheat Thins and champagne)
We used to get together in Boston when she came to the annual Yankee Dental Convention where, over the years, we managed to crash an Art Garfunkle Concert, charm our way into the front row of a Doobie Brothers concert – and just before I moved to Holland, we had our last hurrah at a Cheryl Crowe concert – where we smuggled out more than thirty unclaimed gift bags full of Crest night time toothpaste! Two years later, I still haven’t used it all!…
When my husband met Yaz for the first time, he was “gobsmacked” (that’s British for flabbergasted :o) He loved her from the moment she set his designer shirt on fire with a sparkler – while he was wearing it!
Yaz is one of those precious friends that I’m blessed to have. My husband ‘gets’ our friendship (inasmuch as any man can understand women…) and appreciates the bond. A husband knows that a wife is just a little more whole and happy if she has such a friend.
Alex is somewhat perplexed and actually quite amused by her obsession with dolphins, and whenever we see anything that relates to dolphins, we think of Yaz.
Anyway -
When I look at Yaz and Jimmy right now, I get a little teary-eyed! I know that Yaz has found her true match in Jimmy – he is the one.
If you’ll indulge me for just another minute –
Yaz, you have raised the most amazing son – he’s a testament to and a reflection of the remarkable person that you are. Shaun is one of the most charming, articulate, respectful, responsible and genuine young adults I have ever known.
Don’t get me wrong, Shaun is a perfectly normal kid, and he’s not perfect. But when you meet him, you’ll KNOW he has an amazing mother.
Jimmy, you, Ben and Lexa are so blessed to have this woman in your life – but you know that already.
Finally, as an old married lady, I am obliged to dispense some marital advice, so I’ll say this:
Jimmy, the most important phrase you’ll ever know isn’t three little words, but two
“yes, dear!”
I think my husband would agree? Alex? (he says “yes, dear!”)
Yaz, my dear friend - and Jimmy, the man of her dreams - May the life ahead of you be all you’ve ever dreamed of – and congratulations!
The reading
Now you will feel no rain.
For each of you will be shelter to one another;
And now you will feel no cold;
For each of you will you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness;
You are two bodies,
but there is one life before you,
and one home;
When evening falls,
You’ll look to each other, and there you will be;
And you’ll take his hand, and he’ll take yours:
And you'll turn together
and you'll look at the road you’ve traveled to reach this –
The hour of your happiness.
It stretches far behind you,
and your future lies ahead;
A long and winding road
where every turning means discovery;
All the hope…new laughter…shared tears;
The adventure has just begun.
For each of you will be shelter to one another;
And now you will feel no cold;
For each of you will you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness;
You are two bodies,
but there is one life before you,
and one home;
When evening falls,
You’ll look to each other, and there you will be;
And you’ll take his hand, and he’ll take yours:
And you'll turn together
and you'll look at the road you’ve traveled to reach this –
The hour of your happiness.
It stretches far behind you,
and your future lies ahead;
A long and winding road
where every turning means discovery;
All the hope…new laughter…shared tears;
The adventure has just begun.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Congrats to Yaz and Jimmy!
My friend Yaz (Jasmine) married the man of her dreams (Jimmy) on August 28, 2010 in Saco, Maine. Alex and I travelled from Holland to celebrate this very special day with the happy couple and their friends and family. It was a beautiful ceremony and an incredibly fun reception. Alex acted as the chauffer on the day, adorning our rented white GMC in ribbon and driving the bride to the church. He was supposed to usher the mother of the bride down the aisle - but the photographer, thinking he was the chauffer, wouldn't let him out of the car! He made it to the ceremony just in the nick of time (and another groomsman walked mum down the aisle ;)
I was privileged to give a reading at the ceremony, and a special speech for my friend at the reception. We've been friends for nearly 30 years, having met in college. We often shared a bottle of cheap champagne and ate wheat thins whilst we pondered life and love, heartaches and thrills, and yes, most often, boys.
Yaz has raised her son, Shaun, now 24, on her own. I adore Shaun, and find him to be one of the nicest young adults I know. Shaun is a remarkable young man, a talented, articulate, charming guy who is a testament to and a reflection of his amazing mom.
We all let loose on the dance floor that evening, doing the Macarena, the cotton-eyed joe, the twist and more and partied into the wee hours of the morning. I managed to keep up with all the youngsters and even show them a thing or two about how to celebrate at a wedding :)
This first video features the wedding guests - the second will show us all getting our groove on and tearing up that dance floor. What a party!!!
I was privileged to give a reading at the ceremony, and a special speech for my friend at the reception. We've been friends for nearly 30 years, having met in college. We often shared a bottle of cheap champagne and ate wheat thins whilst we pondered life and love, heartaches and thrills, and yes, most often, boys.
Yaz has raised her son, Shaun, now 24, on her own. I adore Shaun, and find him to be one of the nicest young adults I know. Shaun is a remarkable young man, a talented, articulate, charming guy who is a testament to and a reflection of his amazing mom.
We all let loose on the dance floor that evening, doing the Macarena, the cotton-eyed joe, the twist and more and partied into the wee hours of the morning. I managed to keep up with all the youngsters and even show them a thing or two about how to celebrate at a wedding :)
This first video features the wedding guests - the second will show us all getting our groove on and tearing up that dance floor. What a party!!!
Hailee turns five...
In late August, we made a trip to the US for a wedding. We stopped to visit family on the way, and celebrated my niece's fifth birthday and, as usual, we all got silly :)
We headed into Boston to spend a romantic evening in city, celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary and then we drove to Maine for my friend Yaz's big day.
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