Going classical

I was at the house of ware this afternoon, shuffling boxes from here to there with my co-worker Vanilla. Then he left and I made quick move to change the radio stations from "The Capital" to my number one preset, the local NPR station. This station, out of Ames, plays classical music most of the day, rather than the assorted shows that are usually associated with NPR. Several years ago if I had caught myself purposefully changing the radio to an all-classical station I would have berated myself with not-so-witty remarks about my own lameness. What changed?

I'm not exactly sure when I decided that it was okay for me to listen to classical music, but I can say that it was somewhere in between listening to a lot of Sufjan Stevens and my friend Heidi loaning me a Yo-Yo Ma cd. Maybe Sufjan doesn't make sense in this context to anyone else, but to me I see his albums as beautifully orchestrated music, with a myriad of instruments and voices, and it reminds me of a symphony or whathaveyou. Then there was the pianist Christopher O'Riley's albums of Radiohead songs. And then the classical station in Portland while I was studying. And now I listen to classical music while lifting heavy, dirty boxes.

I suppose it would be a funny sight to see me covered in dust and sweat, swearing at boxes and two-wheelers, all while listening to concertos and sonatas, but it's important to me. The warehouse is what God is talking about in Genesis, about the toil and pain of work; it's an ugly, dirty, scary and lonely place. But having such wonderful music flowing across my ears reminds of the beauty in the world. It's easy to forget in such places. But sometimes, if I catch a good breeze from an open window and the music is just right, I don't mind the toil so much.

Aside from these deep thoughts, life has been pretty good. A lovely weekend, with the slight bewilderment of a morning snowfall. Watching basketball as I've never seen it [projection screen, high-def., stadium seating, surround sound] and doing alright in the brackets. And the sun is warming my skin and I'm enjoying it. I'll miss the cooler weather come August, but it's time for a change. Enjoy the days, sing and make merriment. you have my love.