A Real Life Story by Glenn Hansen
Dedicated to Sweet Judith, wherever you are in God’s universe.
CHAPTER 11
An interesting event occurred with regard to the piano player. One day, as I walked by his window, he glanced up and noticed me and nodded to affirm this recognition. I nodded back with a big smile. We continued to look at each other, and I raised my arms and used by fingers as if I was playing an “air” piano. Then I pointed to myself to indicate that I too played piano. His was excited by this and again nodded to me with a big smile. We had connected. We had an instant bonding moment.
Music connects us all, in this case two musicians that played piano. It was a wonderful moment for both of us. This once again demonstrated the power of music in bringing people together regardless of where they lived, their culture or circumstance. If only this attribute of human behaviour could be carried across to the rest of human communication, endeavours and behaviours.
I enthusiastically shared this encounter with Judy the next time I saw her. She happily responded to my story as if she felt this musical connection too. Judy is very much a thoughtful, naturally sensing person. She grasps any situation with tremendous intuition and insight.
Driving home from this visit, I felt very satisfied with the day. Judy and I had a wonderful visit and I knew it really uplifted her and that’s the whole intent on my part; and she uplifted me more than she will ever know. Add to this the connection I made with the piano player in the window, and what more can one ask for? I have so much: food, shelter, good people in my life, enough monetary resources. I don’t want the world. I want a peaceful, non-toxic existence in God’s world. Everything else is superfluous. I’ve never wanted or needed that big house, fancy sports car or other big, so-called status symbols; possessions are not really so big, if you think about it. You do need good health. It’s the key to everything.
Don’t get me wrong; I encourage people, myself included, to try and excel, make a decent living and seek worthy goals. There’s nothing wrong at all with trying to make money or run a profitable business. One of the problems though, is that from birth we get indoctrinated with how our lives should be. The same was true for my parents. We have to have “things” to find self-worth. It’s a big lie, but it sells products and services.
The other big problem is when that line is crossed between need and greed. There’s making an honest buck; and making money, the more the better, at any cost. This is toxic human behaviour, along with the lust for power. It destroys people’s lives, causes wars, fuels hatred and engenders so many other undesirable elements in our world. The band War sang, “Why can’t we be friends?” It’s true. Eliminate this type of behaviour and what a much better place the world would be.
I also stopped to gas up at a station along the route I took to and from the hospital. It often offered, by far, the lowest price on quality gasoline in the area. Today was no exception. Gas was at a great price. Nowadays, of course, when you purchase gasoline you usually have to pay up front, either with a credit or debit card right at the pump, or you go inside and pre-pay the amount you think will fill the vehicle. Like anything else, you get better at judging the amount you need through experience. As I gassed up, I could feel the warm spring sun and the fresh cleansing breeze. What a grand day. Even gassing up was an enjoyable undertaking.
When I did get home and finished dinner, I worked on recording some new music. My place is just a bachelor suite, but I have enough room because I went with the twin size bed and not the queen size. You would always find my keyboard, guitars and other gear efficiently placed. I basically have five quadrants in my suite: my bed; my adjacent music workspace with a computer that I also use for graphic design and communication; a small living room with a loveseat, television, bookshelves and a small dining table; a small but full kitchen; and, of course, a bathroom with full bath. Encompassed by all of this is the surprisingly roomy hallway entrance. I really don’t need much more and cleaning is easy. Even if I came into a good sum of money, I doubt I would move. On the rare occasions when I have one or two people visit, there is sufficient space to seat us all without being on each other’s knee. lol
Doing some recording after the great day I already had, was a wonderful way to celebrate. I don’t use sequencing, midi or other such types of gear, I play and record everything in real time. I enjoy the challenge of doing it this way. I have a terrific and versatile keyboard, good acoustic and electric guitars, guitar effects pedals, a nice studio microphone for vocals
and all sorts of other peripherals. I use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) as the interface between the instruments and my computer. It’s how they “talk” to each other. Enough of this boring stuff. What it all enables me to do is create music, my main creative passion.
Finally, around midnight I called it a day and turned on some soft music. As I lay in bed I reflected on this past wonderful day and felt so blessed. From there I went to oblivion confident I was going to see another day.
The World According to Glissando 