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“I’m so happy, I could sing.” I’m saying that never these days. Sure, there have been moments during this isolation when I’ve put my fear aside long enough to engage in a little car-trip sing-a-long. It was Day 14, when I had to go out to retrieve books from my kids’ school and rescue my dry cleaning from its hold-up situation. In the car by myself, all alone, I belted out notes along with Patti LuPone in Evita (read more about how she’s entertaining her fans from her basement right now). Then I mixed it up and got a little angsty–no surprise there–with Amy Winehouse. Finally, on my way home I swung from the vocal chandelier with Sia. It was a wonderful release.
Still, I can’t bring myself to practice the choral pieces I would have sung over Holy Week and Easter. I want to. In “Open Wide” I talked about my re-upped hobby (now that my boys are old enough not to need this enforcer in the pew). I talked about joining my middling soprano voice with others’ in praise of something bigger than all of us. Now, it won’t happen–at least it won’t happen the way I thought it would.
Maybe I need to do it, first, and feel it second? Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways from my creative writing program was that there is no writing muse. Not really. There is inspiration, sure. But, it’s closely followed by work, more work, a dash of intuition at times–which sometimes feels like a muse–and then more work.
Now, I’m thinking maybe I need to treat singing like I do writing. Do the work. Do the vocal exercises like I respond to writing prompts like this; blog, little by little, and don’t wait for inspiration. Make the inspiration. Make the song. I was just going to write: “be the song.” But, really, I’m not there yet.
This was was in response to Discover Prompts, Day 3: Song.
Be well–and maybe sing today! I’ll be listening out. ~Rebecca
Looking for a good weekend read? Check out my categories above for author interviews, some of my own fiction, and more. Are we socially connected? Find me on FB and @MoonRuark on Twitter
Rust Belt Girl 
Thanks for the post Rebecca! We blasted out Elton John tonight as my husband cooked dinner. It felt like a normal saturday night. Only it wasn’t. I think it might be a good idea to still do what we love as much as we can.
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I think you’re right! It’s too quiet around here!
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Terrific post – stay well!
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Thank you, John. Well, I don’t have to worry about your pantry not being stocked!
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I opened some corn and potatoes today: both went into a Bermuda Fish Chowder, and will be doing poached eggs over corn/potato has for lunch tomorrow…beyond that my wife wants corn fritters and corn bread!
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If you can’t be the lark or the canary, be the sparrow. We’ll tweet it out together. I’m clicking your follow so I’ll be waiting for your song. Remember I’m on stand-by! 😀
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I love that, Oneta! Though now that my boys are doing school from home, I feel a little like a mean blue jay some days–barking orders. I am happy to know you’ll be tweeting along with me. And I will look for your posts, too. It’s wonderful to meet you here, and thank you for reading!
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There is NOTHING better than blasting the tunes in the car. It might be what I miss the very most in this period of isolation. Keep being the inspiration!! You’re right, no need to wait🙂
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I love this! I tend to sing in the kitchen – it has great acoustics! And while I don’t have a lovely voice, I can belt out a show tune. Don’t cry for me Argentina!!!!
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Evita is great, isn’t it? And young Mandy Patinkin’s in it, too. Belt it out, I say! Thanks for reading, Meg!
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One of my favorites! 😃 My pleasure!
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Self-help junkie that I am – they say write, sing, do and the inspiration will come. The first thing we have to do is start the work. Sit at the desk, start the vocals, splash the paint on the paper. Start. Is it Big Magic?? that says the muse will come to those working and making the effort. Go for it.
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You are so right! Doing the work. Singing today!
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Singing songs feeds the soul. Even if you can’t sing like me. The car is my favorite spot because I sing off-key with the best of that kind of singer. I got goosebumps reading your words about not being able to sing at Easter. The one and only time anyone had told me I could join a choir was for our church choir. We practiced and practiced together for weeks leading up to Easter. And the choir director encouraged me. I needed help, that’s for sure. But I knew the song and was ready to hum if nothing else. That year, the girls brought home an influenza flu bug and I got sick and couldn’t go. I chose to stay at home when I was sick. Little did I know that years later, around the world that churches would be closed and no singing would be happening in the pews to prevent sickness and promote healthy well-being. Keep singing! Stay safe and stay well!
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Wow, this sentence (line, it’s so poetic): “ Maybe I need to do it, first, and feel it second?” I need like heck to print it out and paste it above my computer. Thank for it; and thank you for this beautiful post … and I’m singing these words as I finger-punch on an iPad screen (my keyboard bit the dust just as the pandemic hit). Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy weekend, Rebecca! 🤗
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Thank you for reading, Deb. As always, I appreciate your take on things! I’d do well to print that line out and put it over my computer, too–since I don’t always stick to my advice. Need to get back on the writing wagon around here, this week. Too bad about your keyboard. I hope you’re still able to get your thoughts down OK. I was in the market for a new MacBook, last month, but think I’ll be working on my old clunker for a while now. I hope you treated yourself to something nice this weekend. We had carry-out, which is about as good as it gets, these days. Stay safe–and I’ll look forward to seeing what you’re reading and writing over on Twitter!
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My husband brought me my old Mac Air — it’s a pain getting used to the different keyboard, but all is well … I can now sit in a leisure chair and write 😆 Glad you treated your family to carry-out! We have a friend who always travels on business and he said this is the longest he’s ever gone without eating out! The other day I fondly remembered walking into a Starbucks, sitting down with a coffee, and chatting with friends … ah, the good old days 😔
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Thank goodness for any tech, these days! I like to picture you stretched out and writing your next flash piece! Last night, my brother and sister, who both live in Seattle, and I had the best “face-to-face” chat, and we said, why did it take a pandemic to make us do this? We talk on the phone, but it’s nice to see them–and my brother’s kids who swooped into the shot to say hi. I know what you mean about missing in-person chats with friends and, even if I don’t chat with anyone there, the low-level contented hum of a coffee shop. I hope those good old days return soon!
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