What a Wonderful World

Despite loving music and finding solace in its authentic lulling chords and poignant vocals, I must confess: I really, really adore...(gulp)...cover songs. Yes, yes, I know; they scream of impurities and, much like films, the sequels or remakes are never as good as the originals. Except...

There's the newer version of "Boys of Summer" which deserves credit simply for its reference to the Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac:

https://youtu.be/NzIZbd0K2CM

And even with my love for the twangy original country outlaws, 

it's hard to fight the soul in Iced Earth, Michael Poulsen from Volbeat, and Russell Allen's version of "Highwayman."

https://youtu.be/9unWRsD2QQM

There are missteps in covers, don't get me wrong. (Like a new version of "American Pie" by...Madonna. Honestly, who heard about this and decided, Ooh, good idea!?) But perhaps my favorite cover is one many would consider sacrilege because the original version is, of course, stunning. After all, Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" is timeless, but for me? 

I need the song to have urgency and brightness and absolute joy; Joey Ramone brings that (and then some) to his rendition.

https://youtu.be/8IoO5nkxT_4

I see trees of green...

Red roses, too.

I see them bloom for me and you,

And I think to myself,

What a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white, 

Bright sunny days; dark sacred nights.

And I think to myself,

What a wonderful world 

The colors of the rainbows are so pretty in the skies

And also on the faces of the people walking by. 

I see friends shaking hands saying, "How do you do?"

They're really saying, "I love you."

I see babies cry; 

I watch them grow.

They'll learn much more than I'll ever know.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world...

Yes, I think to myself:

What a wonderful world!

My friends, it doesn't matter if your path is fully original or a new twist on an old favorite: wherever you go, take time to enjoy this wonderful world.

The Journey is the Destination

I I know I'm not the only one who thinks that 2016 was, well...challenging. Personally, I've experienced deaths and difficulties and really shitty decisions I'm ashamed I made. The world in general has dealt with loss, and disappointment, and tragedy in unmatched (at least in terms of publicity) numbers. And the overall consensus seems to be:

It's weird, because I'm not sure it's typical for personal and public challenges  to align so directly for so many...yet here we are. So there are a lot of people suggesting that, in ideal circumstances, we try again...

Don't get me wrong; I don't entirely disagree. I voted straight Democrat (what can I say, I like the D! 😜), yet I haven't hopped aboard the apocalypse train. I suppose, at the end of the day, I consider myself a realist. That means, then, that I look for the possibility in every situation. So what is the possibility exactly? Well, there's this:

And then there's my daughter, who has achieved constant status as my Greatest Hope for the Future. She's creative and funny and smart and kind and...like, honestly, do you expect me to say every single thing that's amazing about her?! Because, really --

Oh, relax...I kid, I kid (kind of...I'm actually really digging on me lately)! See, sometimes it seems the world is falling apart around us; other times, it's like we're shattering around the world. And either way, that's okay: 

Because it's true, you know. Trial by fire is the only real test. And if we win? Well, then we have the honor of letting the fire, the light, burn through loud and proud. If we lose? Hey, man...we tried. Truth be told, yes: as a mother, as a teacher, as a woman -- I feel threatened and downright violated. It doesn't really matter, though. Because it's not about me. It's about what happens after me.

So what exactly do I expect to happen after me? It's simple, really. I expect passion and sincerity and the quest for what is right. Honestly? I've no clue. But I do know that, through it all, we keep trying. It might seem weird or tough or outright impossible...but we keep trying! 

https://youtu.be/PNpSpMMfQis

And that, my friends..well, that's worth the time and effort. Because my baby??? And your baby, too? Let's keep fighting for that little bit of everything they hope to achieve. ❤

https://youtu.be/fRgqy_iuWKo

✌🏼