A Coronavirus Birthday
By Christie Seeley
Vallartasounds.com
Last week was my 78th birthday! My children and grandchildren joined me on Zoom for a celebratory get-together. No one had to cook or bake cakes! It was extremely satisfying!
During this challenging time, we are called upon to invent, use our imaginations, overcome despair. I feel uplifted by posts shared on Facebook by musician friends who are doing their best to stay active and positive during their challenging confinement. Renowned local bassist Roberto Falcon shared with me a live home concert by guitarist "el Javi" who had just returned to Denver after performing in the Zijuatenejo Guitar Festival. His warm and personal message was inspiring, and the music marvelous. I immediately donated to his PayPal account and wished him well. Others have shared inspiring films they have seen. Again, I have happily partaken. Tony Gatliff, a superb French Algerian Romano film maker, carried me away with the beauty of his soulful films brimming with culture, music, and dance. (Latcho Drom and Gandhi Dilo.)
Inspired by this energy, I posted a Youtube playlist made up of videos provided me by Jim Larrison, a guest of the Bahia World Music Festival in December 2019. With his permission, I set up a gofundme campaign to support the local musicians who took part, hoping to help them through these difficult times. You can find information on my website Vallartasounds.com. I hope that people watch and enjoy this great local talent and, perhaps, leave a donation that I will make sure gets distributed to the participating musicians.
Owners of venues affected by Coronavirus are brainstorming to find ways to help out. Arancha of Babel Bar, Steve York of the Sayulita Music Page and many others are looking for ways to come up to bat in support of the musical community. Individual musicians are posting videos to inspire hope and encourage people to remember them.
The positive message I am receiving from thoughtful people is that this tremendous challenge both to our health and our pocketbooks may teach us a lesson in the end. Perhaps we have been too complacent about many aspects of our lives, taking for granted that those governing us might have our best interests in mind and be capable of implementing solutions. Through a good community spirit (even a virtual one), we can produce positive results. Beginning with observing measures put in place by health professionals to protect the community from the spreading Coronavirus, and moving on to a consciousness that allows us to find and achieve that which gives our lives the fullness we desire. It begins small and grows. It probably does not include a new car or the ultimate vacation. It is most likely found at home and within our hearts. While we are in isolation, we might take the time to discover that which is essential and go after it.
My thanks go out to the heroic people on the frontlines of this battle. Doctors, nurses, first responders, hospital staff members, and care givers are putting their lives at risk caring for those who have been infected with the Coronavirus—all too often without proper protective gear to keep them safe.
Courage and inspiration to all!
By Christie Seeley
Vallartasounds.com
Last week was my 78th birthday! My children and grandchildren joined me on Zoom for a celebratory get-together. No one had to cook or bake cakes! It was extremely satisfying!
During this challenging time, we are called upon to invent, use our imaginations, overcome despair. I feel uplifted by posts shared on Facebook by musician friends who are doing their best to stay active and positive during their challenging confinement. Renowned local bassist Roberto Falcon shared with me a live home concert by guitarist "el Javi" who had just returned to Denver after performing in the Zijuatenejo Guitar Festival. His warm and personal message was inspiring, and the music marvelous. I immediately donated to his PayPal account and wished him well. Others have shared inspiring films they have seen. Again, I have happily partaken. Tony Gatliff, a superb French Algerian Romano film maker, carried me away with the beauty of his soulful films brimming with culture, music, and dance. (Latcho Drom and Gandhi Dilo.)
Inspired by this energy, I posted a Youtube playlist made up of videos provided me by Jim Larrison, a guest of the Bahia World Music Festival in December 2019. With his permission, I set up a gofundme campaign to support the local musicians who took part, hoping to help them through these difficult times. You can find information on my website Vallartasounds.com. I hope that people watch and enjoy this great local talent and, perhaps, leave a donation that I will make sure gets distributed to the participating musicians.
Owners of venues affected by Coronavirus are brainstorming to find ways to help out. Arancha of Babel Bar, Steve York of the Sayulita Music Page and many others are looking for ways to come up to bat in support of the musical community. Individual musicians are posting videos to inspire hope and encourage people to remember them.
The positive message I am receiving from thoughtful people is that this tremendous challenge both to our health and our pocketbooks may teach us a lesson in the end. Perhaps we have been too complacent about many aspects of our lives, taking for granted that those governing us might have our best interests in mind and be capable of implementing solutions. Through a good community spirit (even a virtual one), we can produce positive results. Beginning with observing measures put in place by health professionals to protect the community from the spreading Coronavirus, and moving on to a consciousness that allows us to find and achieve that which gives our lives the fullness we desire. It begins small and grows. It probably does not include a new car or the ultimate vacation. It is most likely found at home and within our hearts. While we are in isolation, we might take the time to discover that which is essential and go after it.
My thanks go out to the heroic people on the frontlines of this battle. Doctors, nurses, first responders, hospital staff members, and care givers are putting their lives at risk caring for those who have been infected with the Coronavirus—all too often without proper protective gear to keep them safe.
Courage and inspiration to all!
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