Heaven Just Got One Hell of an Angel

I awoke to the sad news this morning that Luciano Pavarotti died. He died Wednesday but I didn't hear the news until BBC Radio 4 alerted me this morning (my husband must go to bed and wake up to the BBC every day). Not only the opera world but the world in general lost a great voice.

I never attended any of his operas or concerts but have heard many recordings and to know that he was never really classical trained made listening to him even more amazing. Having only had a smattering of voice training myself I can really marvel at what a powerful, charismatic and beautiful singer he was.

The fact that he brought opera and classical singing to people that may never have been exposed to that sort of music before warms my heart. He was also reminds me of Princess Diana in a way - he was the People's Singer. He held concerts with pop stars such as Sting and Bono to help raise money for the needy. He was not the type of opera star you see as elitist or unapproachable. He had such charisma and charm that he made you feel every note he sang.

A great lost the world has had today but as the title states - Heaven is getting one Hell of an Angel!

"That" House on the Block

Why does it seem like in the movies there is always one house on the block or your street that is considered the "haunted house"? It can be run down or deserted. I've always just chalked it up to Hollywood's lack of originality. That was until now.

It isn't run down, in fact the opposite a rather new house (I'd say within the last 8 yrs. or so). However, I do believe it is deserted. For some reason it has captured my attention ever since we moved to Reisterstown 20 months ago. At first I just thought it was me but I never saw the neighbors out in the yard. I'd drive or walk by (day or night) and there seemed to be no activity and nothing looked different in the yard. Then a year ago we got a puppy. So I was out walking a lot more at different times of the day or night. Lights never seemed to be on and you never ever saw anyone out in the yard.

The imagination can run wild if you let it.

At one point I wondered if both occupants were unfortunate enough to be serving over in Iraq or Afghanistan. I'm sure there are some households where both adults are in the armed services and currently serving overseas. I wondered how do those people do it? Who takes care of things for them back home?

Then I wondered if perhaps this was the matter of a nasty divorce. A long drawn out process with neither side wanting the other to "custody" of the house.

Then one day during the Christmas season I noticed that someone had put a star up in the attic window. I never could tell if it was on during the day or perhaps on a timer so it only came on at night. So someone had at least in come into the house and done that because once Christmas was over the star was gone.

One night while walking Dani. our puppy, I saw a light on in the basement. My imagination strayed again...perhaps a mad scientist experimenting on humans ala Dr. Frankenstein?

I must have watched too much CSI (side note: it has to be the original one set in Las Vegas - none of the spin offs have captured my viewing attention) one night as the next time I went walking past the house I wondered if it had been the scene of a crime which was still under investigation. But the Christmas star rather ruled this option out.

Recently a PODs has been parked in the driveway. However, again you never see anyone moving anything in or out no matter what time of the day or night you walk/drive by it. It has been there for a couple of months now.

I still don't know why this house has captured my attention and my imagination so much. Guess my natural curiosity has gotten the better of me.

If I ever find out what is going on I'll be sure to come back here and post about it. So maybe Hollywood wasn't so far off after all?

Introduction to My Corner of the Sky

Every man has his daydreams
Every man has his goal
People like the way dreams have
Of sticking to the soul
Thunderclouds have their lightning
Nightingales have their song
And don't you see I want my life to be
Something more than long....

Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
from "Corner of the Sky" - Pippin

So now you know where the title of my blog came from. Pippin happens to be one of my top favorite Broadway musicals. Something about that musical resonated in me from the first time I saw it. As I struggled with a name for my blog I got to thinking what was this blog suppose to be about? Was it about my musings? Yes, but too many others have used that word. Was it about my views or opinions? Well, more than likely but just what was I trying to get across? Then I thought, "Well this is going to be about my little corner of the world...". Things that mean something to me and hopefully to someone else as well. That is when the song hit me. This was about me - my life.

So the name of the blog, Something More Than Long, as well as the name of this blog entry, My Corner of the Sky, are both taken from the above song. I want to share with you that care to read my thoughts, my corner of the world, my corner of the sky.

I think we all want our life to be something more than long - so hopefully I can provide a little insight into a life that although not full of "... crimson, gold and lavender - A shining parade..." has something to offer more than it's length (which isn't very long as of now).

As Pippin sings in the Finale:

I wanted magic shows and miracles
Mirages to touch
I wanted such a little thing from life
I wanted so much
I never came close, my love
We never came near
It never was there
I think it was here

So come back often and see what My Corner of the Sky has to offer. I promise it won't be all about Broadway musicals but "a many splendid thing(s)".