Day 393: Spirit You All

Remember when I got a bit obsessed with posting pictures of Bobby McFerrin? Well it's only going to get worse. I just went to see him perform at the Barbican, with Ruth, as a kind of joint celebration of our birthdays. Ruth didn't know what to expect, so I'm very it turned out to be well up her street. And what a gift it was!

This man incites pure joy in audiences, other musicians and himself. He performs with such love and playfulness, not to forget the reams of skill he brings to what he does. News to me is that he's classically-trained and has been the conductor of a number of orchestras. It's not a surprise, though, really. Here's a man who wears his passion for the happiness that music can bring like he wears his own skin. 

And it was spiritual, uplifting, divine. I'll confess, I cried a number of times, partly just at the joy, partly at the beauty. His 21-year-old daughter was there singing with him, creating delicious harmonies behind her father's lead, and with the band. At one point, they sang a duet, a love song he had written for her mother years before. I SO had a little cry at that, especially when they hugged after their beautiful performance. This man breathes love into things. This music was heavenly.

It was, actually. The majority of the songs were American spirituals, with a bit of pretty much everything thrown in. There was a blues song that made my heart open like a chasm and just so much bliss. I was thankful. Today was fast day, with my fast-sister Diana in Switzerland and pre-emptive fast-brother Nicolò in Montreal (he started a day earlier). We agreed on water, herb tea and if we wanted, some juice. I partook of beetroot juice, as well as litres of peppermint tea and lots of lovely water.

Also spiritual

On fast days, according to the yogis, it's advised to 'stop thinking about food and think about God instead.' Well, this helped hugely. Call it what you will - God, spirit, spirituality, connection, the universe, joy... being there, with someone I love and respect, listening to musicians do what they love and a whole audience sing at the slightest click of a McFerrin finger... that was spiritual. And I certainly wasn't thinking about burgers. 

Now, fed with music and joy, I'm going to crawl into a welcoming bed, and pray for such joys to continue. Spirit you all.