Memories and Gratitude May 13, 2010

I suppose I’m back in my awareness as well as my body, but of course I can’t really be sure about that.

I remember remarking on the architecture of Shanghai's airport, as a way of diverting attention from my melancholy.

The jet lag is mostly over for me, I think. On the other hand, my spouse seems to have caught it from me, because she wakes up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.

Humans transformed into pandas observe the Forbidden City.

For a few days there I think I was volatile, occasionally short-tempered. It has been interesting to see which incidents in my return to the American routine have triggered the unreasonable emotional response. On Sunday, for instance, I found that someone in the church choir had taken away my choir robe and the cotta that goes over it. I was completely enraged by this and contemplated leaving the choir forever as punishment to (somebody) for the disrespect that my enflamed soul was feeling. Today, I still haven’t found the rightful robe and cotta, but I don’t really care.

There are many other varied incidents in the last week that similarly preoccupied my mind and then evaporated.

I started a new job at the Census Bureau, which actually means that I have undergone three days of training for the new job this week. Perhaps I am feeling like a peacemaker because they actually train us in the matter of how to deal with angry people and dogs and peacably deal with objections.

The UN Singers already have another singing appearance planned, on June 3. I have been invited to come and sing with them and I will attend another rehearsal next Tuesday, May 18. I am greatly looking forward to this because in the last few days, now that I am at home, I have come to realize how much I miss being with them.

There is a special kind of attachment that comes from singing in a chorus with other people. We cut each other some slack for our mistakes. We admire soloists and a job well done by the person standing beside us. We like to hear funny stories from our fellow singers, about singing and about other parts of their lives. If enough time goes by, their faces begin to populate my dreams, and I would have to say I love some of them like members of some kind of family.

So, UN Singers, now that the tour has drawn to its close, I want you to know that I am grateful for giving me the chance to get to know you all and to sing with you. I wish everybody in the world could feel the attachment to each other that I feel with you, right now.