Dear Reader:

I am always touched by Steve Hartman’s human interest stories but last week’s touched me even more than usual…it shows how one moment of musical “magic” can touch a child who had been labeled “untouchable” and uncommunicative. The miracle of music…one of God’s “Little Extras” in life (as Archibald Rutledge would label it) isn’t necessary for just mere survival… but yet so powerful it is hard to contemplate a world without it.

A young concertgoer yelled “Wow!” His grandfather was more surprised than anyone. (Steve Hartman)

BOSTON — They are some of the best classical musicians in the country. But at one recent performance by The Handel and Haydn Society in Boston, the most memorable moment didn’t come from anyone on stage at Symphony Hall. It came from the audience, right at the very end of Mozart’s Masonic Funeral Music.

Someone yelled, “Wow!” and it resonated — not just in the hall, but throughout the classical music community. It was just such a departure from typical audience protocol, which is why the president of the Handel and Haydn Society was absolutely thrilled.

“I was like, ‘That’s fantastic,'” said David Snead. “There’s a sense of wonder in that ‘wow.’ You could really hear on the tape he was like, ‘This was amazing.'”

David was so smitten by the outburst, as was the audience, that he decided to try to find the voice responsible. “Who was that? Because he really touched my life in a way that I’ll never forget,” David said.

He decided to write to everyone in the audience. Eventually, that email found its way to concertgoer Stephen Mattin, who was there with his 9-year-old grandson, Ronan.

Ronan is the one who shouted “wow,” which surprised Stephen more than anyone.

“He just doesn’t do that. You know, usually he’s in a world by himself,” Stephen said.

Ronan is autistic and considered non-verbal. But music has always been a wormhole into his heart and mind. As a thank you, David arranged for a private cello performance for Ronan. But Ronan’s family said all thanks should go to David and the Handel and Haydn musicians who made that moment possible.

They said just hearing Ronan’s reaction after being told for years he might never engage — What more can you say… but “thank you,” and “wow”?

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We hear so many stories of how music helps critically brain injured or stroke victims speak again…brings patients out of comas…the miracle of music reaches far beyond just the physical pleasure of hearing it…it heals us at the same time while touching us in our inner souls.

So until tomorrow…“A child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” ~ Pablo Casals.

The power of “wonder”…Wow!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Vickie came over yesterday and worked like a Trojan horse cutting roots out with an axe…she is one amazing neighbor! After removing all the roots and bamboo stalks…we went to Lowes and got six bags of rocks to cover the area and a few plants to add to the moon flower bedding while planting some impatiens on the shady side near the future bench…*We just have the bench left to to be complete.. but lots of leads and I feel sure one will appear just when it is supposed to….don’t you? (from this angle I took of the first photo it looks like Vickie and I buried something….hummm….we’ll never tell.:)

Libby got home yesterday… much to Libby and Betsy’s utter delight. She looks terrific and our prayers now are for some pain free nights of deep slumber…the best medicine around. Thanks for everyone’s prayers!

*And thanks for the sweet, touching comments/emails several of you made referring back to the messengers who help us through life…you are my messengers!

Our first day (yesterday) with the sun returning… making for a spectacular sunset and serenely soft moon glow last evening.