Patti Lynn Clark Barnett

Can you say, "Street Performance"!? If you wondered who that was with red hair, wearng a huge straw hat, jeans and yellow stilettos, singing her heart out in the heart of Manhattan's Fifth Avenue yesterday….it was, yours truly.
 
I don't know about the passers-by, the by-standers or the several photographers, but I had a blatant blast!
You see it all in the Big Apple and I'm certain I was not all that unusual. But I was surprised when an interesting, blue haired, baggy pants, rappy looking guy came up to me and requested, "Sweet Georgia Brown". He said it had always been one of his favorite songs. He took umbrage at my surprise that he'd even heard of, "Sweet Georgia Brown" telling me not to judge him or his musical tastes by his hair and the way he dressed. Now, that was encouraging to hear from someone so young and it gave me hope that the new generation may have some wisdom after all 
 
In my elemental joy, I lost track of time and probably performed nearly two hours. I tried out songs I'd never performed before like, Waylon Jennings', "Anita, You're Dreaming" and Jessie Coulter's "I'm Not Lisa".  I love songs like these. And I always feel I do better on numbers I really like. The song list included everything from John Prine's "Muhlenberg County" to Cat Stevens', "Morning Has Broken" to "Consider the Lilies".  I repeated two songs I have always loved, but just recently learned, "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove" and, "Last Thing on My Mind".
 
Before I sang, someone repeated what you have always heard, "Music really is the universal language. It can evoke memories and emotions of specific times and places in a way which no other method is equal in ability.
 
When I told an acquaintance about my day, she said she was inspired and determined to get out of her comfort zone and, "do something challenging and different". And when she said something like singing would scare her to pieces, I reminded her of the much repeated Eleanor Roosevelt advice, "Do something everyday that scares you".

The ripple effect in all of life never ceases to amaze me. And I will be doing this again, God willing. 

I have memories of two unfortunate Memorial Days in the past. One was when I missed meeting my Maker, by a hair, in Scottsdale, Arizona that I recounted in last year's Memorial Day post. The other was when Wallace, our cat, got so badly hurt that he wound up in the hospital for a week. However, this Memorial Day experience was as positive as these other two were negative.
 
The Memorial Day week end started in New York and ended in Reading, Pennsylvania at an Andre Rieu concert. New York, as always, was brimming with excitement and people. The city was awash with the military. And I had the opportunity to speak with a few servicemen and tell them how much they are appreciated. And, as always, I advertise my website.  But I must spend most of this post on the high light of the year, so far. The Andre Rieu Concert!
 
I have seen Andre Rieu on TV several times and have been a fan for years. So, having the opportunity to finally see this maestro and his orchestra in person was an Event, to be sure! They played to a packed Sovereign Center last night in Reading, Pennsylvania. I wish I could even begin to describe the atmosphere and performance. When Andre Rieu and the "Gang" of musicians marched down the isle and took center stage the crowd went crazy. This is possibly the most beloved violinist and orchestra leader in the world. And his audiences include every age and social class. He crosses all barriers and just brings his audiences the joy of his music. His is the epitome of great music of our time, I believe. It was as colorful and entertaining evening as one could imagine. There were beautiful girls in wonderful gowns and the music ranged from Straus waltzes to Mozart concertos to mariachi boom boom to, "Amazing Grace". The vocalists were all, I suppose, among the best the world has to offer. Magnificent, is the word that comes to mind.

His violin playing and conducting are impeccable, as was the whole orchestra's performance. It was obvious that he requires nothing short of excellence from every musician as well as himself. So, we were all the recipients of this musical purity and beauty. One of the female sopranos was the youngest to win the Australian Opera award at nineteen. When she sang, "Ave Maria" it was truly like an angel, as Andre said when introducing her.  He assured us, before she sang, that we had never heard such a rendition before and he was right. The huge video screens allowed a close-up into the  beauty and expressions of all the musicians.

Andre had made several good natured jabs at Reading, a relative backwater in comparison to their usual venues. In his awkward English, he said, "We play all over the world, the word's biggest cities, but lately I have not been able to think of anything but, READING!" The people laughed and loved him. The evening was total entertainment from beginning to end. And the end seemed as if it would never come. The audience would not let them go and they played encore after encore.

I am just grateful that such music still exists and that there is a growing following for Rieu's entertainment. I am also grateful that my husband and I had the opportunity to see and enjoy such a night of entertainment and excellence. I hope you will not miss seeing him if he is ever anywhere near you. I promise you, you will then and only then know what I'm talking about. You will not regret it!

After my intense conversation and battle of wits with Rich, I managed to navigate the dense maze of people and found my way to 57th and 5th by way of Madison Avenue. There were two rows of barricades on every block. One to keep people from completely blocking the side walk and the other to keep them from spilling into the street. One could enter only at positions guarded by the police. By the time I arrived, the human density inside was so great that there did not appear to be anywhere left to stand.

It was an amazing sight to behold! People of every tongue, stripe and hue and from many countries had waited for hours between the guard rails. Police were everywhere, helicopters were circling overhead and huge trucks blocked the avenue. Kids were riding their fathers' tired shoulders and voices sang out Hallelujahs from across the street. The patient anticipation and joy of those waiting for the Pope were mind boggling. I have to admit I don’t really understand it all. But I know I have never seen anything like it before and probably won’t again.

I met a girl named, Nila, who was on her lunch break. We were outside of the barricades, on the sidewalk and a significant distance from the street. And not a good venue from which to see the Pope. So, we decided to help each other over the rail to a little space we spotted near the street. It never occurred to either of us that we could have gotten in trouble for jumping the fence. But jump we did. We were determined to get a good look-see of the Pope.

Nila was a bit heftier than I, so a couple of gentlemen gladly offered a helping hand. However, my transit was a piece of cake in comparison. Once inside, we were surrounded by the faithful who were waiting for the chance of a life time. The half dozen people I met right around me were all there by similar circumstances as my own. None of us had expected or planned to be there. Presence by Providence had been granted and we were clearly there by, “Divine appointment”.

This was the belief of the mother we met whose children would be singing later in the day in the childrens' choir right next to the Pope at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We all agreed with her, "Divine Providence" assessment and then I shared my experience with Rich, the Atheist. They, too, will pray for the conversion that he’s clearly never had. Another lovely lady, Lila, requested prayer for problems she is going through. The 35- 45 minutes waiting were spent in sweet, harmonious fellowship.

At last, the barricade trucks started moving out, helicopters spun lower overhead and the crowd started vigorously applauding louder and louder. Voices were lifted in Hallelujahs and we knew Pope Benedict XVI was on his way. The excitement built to an exhilarating crescendo, a sea of cameras shot into the air, flags were waving and everyone pressed forward to be as close as possible to the street and get the best possible sighting. I could hear mothers telling children, “How blessed” they were for the opportunity to witness this wonderful, historical occasion that might never happen again.

The great moment had arrived! First came a few long black limos followed by police cars and then a vehicle bearing an old rugged cross tilted and fastened to the back of a vehicle. It was an inspirational sight! Then finally, Pope Benedict XVI appeared! Rolling by us in the Pope mobile, there he sat up high, waving to all on both sides of the street, smiling in his own sweet, humble way.....So, there you have it.

I was not expecting to even get a glimpse, so I didn’t bring a camera. However, Lila, who’d requested prayer earlier, sensing my disappointment at not having a picture of the Pope and this historical occasion, offered to send me one. She offered without my asking and I believe she will do it.

It was a most glorious day. And Patti got a peep at the Pope!