Now I consider my remaining time on this Earth.  As the poet Mary Oliver said:

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Good question, Mary.

Many things come to mind.  At the top of the mountain stands singing.  I want to sing.  I want to sing for people.

I don’t want to write songs.  I want to sing ones that have already been written, ones that have already touched hearts.

I’ve composed a list of my favourite songs – 70 of them.  Actually, there are a few other ones that also reach me, but they require a vocal range beyond what I can currently express.  So I doubt if I’ll ever learn them.

Seventy is a very large number.  I’ve already learned five of them.  Only 65 to go!  My ability to memorize has declined over the years but that doesn’t mean it’s stopped.  And just think of all the exercise my senior brain will get!

***

Yesterday the song that’s the next for me to learn entered my mind – Angel.  It’s sung so wondrously by Sarah McLachlan.

Here it is:

Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There’s always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day

I need some distraction
Oh … a beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty
And weightless … and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack

It don’t make no difference
Escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

I get the song.  It says such a sweet “Hi” to me.  I don’t want to analyze why I like it so much, other than mentioning a few phrases that have me quiver …

And it’s hard at the end of the day

From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear

You keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack

Oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

Yes.  These words are for me.  And I trust they’ll be for some of the folks listening to me.

I begin