The Live-streaming Winter Blues

Half a mile from our home, this intersection is the crossroads of the north and the south. Interstate 35 south goes to Austin, where you are forever twenty-five and the sun is always shining. North, well, it’s even colder, and spring comes even later. Bill’s folks are there. Hibernating. Waiting for cabin season when we bring smiles and food.

We were gifted tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra Friday night. The Firebird Suite. Live music rises from the covid ashes. What a treat to dress up and hear an amazing program.

A musical friend commented yesterday that one good thing that has come out the pandemic is the livestream. Agreed. Today Bill, Mary and I gathered round the kitchen table at 3:00 to watch Calvin perform on the University of Iowa School of Music Beethoven series. Dr. Nosikova’s project, the school is performing all 32 piano sonatas live in a series of Sunday concerts. Lucky for us, they are also live-streamed. We called Bill’s folks during intermission. They were watching on their computer as well. A bald eagle gave us a fly over out the dining room window somewhere in the third movement, representing my dad. And. . . Janel was there in the hall, listening in person, of course she took Calvin out for dinner after the recital. What else are grandmommies for?

With the livestream, you can have a meatloaf in the oven and wear your comfy jeans and eat m&ms during the show. You can have a fire in the fireplace. It’s like water for chocolate though, listening to a nine foot Steinway through the computer speakers—texting good luck and bravo instead of real applause and a post-performance hug. Still, it’s ever so much better than nothing.

Well friends, this is the time of winter in Minnesota when you have to be the most careful. S.A.D. It creeps up gradually. You wonder why you are feeling so blah and crabby. Why you can’t keep your hand out of the m&m jar. Why everything looks a little grey like the color has bled out.

Then you remember. Oh, yah, it’s February in Minnesota, don’t you know. Those of us who are not down hill skiers have not seen the sun in a month of Sundays. We haven’t seen green grass since October.

It’s good to have the seasons. I wouldn’t trade it. But. . . I might pencil in a couple weekends to Austin on the future empty nester’s but not yet snowbird’s calendar.

Next weekend we get to hear Mary on clarinet, live at Orchestra Hall with the Minnesota All-State Orchestra. We have to present our vaccine card, and probably a passport and social security number to get in, but we will be there, live and in person. She has a solo.

I’m thankful for it all. All the music, live and live-streamed. And all the concerts and workshops coming back.

It’s still awhile to spring, but I can’t complain. We do have a spring break trip planned to someplace warm. In between now and then there is a lot of work to do. There is teaching to do, workshops and teacher training classes to prepare for. Clarinet accompaniments to learn.

We have to keep our light bulbs plugged into the source. I couldn’t do it without my morning time. Thirty minutes before anyone else wakes up, my own little livestream, to secure my own oxygen mask with my journal, my Bible, and a pile of miscellaneous hard cover inspiration. It takes a lot of candle light to warm the Minnesota winter mornings. And a fancy cup of coffee.

We have to cut ourselves some slack. Leave the m&m jar lid closed loosely. Spring for the yellow tulips at Kowalski’s. Brew a second cup. As we round the corner of two years of covid, I’m thankful for my family, our home, my studio, dear friends, and yes, even the live-stream. I’m thankful that there is hope of normalcy. Till then, we keep walking in love, giving as much grace as possible to everyone on the path. Keep trying to let our lights shine.

If you are having the winter blues, hang in there. You are not alone. There is light ahead. If you had a peaceful weekend going to some concerts and watching some livestream with a fire in the fireplace, that’s okay too. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a good week. Spring is on the way.

Sara