Ms. Minna

If one could use the word “severe” to describe rain, today would be the best day for it.
Water bill must be included in the rent up there!
Besides, it’s been quite gloomy all day long today.
Yet, I got to have my ray of sunshine.
About 2 hours ago a lady wearing a rain poncho walked into my office.
Her name is Ms. Minna. She is an ardent fan of my Opera Seminars. She is 94 years old and a walker user.
On her walker “seat” she had a couple of vinyl records.
‘Raisa, I came to show these to you,’she said.
I love your seminars and I have a huge opera collection at home.
Here is my favorite Madama Butterfly, and here is Mario Lanza.
I have many more at home, you know. If you need any of these for your seminars I would be happy to lend them to you. Of course, now they listen to discs. So if you don’t have the right player, I could lend you mine.

I could not believe it! This 94-year-old lady walked to my office with a walker, under the pouring rain to just share samples of her opera collection with me!
I don’t believe anybody’s heart could stay indifferent to this genuinely sweet, generous and sincere action.

Everyone knows how to take, but not everyone knows how to give.
However, like any art, music is heart opening.
Therefore, once it enters your life, you do not want it all for yourself! You want to share it and let the world hear what you hear, feel what you feel and see what you see. It becomes an urge!
And then, once you look at things from that perspective, age is just a number and rain is just water.
Sharing beauty is what really comes first.
This gesture of major thoughtfulness and kindness alone has made my day and truly warmed my heart.
I will probably never get tired of saying that it’s people like Ms. Minna and you all, my dear readers, that keep me going and motivate me to explore music on deeper levels.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement!
And Ms. Minna – a very special Thanks to you!
On a seminar-related note, my Rossini/Il Barbiere seminar is scheduled for November 3rd! The preparation is in full swing, and as always, so much fun! Stay tuned for details.

P.S. I was considering a couple of titles for this post, but decided to call it Ms. Minna. She deserves it, don't you think?