As I sat down to write this week's e-zine, I couldn't find my groove. A tough week of travel and other writing deadlines had me uninspired and lacking inspiration, which is kind of my jam.
I was a motivational speaker missing his mojo.
I decided to take a break. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV in hopes of finding something to write about. ANYTHING to write about. Writing deadlines are my nemesis.
The first channel was sharing the initial results from Super Tuesday.
Imagining this to be another all-night process, I switched to another channel only to find that the coronavirus is continuing to spread virtually unchecked. Channel three? It turns out the stock market and my 401K are actually 911. NOT OK!
So tonight's attempt at soul-enriching fulfillment; death, politics, and poverty, the Holy Trinity of depression.
I shut the TV off.
As I got up to stare into the nutritional abyss that is my snack cache (yes, I self medicate with snacks), the home phone rang. You know, the phone that we keep solely for 911 and telemarketers?
I grabbed it and prepared to use this opportunity to make my unsolicited caller sorry that they had chosen this exact moment to reach out to me.
"Hello?" I said in a brusk voice.
"May I please speak with Scott Lang?" the faint male voice said.
Not recognizing the voice or long distance number, I was getting ready to tell him that Scott had passed away in a tragic lunchtime accident involving a vat of peanut butter and a Carly Simon album. Still, my better angels reached out to me, and I said, "This is he, how can I help you?"
He responded, "My name is Oscar, and I am driving from Chicago to Minneapolis and I found an electronic watch in my rental car. Not knowing how it worked, I played with it until I found a home button, and it pulled up your name. Did you, by chance lose a watch?"
"OMG, yes! It was a Christmas gift from my wife and got lost when my backpack flew open while running for a workshop. I also lost a set of AirPods my wife gave me for Valentine's Day!"
Did I mention it was a rough travel week?
After a long and thankful conversation, Oscar said he would look for my AirPods and mail my watch to me.
There was the inspiration I was looking for and needed.
People are good. They are smart, honest, and given the opportunity, will go above and beyond to do the right thing.
So, to stem the tide and save what's left of your day, I am saying goodbye to Super Tuesday and hello to Wonderful Wednesday.
These stories listed below are ones I have been holding on for use in future e-zines, but I think today is the day to share. I have copied and hyperlinked them directly to their source.
Enjoy.
U.K. Patient Plays Violin During Unusual Brain Tumor Surgery
Surgeons at King's College Hospital in London removed a brain tumor from a woman who played the violin during the procedure. Doctors for violinist Dagmar Turner, 53, mapped her brain before the surgery to identify areas that were active when she played the instrument.
They then woke her mid-procedure so she could play to "ensure the surgeons did not damage any crucial areas of the brain that controlled Dagmar's delicate hand movements," the hospital said in a statement.
(I guess sometimes you get a song stuck in your head, and this is the only way to get it out.)
Drumming makes your brain more efficient
Over years of practice, drummers appear to modify the way that the two sides of their brain communicate. According to a recent study, the cabling that runs between the two hemispheres of a drummer's brain is significantly different from non-musicians.
A recent study hunts for brain changes associated with playing the drums.
Playing drums is a unique skill. Drummers can complete different rhythmical tasks with all four of their limbs, simultaneously. The coordination required is impossible for non-drummers.
(Say what you want, but I think there's hope for me yet.)
High Schoolers Build Prosthetic Hand for Friend Who Wants to March
Tabetha Noel-Ratcliff and Clark Strong didn't know each other until a few weeks ago. She was born with a hand deformity and had a desire to be a part of the marching band. Clark wanted to help, so he made her a prosthetic with a 3D printer that would allow her dream to come true.
If you are looking for more pick-me-up type stuff, be sure to sign up for our #YouMatter campaign, an irregular and irreverent look at the power of music education.
Scott
p.s. I received the following from a teacher (Lauralyn A) just a few weeks ago. Thought I would share.
This past weekend I was disheartened to hear that one of my new 6th grade beginning trumpet players had faced a terrible tragedy. Their family home had caught fire and burned completely. The family lost everything......Well almost.
This morning as this cute kiddo came to school I was surprised and delighted to see his trumpet in his hands as he entered the band room.
With a big smile on his face, I asked him "Hey dude...That trumpet looks like it's in perfect shape, how did it manage to escape the fire?" "It's all OK, Mrs A," he replied, "When I was running from the house to get out, I made sure I grabbed my trumpet."
This kid lost everything this weekend that belonged to him but his trumpet. I was extremely touched to think of all the possessions he could have grabbed and ran out with, that his trumpet was right at the top of his list.
I'm lucky to teach such great kids, and truly inspired by them.