Moving Forward With Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust
Ben playing the drums at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. He loved listening to and making music.
Sometimes, it feels like pixie dust is sprinkling down to let me know that Ben is watching over me to give me hope and inspiration for engaging in life. Maybe you don’t believe in that, but my belief in the magic lets me see and feel it and know in my heart that, at least for me, it’s true. In my last post about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, I said that I am my own Doc (click here for that post). Last night, as I assessed my emotional growth, I had yet another reassuring reminder that Ben stays with me as I immerse myself in life.
Last night, I went to see my third Paul Winter Winter Solstice Celebration at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. It has become a tradition since Ben passed away. To give a little background: I knew of Paul Winter from many years ago, when my uncle took me to hear a concert. Ben was intrigued, and he liked the Paul Winter CDs I played. Ben loved music and he was a talented, self-taught musician and music orchestrator. He especially loved the soprano saxophone, which is Paul Winter’s instrument. We just never seemed to make it to the annual Winter Solstice concert. After he was diagnosed with ALS, it was too difficult to get there. I would never have gone without him.
After Ben died, it took a lot of adjusting, with a lot of emotional stress, to get used to doing things that I could not do while Ben was ill. I still struggle with some guilt- that Ben is not here to enjoy things, that I should not enjoy life if he cannot- but I have been steadily pushing through that to find the balance of continuing to live while I keep him with me in my heart. Last night, I realized that this concert is a kind of pixie dust for me- I look forward to it because it reminds me that Ben is with me and that, although it’s not the same without him, the concert envelopes me in thoughts of Ben and what he loved, and it brings me a unique comfort and assures me that it is okay to keep going and shape a new and vibrant life.
The winter solstice celebration is more than a concert- it includes the participation of the Forces of Nature Dance Theater, vocals by Theresa Thomason and, of course, the brilliant consort musicians. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is a magnificent building, and one of the five largest churches in the world. The acoustics and the magnificence of the building enhance the whole experience. The production elements were visually stunning, and my friend and I were mesmerized. I listen to music differently and more intently because of Ben’s love and understanding of it and that’s one reason the concert is a profound experience for me.
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC- Paul Winter ‘s Winter Solstice Celebration
As I sat at the concert last night, I thought about the first concert I attended, back in 2016. At that time, I did not know that there would be a special guest, Gary Brooker, of Procol Harum and A Whiter Shade of Pale fame. He also has connections to the Beatles and to Sir George Martin, producer of most of the Beatles’ recordings, as does Paul Winter. Ben was a huge Beatles fan. Gary Brooker talked about when John Lennon was shot, and as a tribute, he sang In My Life. This was very emotional for me because it was Ben’s favorite Beatles song, and a song that was even played for him on the day he left this earth. It was unexpected and shook me to tears, anguished that Ben should have been at the concert to hear it in this setting. At the same time, there was also a deep feeling of the universe at work. It seemed meant to be that after all of the Paul Winter concerts that I missed, that I could finally make it to this particular concert on this particular evening, thinking so much of Ben because of the music, to hear this song and see Gary Brooker, whom Ben would have been so happy to see and hear performing this song with Paul Winter on the soprano sax. Somehow, I just knew that Ben was with me and was part of it. For the first time, this kind experience did not devastate me and overwhelm me with guilt and a huge setback in grief. Instead, it comforted me because it conjured Ben and what he loved. The fact that there was a Beatles connection and Ben’s favorite song was performed was an unexpected but such a special, almost spiritual surprise.
Lyrics of “In My Life” on the card I designed to send to people for their expressions of sympathy.
Maybe it was not mystical, and simply a fortunate, lovely coincidence. Of course, that’s possible. But, feeling that the universe was working for Ben and me gave me tremendous comfort and even joy, and symbolized a growth in my own spirit and a shift in my grief.
I realized last night that I have come to look forward to this traditional event because I find symbols of love and hope and feel great connectedness with Ben and life. It has not been a quick and easy process. It is ongoing and unpredictable. But, moments like last night are positive and empowering, and, also filled with messages of love and encouragement. That feels like pixie dust to me.
“All you need is faith, trust and pixie dust!”
I believe that Peter Pan was right when he said, “All you need is faith, trust and pixie dust!”
Magic Kingdom, 2006- pre-ALS days