Up and down California, the state is expecting a white Christmas tomorrow as a cold Pacific storm arrives — not only with substantial snowfall in the Sierra, but with a dusting of snow on the hills around the Bay Area and snow in the mountains and passes around L.A. To note this unusual event, here is Gemini Soul’s version of “Winter,” a jazz riff inspired by the tune “Winter Wonderland.”
The earth sings in many ways. I wrote previously about the drum-like sounds produced by earthquakes and the flute-like sounds produced by volcanoes (see The earth is a musical instrument). But the earth sings in other ways, too. Sand dunes sing under certain conditions, producing a low-pitched rumble that has variously been described as a kettle drum, bass violin, zither or foghorn. Marco Polo, in his 13th century travels, said the singing sands “at times fill the air with the sounds of all kinds of musical instruments, and also of drums and the clash of arms.” [Read more →]
Seven years ago I was in Guatemala for a remarkable ten-day tour of the country (which you can read about in my narrative In the Navel of the World). My visit coincided with the tradition of La Posada, a nine-day celebration of Mexican origins that symbolizes the trials of Mary and Joseph as they searched in Bethlehem for lodging (La Posada is Spanish for “the inn”). [Read more →]
It was an achingly beautiful December day in Northern California, more beautiful than a winter day for a memorial service deserves to be. The turquoise Pacific, on this day unusually calm in deference to its name, gleamed in the warm sunlight. Garlands of clouds decked the bright blue sky. From the Big Sur coastline, we turned down a narrow canyon and followed a one-lane road along a creek. Redwoods cast a hushed gloom that muted the colors in the canyon where small houses, log cabins and pedestrian bridges perched at jaunty angles in improbable places. [Read more →]
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