The Pragmatician

MUSIC MAKES MY DAY

It’s the title of an oldie from The Shadows, splendidly covered by Olivia Newton-John.
But more than that, it’s a truism to me.
The idea of listening to the music I enjoy is a factor that helps me actually step out of my bed in the morning instead of just repeatedly hit the snooze button.
Once the engine starts turning, the music starts playing and my mood improves.
My car functions as private karaoke bar, as this is the one and only place I feel comfortable singing a long.
Nobody can hear, ergo no one laughs at me or cover their ears with their hands. And if it starts raining not a soul who knows I’m to blame.

I’m rarely “early” for Shul, yet sometimes even after I park the car, I let the song finish before I step out.
Music is my companion; it truly helps me in difficult moments.
It helps me release my many "unsung" frustrations when signing along high pitched voices.
There’s always a melody humming in my head, just waiting to be heard by my ears.
Traffic is my worst enemy, but with my favorite CDs at hand it’s so much more bearable.
It calms me, uplifts me, moves me and overall works wonders with me.
Thanks to those wonderful MP3-players, now I can enjoy my favorite songs at work too.
It’s small, unobtrusive and easy to carry on.
I have a 256MB one so I can fit roughly 65 songs on it, enough to keep me busy and happy for a workweek.

Like a few months ago, remembering the tragically deceased talmidim of Rabi Akivah, a.k.a the Sefirah, I’ll have to live three weeks without music again.
Please don’t even suggest I turn to those Sefirah tapes for solace. It’s not that I listen to instrumental music only, but it’s just no substitute.

I hate fasting; I find it very hard when I can’t put an arm around my wife when she’s sad, but this is hardest and the longest “Thou Shall Not”.
21 one long days I’ll just have to imagine the music in my head, weirdly sometimes it’s actually as if I hear it, but this manner of “thinking” quickly adds up to a headache.
Friends of mine have put forward the theory that music was banned during the three weeks, before the invention of recorded music.
Then listening to music implied going out, to a party or a big event performance and applaud to an orchestra.
Today however not all music listening necessarily involve “joy”, therefore, they argue that the ban on music is no longer applicable.
Unfortunately no Rov I know, with some credibility, has concurred with this theory so far.
I’m going to feel sad and lonely these next few weeks.
If anyone knows of a Heter I’d be delighted to hear about it.