Wondering and Wandering

Here I am at SF Airport. I have scaled the Mt. Everest of my lists of “must-do” before leaving for Europe. Got my Covid shot, flu shot, updated Website for summer Orff course, VOTED!, found my British ETA, found my E-sim app, figured out which of my books to take and how, checked I have records of the six upcoming flights to London, Izmir, Istanbul, Athens, Washington DC, San Francisco, did laundry, packed — and remembered the plug adaptors, hearing aids/ phone/computer and related cords and chargers, new Crostic book, journal, recorders. And—oh, yeah— passport. 

 

As much as I complain about the march of too-much technology, there is much to be said for the streamlining of necessary and/or useful accessories. Not too long ago, I was packing cassette tapes for my classes, later CD’s, DVD’s, piles of printed notes, a camera, sometimes a video-camera. Though I still prefer to bring my computer, all of the above— their functions of playing music, showing videos and Powerpoints, e-mailing notes, projecting scores, communicating with hosts and folks back home, documenting parts of workshops with photos and/or videos— can be fully functional on my tiny phone. And then with my fairly lightweight and portable computer, I can continue to write books/ articles/ letters wherever I am. Which frees up a LOT of space in my suitcase, sometimes filled with the books so few buy these days, preferring the electronic Kindle or Audible version. 

 

When it comes to packing for and preparing workshops, you won’t find me waxing nostalgic about the good old days. I remember reading Langston Hugh’s book about his travels in Mongolia and Kazakhstan and other places rarely visited by Westerners— in the 1930’s! Titled “I Wonder as I Wander,” he describes his adventures going to places where virtually no one spoke a word of English and Google translator wasn’t even imagined by the most far-out science fiction writer. More amazing, he brought with him:

 

• A typewriter and all the accessories— paper, extra ribbon, etc.

• A record player. (!!)

• A trunkful of records!

• Many books. 

• Clothes for cold places. 

Etc.

 

And this was long before anyone had the capacity to dream of suitcases with wheels! I imagine it was all done with porters, but still the idea of carting around records, a record player, a typewriter is unfathomable. And I suspect Langston would be a little bit sour-grapes about being born at the wrong time if he could see how we do it now.

 

And yet, maybe not. The adventures such travel invited were so far beyond “I texted my host to meet me at Starbucks and we watched some Youtube videos about cats” that perhaps he would be quite happy he traveled when and how he did. 

 

At any rate, I’m delighted to get back on the wheel of work, six courses in six cities in three countries, each place a tourist’s dream destination and the added perk of re-connecting with friends in each of the places. I hope there will still be some time to wander a bit in my limited time off and likewise, time to immerse myself in wonder, be it in the music class or the streets outside. 

 

So a fond farewell to a most interesting past seven weeks in San Francisco and about to board my flight to London to begin the three weeks ahead. May all connections be made, may every single Americanwith functioning brain cells and an open heart vote (the rest, feel free to stay home), may joy prevail in the classes and convivial conversation join with good food in the post-workshop dinners. It’s a wonderful—and wanderful— life.