Harry Chapin Kissed Me...

...and it really pissed off my then-boyfriend-now-ex-husband, Steve.

This is a picture of me with Harry right before he kissed me...smack on the mouth.




I was fourteen when I discovered Harry Chapin's music. He told stories with his songs and that was a relief to the glut of pop music of the late seventies and early eighties that was forced upon me by the local radio stations. Most people were listening to watered down formulaic music, but I was making 8 track recordings of my Harry Chapin, Drum Corps, and Classical music albums and blasting them from the Oldsmobile station wagon I drove. I was and still am a music geek.



Harry died on July 16, 1981. The world is a sadder place without him. I often think that had he lived, maybe a lot of world problems would be closer to being solved. At the time of his death, he was already one of the most generous, kind, and loving souls on the planet and had given so much of himself and his money to World Hunger Year. WHY is an amazing organization that helps feed  people all over the world.

http://www.yhunger.org


Here's what Harry had to say about world hunger:

Harry Talks about hunger

If you're not familiar with Harry Chapin's music (besides Cat's in the Cradle) listen to just a bit of it. You'll find the genius I found all those years ago. I'm glad Harry Chapin kissed me.

Plato Must Have Known Something

 

 “I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning”

                                                                                               ― Plato

I just joined a great group of parents and teachers at Turquoise Trail Charter School to discuss how  the Arts to be used effectively throughout the school year. Arts integration was a big topic. I've heard this bold idea tossed around for many years as a way to get academics and the arts to play nice with each other. I've only seen it in practice when my now 24 year old daughter went to N.B. Cook in Pensacola, FL for the first 3 years of her education. They did it seamlessly.

I think it must be difficult for classroom teachers to be open to the idea of arts integration and at the same time prepare kids to take those too important tests...you know...the ones with the bubbles that the kids must carefully fill in with #2 pencils? Colored pencils are way more fun! It's a direct contradiction to incorporate creativity and testing in a collaborative effort. I think Tom Chapin said it best in his song, "Not On The Test".

It is an effort worth trying.