*Proof of Heaven was a book written by a neuroscientist, Eben Alexander, on his near-death experience with the after-life. It was a book both Carl and I read before his death on August 28, 2014. I am here in Boston for the Boston Early Music Festival, a “week-long extravaganza of early music,” and I am… Read More A dream or Proof of Heaven?
As I am now sitting in the Newark airport for about six hours till my flight to Boston boards, I am calculating that it will be twenty-four hours (!) from my departure from Honolulu until I arrive at Edith Ho’s home just outside of Boston! My flight to San Francisco was uneventful except for meeting a… Read More Twenty-four hours!
VIDEO: Iolani School’s Hospice Class teaches about life through death. In this post, I am going to deviate a bit from blogging about music and turn to the subject of hospice and end-of-life care which is the subject of an unusual class at Iolani School. It has now been nine months since my husband of 37… Read More The journey continues
Tonight was the Iolani School Class of 2015 Baccalaureate service — my twenty-first* and my last as Chapel Organist — and I couldn’t help but think back to my own Baccalaureate, long ago at the Burbank Starlight Bowl, where I played the organ for the Class of 1968, and how full of promise and hopeful… Read More My last Baccalaureate
I was thinking I could throw my alarm clock away. That was because Thursday was my last early morning Iolani Chapel, so I in fact turned my alarm off. But wouldn’t you know it, the last two mornings I’ve gotten up at 4:45 am — so I guess my body clock just doesn’t listen! Today,… Read More Just can’t win!
One thing Pastor Don Johnson (LCH pastor 1969-2000) will not forget was the first time organbuilder Rudolf von Beckerath entered the Lutheran Church of Honolulu — that was before it was remodeled — closed up, air-conditioned, and terrazzo floors installed. (For a comprehensive biography of von Beckerath, check out this link on the company’s website.) In those days,… Read More With a snap of his fingers . . .
On Sunday night, Pastor Jeff Lilley acknowledged the congregation of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu for having the vision and then supporting the vision of a fine music program with a quality tracker organ. And in a Facebook conversation, someone marveled at the sight of the 40-year-old Beckerath — still looking fresh and new and having… Read More The Beckerath B.C. (Before Carl)
Yesterday, one day after the magnificent 40th Anniversary celebration of the Beckerath organ, twenty members of the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists came to “The Marble Palace in the Sky,” (my condo) — for the members’ annual meeting and to see the newest pipe organ in Honolulu: the “box organ” built by… Read More Baby’s coming out party
From all accounts, last night’s 40th anniversary of the Beckerath organ was a grand and glorious occasion and the church should feel extremely proud to have put on a first class act. From Joey Fala’s stunning and magnificent playing, to the energetic congregational singing, to the colorful and elegant 16-page souvenir program, to the delicious… Read More Magnificent Joey!
“Turning point,” “critical moment,” “decisive moment,” “moment of truth,” “pivotal moment” — these are some of the descriptions of the term defining moment — a point in your life when you made a very important decision or had an experience that changed you forever. Even though the term has only been around since 1980-1985, it could well… Read More Defining moment