When I was young we used to go to a restaraunt in Inyokern California with my parents once in a while; it was called "Two Sisters, Plus One".
Two sisters in there late 50's/60's owned it with a close friend around the same age...The close friend being the "plus one".
Every time we would sit down and eat while one of the owners...(the plus one) would go and play gospel music on the organ.
To me it was peaceful, and gave me a good feeling, yet I didnt know why. My younger sister would usually run up and sit on the older ladies lap, and pound a few keys as the lady smiled, and patiently tried to keep her from damaging the old organ.
(she's 24 and we still try to keep her from breaking things all the time.)
As I was going through songs today, I came across just a closer walk with thee...the only song I can recall her playing. And now, after 15 years or so, I have figured out why her playing brought such a sense of peace to me.
It has always been my philosophy poetry that moves has to come from a persons heart, not imagination, not intellect, but inside. These poems have an effect that no imagination or intellect could compete with, just like a good sermon.
That older lady played from her heart in Inyokern. She felt the music, and probably praised God right there, the music in itself was a form of praising him. By doing that in a way that was not protruding, or overly aggressive she soothed, and brought a 15 year old, as well as many other patrons in her restaraunt closer to God. Isn't it ironic the one song I remember her playing is Just a closer walk with thee? God bless you "plus one". I'm sure your walking close to him now.
Copyright Chalaskan 2001
