La Serenata and other thoughts

“La Serenata” -Francesco Paolo Tosti

Vola, o serenata: La mia diletta e sola,
E, con la bella testa abbandonata,
Posa tra le lenzuola:
O serenata, vola. O serenata, vola.

Splende Pura la luna, l’ale il silenzio stende,
E dietro I veni dell’alcova
Bruna la lampada s’accende.
Pure la luna splende. Pure la luna splende.

Vola, o serenata. Vola, o serenata, vola.
Ah! La. Ah la.

Vola, o serenata: La mia diletta e sola,
Ma sorridendo ancor mezzo assonnata,
Torna fra le lenzuola:
O serenata vola. O serenata, vola.

L’onda sogna su l’lido, e’l vento su la fronda;
E a’baci miei ricusa ancore un nido
La mia signora bionda.
Sogna su ‘l lido l’onda. Songa su ‘l lido l’onda.
Vola, o serenata,Vola, o serenata, vola.
Ah! La. Ah! La.


I had the opportunity to hear my music director’s senior recital Saturday night. I sat next to his partner, and we whispered like old friends about his pieces.
Listening to Italian always makes me weep and sigh and long for true love, even if the piece is whimsical and fun. “La Serenata” especially struck a cord with me. So did “Vaghissima sembianza”. What a romantic language. I am such a sap...
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I just ordered some books for my girl. I swear, buying books and music is too easy on Amazon. I picked up a Shakespeare tales along with an illustrated Edgar Allan Poe. An old friend of mine whom I consider to be unbelievably astute and articulate once told me that his grandmother used to read Poe to him as a child. It can’t hurt to try.

I also picked up Bright Eyes I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning as recommended by a radio geek friend of mine. Can’t wait for the record to arrive. Seeing a live show over break has me itching for more—but I am usually with child or just too busy to get out. Have to do it more often this spring.

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Triathlon training has been slow. I can’t wait to dust off the bike and start roadwork. Was thinking about tagging alone with the DeCycles tour early this summer just to have training partners. I really need to start running again. I prefer outside jaunts to the indoor track. As I have mentioned in earlier posts, running is so meditative for me. It helps to have a focal point similar to yoga. Once I get past the pain of the first few runs, it flows easily and I forget where I am or how long I have been running. But it takes discipline and focus to get there.

Over spring break I was swimming at the Y and was near the end of the workout. The first lane is reserved for young kids or older folks who like to tread water or float around—I was in the third lane doing a flip-turn and noticed a body floating over there. I usually don’t think twice about it, but the body didn’t move. Whistles were blowing and EMTs arrived. She was unresponsive for quite awhile. We swimmers stood in silence as they tried to revive her, not knowing what to do or say. Her body lay near the entrance to the women’s locker room, so avoiding the scene was impossible.

For all the years I was a lifeguard and swim instructor, I had never witnessed a drowning. This came pretty close.

Spring has me feeling crazy. The morning sunrises and cotton candy clouds, the magnificent flowers, and the hope of romance blooming everywhere I look. Life is good. Life is very good.