On camping trips, we'd get to hear one of Dad's ghost stories. My parents probably did these things because they were fun, but they were much more than that. Parents who play music and read aloud to their children give them a head start on a lifetime of learning. Like many artists and educators, I am concerned about a growing sound bite mentality in everything from arts to news to politics. Nowadays we get a whirlwind sense of information, but with only the lightest dusting of meaning.
Meaning requires time and context.
Sound bites offer neither. Deep down, I want to hear music and read books that stretch the imagination. I want in-depth interviews and documentaries that challenge me to think and remember. I want to feel real sand between my barefoot toes, not virtual, and wonder at the nighttime sky. I want to hear my own muse, yet also raise my voice with other voices, including the whales, to make a symphony worth living for.