My Mother, Music, and Literature

My Mom is here for a visit. She travelled from the Midwest to come and chat. I am treating her to East Tennessee State University's "Powell Piano Series" tonight.

Here is the concert information by the compliments of the Department of Music:
"Russian-born Israeli pianist and composer Yoni Levyatov, winner of the 2011 International Russian Music Competition, will make his ETSU debut in the Powell Piano Series.

Described by the New York Times as playing with "an appealing electricity," Levyatov is also the recipient of the Harold Bauer Award, Dorothy McKenzie Artist Recognition Award, Silver Medal at the International Bosendorfer Piano Competition, as well as Clairmont PRize in Tel Aviv. Recent appearances have included performances at Steinway Hall in New York; Menora Hall in Manchester, England; Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia; Spiegelsaal in Rheinsberg, Germany; Auditorium de Cajacanarias in Tenerife, Spain; Jerusalem Music Center and the Tel Aviv Museum of Arts."

Also, I am sending my copy of the memoir Circling My Mother home with Mother. It has taken me some time to decide to depart with it. I wouldn't have found this memoir if my mentor Professor Tekulve hadn't recommended it. Further, I wouldn't have studied under the tutelage of Professor Tekulve and Wakefield if it hadn't been for the low-residency MFA writing program at Converse College.

Great programs, teachers, and mothers are priceless.

Big Black Book

It's official, I have my bound MFA Creative Thesis in hand. (Well, not actually in my hands at this moment, because I am typing.) But true, so true. I am an official graduate of a Master's program with a completed thesis. Boy, does it feel good--knowing that I wrote all of those words, created sentences, and followed through with organization. Yes, I am having a moment. I birthed a book!

To celebrate such an accomplishment, how about some inspiration from Mark Twain? I know I can't get enough of his spunk.

"The true Southern watermelon is a boon apart and not to be mentioned with commoner things...king by grace of God over all the fruits of the earth...It was not a Southern watermelon that Eve took...we know because she repented." -from Puddn'head Wilson

In reflection of being a steamboat pilot Twain wrote, "In that brief, sharp schooling I got personally and familiarly acquainted with all the different types of human nature that are to be found in fiction, biography, or history. When I find a well drawn character in fiction or biography, I generally take a warm personal interest in him, for the reason that I have known him before--met him on the river." - from Life on the Mississippi

My favorite quote by Twain I found taped to the outside of a professor's door. It read, "Cauliflower is just cabbage with a degree."

What a great perspective! I may be cauliflower, but in the garden of life I still am a cabbage--bound creative thesis and all.