Kodo with kids

I didn't feel good this morning and did not want to get out of bed.  But I did. I had special plans with Peter and Maryanna to go see Kodo, a traditional Japanese drum group perform at Hill auditorium. 

But late into the morning I was still in such a groggy state that I dropped my keys somewhere after parking the car.  We retraced our steps and my little hero Peter found them in a pile of snow not too far from the car.  At this point I wondered if I really should have stayed in bed.  But we pressed on and a kind student directed us to the theater because even though I had been there several times I was too tired to find my way out and about.

We made it to our seats just in time.  And I'm so glad we did, this was just what I needed, a beat so deep to shake my bones and remind me I was, at that very moment, very alive.  

Children don't need that reminder so much, in fact, most of the children in the auditorium, including Maryanna and Peter had their hands over their ears from the very first beat.  They liked it though.  They joined in the gasping and laughter of all the other children when these two performers stepped out in their barely there costumes.  

What made their performance so impressive was the giant shadows projected across the whole ceiling.  Maryanna said their drumming shadows looked like dancing elephants and dinosaurs, it certainly sounded as such.  

This was indeed a full body performance, the drummers displayed the strength and stamina of professional athletes.  Peter liked when they hit their sticks at each other like sword fighters and I was most impressed with the segment of drummers on the floor rapidly drumming in a flexed abs position - that was a workout.

I kept thinking about the large wooden drums my Dad brought back from Africa.  They were loud and I use to like to bang on them - both when I was very happy and when I very angry.  I suppose banging on a drum is an urge most children have - mine came back.

Finally Maryanna told me she was getting a headache and turned her head to allow her eyes to wonder throughout the entire auditorium behind her.  She discovered the joy of people watching in a large crowd - I like to do that too, but mostly at sporting events.

This really was a great event to share with my "in the middle" children.  When we were through they convinced me to stop into Ben and Jerry's just around the corner.  We got ice cream cones and they finished them on the cold walk back to the car.

When we got to the car I reminded Peter how grateful I was he found my keys earlier - we headed straight to the grocery store with their faces still sticky with ice cream.  Their messy faces were just a reminder of all the fun we had together today.

And now I'm about to download some Kodo on itunes because there may be another rough morning that I need that deep beating rhythm to remind me that I truly am, very alive.