I am walking around feeling so blessed and inspired, these days!

For starters, every day since I moved, I walk through Harvard Yard on my way to class. It's beautiful, and impressive, and reminds me what a lucky girl I am to be in this place.

Second-- I got to hear Yo Yo Ma, Lynn Chang and Richard Kogan (and two of their children!) play on Tuesday at Memorial Hall. It was edifying. It left me happy for a day and a half, all the way through getting very little sleep and writing a hard paper. We sat in the third row! The performers were witty, playful, passionate and so obviously enjoying the music, one another's company and the chance to play together. The program-- Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms-- and the entire experience felt fresh and real. SO, so good for my heart!

And tonight, Anna and I got to hear some spoken word, rap, hip hop guys at the Middle East. Amazing!!! I've never heard anything like it. I loved it. Really! (I knew I was going to appreciate it, but I didn't know how much I'd really like it, and feel comfortable in it.) It was smart, musically impressive truth-telling. With a heart beat. There were five acts-- my favorites were Jared Paul, Bernard Dolan and Sage Francis (the guy we went to hear). Crazy how there are these themes in my thinking, these days, that run through everything. Today it was foster care/child welfare, minstrel shows and poetry. The guys also did some great stuff about overpopulation and the whole pro-choice pro-life thing ("cause I'm pro-choice...for life."), the war, American bigots...

p.s. Today's my friend Beth's birthday! We were roommates (with Andrea!) in college, and she's one of my favorite people-- truly kind, an amazing mom, a dedicated teacher and friend. She's got this beautiful smile that truly lights up a room. :) Happy birthday, Beth!