Page 2 - MidWeek - Aug 18 2021

2 MIDWEEK AUGUST 18, 2021
IOne Night Of ‘Led’
One morning, while walking my dog Zoey in the valley
t might not qualify as a miracle, but spending a safe evening out with friends can still be a rare luxury these days. Rightfully wary of attending large, social events
behind my house, something happened that would change my life.
around me, my busy unfor- giving mind quiets; the shrill background song of I-am- never-enough falls away. And something utterly immeasur- able arises. A peacefulness. A stillness. A glimpse into what’s possible. An aware- ness that maybe, just maybe, life is good and I am, in the end, enough.
Marcia Zina Mager is an international author, play- wright, award-winning poet and performer. As The Write Coach, she also helps men and women around the coun- try birth the book they’ ve always wanted to write. Visit
for the past 18 months, and even though now vaccinated, many are still having second thoughts about socializing as coronavirus cases here have risen dramatically this summer.
It was a beautiful Mililani day, but I couldn’t see it be- cause my mind kept shouting: The mortgage is due! The house is a mess! You didn’t complete those projects!
So it was a pleasure to dine outside with a few friends and then rock to the enthralling sounds of the Hawai‘i Sympho- ny Orchestra and Windborne’s “Music of Led Zeppelin” recently under the stars at the Waikīkī Shell. With a rare August breeze omnipresent, plus contact tracing, mandated proof of vaccine and social distancing in the seating area, it was a great night to watch symphonic rock frets born from Chicago and Delta blues without fretting too much about the virulent, delta variant blues.
Overwhelmed, I sat down on the grass. Zoey bounded past me, happily sniffing a tree. But my mind wouldn’t cease: Why can’t you make more money? Why can’t you work harder? Why can’t you do more and be like everyone else?
Taking in the world around us helps calm the mind.
I’d somewhat forgotten how live music can lift one’s spirit, soul and physical essence, as we soaked up one clas- sic Led Zeppelin cut after another. Mesmerizing, melliflu- ous music for the masses, a beautiful venue, a gorgeous night and a fulfilling dinner — all things we might have simply called “Friday” two years ago, but nowadays it’s an elusive wonder.
A group of noisy parrots startled me out of my dark thoughts. Landing high in the tree above me, their bright green and red feathers shim- mered in the morning sun. Something powerful swept over me. My mind quieted. I looked up at the crystal clear blue sky. I listened to the
That experience has stayed with me. Ever since then, whenever I walk my dog or step outside to get the mail or empty the trash, I find myself remembering that moment in the valley; and suddenly I pop out of that familiar whirlwind of thinking that tells me I’ m not doing enough or being enough. That’s when I notice the evening sky, the crescent moon, the flock of egrets
That simple moment walk- ing Zoey gave me something priceless, something that has transformed this crazy year of pandemic isolation and glob- al upheaval. That something is this: Life is everywhere. Nature is everywhere. The sun keeps shining. The birds keep singing. Families ride by on bicycles.
her at marciazinamager.com. Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens
Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
The orchestra provided ample depth to the Windborne players, which included a few spellbinding solos by elec- tric performers. The authentically covered Zep tunes were performed in the right register by Brody Dolyniuk, whose sincere, soaring Robert Plant-astic vocals included memo- rable grunts at the appropriate moments in a dozen famil- iar tunes. It took me back to July 7, 1973, when I happily witnessed the real Led Zeppelin at Chicago Stadium. Yup, 48 years ago.
When I remind myself to look more deeply, listen more deeply and notice the world
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Remembering Who I Really Am
“Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking. Live in silence.” — Rumi, 13th century Sufi poet
KELLEY
singsong chatter of the birds. And as strange as it sounds, I felt, in that instant, that every- thing was fine.
flying overhead. I notice the comforting sound of children laughing and dogs barking.
with Marcia Zina Mager
And with few cell phones obnoxiously held up for inane, social media one-upmanship (“Nanny nanny boo boo! Look where I was that you weren’t!”), the show flowed without interruption, save for an unnecessary 20-minute intermission. I mean, come on! Older people do need to get home by 9 p.m.!
But the point is, if just for one night, I was happily re- minded how the old normal felt, and reawakened to what we will inevitably get back to, albeit later than we planned due to. Well, nevermind. We’re divided enough without another pundit’s shot in the arm. So keep on rockin’ in the free world (thanks Neil Young) and search for safe, soul-sal- vaging diversions until the coast — and everywhere else — is clear enough to let your guard down.
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com