Harpsichord Music and Other Benefits Civilization Provides Me

I had too many too late nights this week at work. (Hence the blogging silence...)

One of the things I like about working late, though, is what's on the radio on my way home. That is, if I didn't have a cd playing earlier. If I didn't, I get to hear NPR briefly.

I usually get to hear about 2 minutes of Wednesday Night Opera, since I've got a service that night and frequently a meeting after. (Operas are long, so it rarely matters what time things get over; it's still there.)

But this week, coming home somewhen between 11 and 12 on Tuesday and Thursday both, I got to hear harpsichord music. I love harpsichord music. But it's one of those things that I don't usually think about loving. If somebody asked me what kind of music I like to listen to, it probably wouldn't even make the list. But I love the sound of the harpsichord. We had one once, for a while, growing up. It was on loan from the college, I think, because they didn't have anywhere else they wanted to put it. So it lived in my keyboardist sister's room for a while. She hardly ever played it though.

I have to make a confession now. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a pledging member of public radio. I would like to be. I feel like I should be. But I also haven't had a raise in 3 years, and the money I do give away goes to things that are more directly related to feeding and housing people. And the main thing, here, is that I only hear public radio in the car, and I live 2 blocks from work, so I'm not in the car much on a regular basis. The station comes from the big city in the middle of the Heart of Dixie, so the reception over here in east Central HoD is not always that reliable. This is how I've rationalized it at least.

The point of all this is to say, I am really grateful that once in a while, I get to hear harpsichord music on the radio. And I would miss it, if only unconsciously, if it were gone. So I am very, very grateful to the pillars of civilization who make sure that it isn't gone, along with all the other wonderful things on NPR and various other cultural enrichments available to me. As soon as we become a two-income family, I hope to join you. Thanks!