On Lederhosen and Being Lonely (or not)

So to bring you up to speed, in case you’ve just started reading, and think this is a blog about German fashion and its impact on the Emo sensibility, I can’t emphasise enough how much it isn’t that.

It is in fact a blog about moving to Boston, and learning to play jazz on the harp. In disguise.

This is the second part of a blog trilogy. A triblogy, if you will. I wouldn’t blame you if you won’t. Scroll down for the first bloglet, this blogette will be about the moving bit, and the next blogino will be about the jazz harp bit. Phew!

I’m here in Boston, and I pretty much don’t know anybody here. Let’s see.

• I know my teacher Deborah Henson-Conant, who I am living with, and her husband Jonathan, who is very kind, and bought me apples yesterday (Thanks Jonathan!)
• And I know a very nice family, who took me to the cinema last week to see Moneyball - my first American cinema AND baseball experience all in one! (American audiences, in turns out, are MUCH more responsive, emotive and audible in a cinema situation - a trait that I personally find very endearing. In other news, I drank a root beer the size of my head.)

Now that I’m taking classes at Berklee, I’m also meeting all kinds of interesting and talented people there, the fun times and good conversation flow and so on and so forth BUT there are two events coming up, for which it is my belief that new friends, no matter how jazz-competent, just won’t cut the mustard. 

• Activity #1 THE LION KING 3D has just come out in the cinema 
• Activity #2 At The Regent, my local theatre, they are hosting a SOUND OF MUSIC SINGALONG. 

Today I had to make an important decision. I am currently spending a hefty chunk of every day on my own. Before I left, I thought this might prove to be a problem. I have a rich inner life, sure, but up until now, I’ve always been happiest in good company. However, it’s actually surprisingly jolly. I spend most of the day practising, and its BLISS being able to play for as long or as little as I like, have a little amble, then get back in the game. My ten coins are veritably ZIPPING around. And when I need a little break, I have found places that keep me happy and focused: the pond by my house, that is almost absurdly serene; the wonderful bookshop/café near Berklee where you can get a coffee as big as a head-sized root beer, or better yet, bubble tea with ginger ice cream, and eggs of many styles. They also have the best and most thoughtful book selection I have ever come across; there’s a bench in Davis Square (half an hour away by bicycle, which, for me is child’s play now), underneath a particularly handsome tree, where you can always have a brilliant view of consistently excellent buskers. In fact, much more so than London (and I never thought I’d say this), Boston really is alive with music all the time. More often than not, the air is thick with the slapped hum of a double bass, or the purr of some distant saxophone. On a more jarring note, there’s an ice-cream van parked outside my window every day at four (Arlington is that kind of town) and his song is very syrupy INDEED.

This brings me back to my pathetic quandary re: The Sound of Music Singalong.

I LOVE The Sound of Music. I love Liesl, I love Friedrich, Marta, the whole gang. Well, not the whole gang, actually. Rolf can take a hike. But his role is valuable in terms of the film’s valuable social realism, so carry on. Likewise, Maria’s haircut.

I especially love Captain Von Trapp. Is there a more handsome man than the young Christopher Plummer? I think not. The scene where he and Maria are dancing in the garden (is it a Ländler? I’m going to say it’s a Ländler - do correct me if I’ve got my Austrian folk dances mixed up. AGAIN.) and he straightens his gloves and says ‘Back off Kurt, this is a man’s game’ (I paraphrase) - swoon city.

I’m not ashamed to tell you that The Lonely Goatherd is on my iTunes Top 25 Most Played (cruelly appropriate, given the title of this blog). It’s the modulation on 'Oh Happy are they’. (around 2:34). Gets me every time. FYI, I didn’t even have to look that up. Is that impressive? I just don’t know anymore.

Find me a montage in the history of cinema better than the Von Trapp children learning to sing! Not even ROCKY can compete with the juggling oranges, the new clothes, the carriage zipping around Salzburg, and the frolicking, oh! the frolicking. It’s a bit weird when the children start walking towards Julie Andrews on their knees, bobbing up and down like happy little clowns, but I’ll forgive them anything! I can even forgive Charmian Carr for releasing not one, but TWO autobiographies with the word 'Liesl’ in the title.

AND The Sound of Music taught me solfege! Moveable do-a-deer is an INVALUABLE learning tool. And I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

Where was I? Oh right! Not having any friends! (it’s circumstantial, yeah?)

It is one thing to ask in a local Italian take-away place if they do small pizzas, and to be told, with a withering stare, they only do family size, but you’re really admitting something to yourself by going to both the singalong AND The Lion King 3D, as a lone wolf.

And I COULD try and drag and unsuspecting new friend, BUT would I rather have to look cool, laid back, and do ironic dancing throughout 'How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?’ or would I rather let my hair down and get seriously stuck in to the weird cuckoo song, complete with all the ridiculous bobbing? I think we all know it’s the latter. And, frankly, I’m not sure any of my fledgling friendships could take the heat.

I sought the counsel of my dear friend Keith. He kindly suggested that a solo singalong would be sadder because I’d have nobody to sing with , and I’d have to find a singing buddy, so I should cut my losses. Not exactly the Judgement of Solomon… (But if it had been, I would have said CUT LIESL AND RAFIKI IN HALF, AND FORM ONE SUPER FILM WE CAN ALL SHARE! You keep Kurt and Nala, I’ll take Zazu and Cousin Max!)

I know what you’re thinking - If only I’d made friends with Mr. Lederhosen! Hindsight. 20/20. You know the score.

Coming soon: MY DECISION (worthy of capitalisation? YES! … MAYBE) and the great concert that prompted it!