After hearing about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing and her quick and ruthless replacement, thoughts and emotions flowed through me faster than I could process them: grief, anger, frustration, helplessness, more fury, fear, trepidation for what is to come; my surge capacity was almost ready to spill over! I learned about the term for the first time as I listened to a beautiful online Erev Yom Kippur service from Shir Tikvah Synagogue in Winchester, MA. The wonderful and insightful Rabbi Cari Bricklin-Small talked about how all of us have surge capacity, a set of adaptations that we draw on in stressful situations and that at times this can be depleted. But then, I remembered RBG’s tenacity, her strength of character, her passion for the arts, her love of country and her family and her willingness to really listen and respect other’s opinions. As an email popped up on my computer screen reminding me to keep making phone calls in Battleground States, I realized clearly that it is now our turn to carry her torch forward to continue the fight for equality for all people- then I felt gratitude and thanks for what she accomplished.
Yesterday we took a hike to a bucolic and peaceful pond; Bear Swamp in Ashfield, Massachusetts. Luckily my Native American Flute was stowed safely in my husband Paul’s backpack. As I walked through the pine woods and saw a pond, the perfect melody came to me. Yom Kippur started the next day; the melody is partly to commemorate the observance of Kol Nidre and it also a piece of music to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As I started to play, I poured all of my turbulent emotions from the last few days into the short intervals of the piece.
After I played, I felt peace, resolve and determination. I hope that this music will help to honor her memory and for the moment my surge capacity was renewed!
* Threnody-a wailing ode, song, hymn or poem of mourning composed or performed as a memorial.
A Musician's Travels 