Last Friday night, as the Black Friday shopping was winding down,
The old Maynard Avenue church, a simple yet beautiful setting for the concert,
And good songs about good things is what Bill gave us, accompanying himself alternately on guitar,
And with this opening song the evening turned from a solo concert to a sing-along, as those of us in the audience who cut our teeth - or, should I say, our ears? - on that first generation of Walt Disney movie songs couldn't resist jumping right in on that early classic.
Nor could we resist joining in with many of the other fun tunes and ballads Bill sang, such as Louis Armstrong's "It's a Wonderful World", John Denver's "Sunshine", "The Lord Is Good To Me" from Walt Disney's "Johnny Appleseed", the Bing Crosby 1950's hit "Counting Your Blessings", "Oh, what A Beautiful Morning", "I Believe," "America The Beautiful," and a song reminicent of old lovers who've had the blessing of sharing many years together, the meltingly beautiful "My Cup Runneth Over With Love."
Bill also played a 1939 recording of an old Eddie Cantor song called "The Only Thing I want For Christmas Is To Keep The Things I've Got", which had a chilling effect as Bill reminded us that over the next few years as events exploded across Europe millions would lose everything they had, many millions their lives.
Between songs Bill offered some thoughtful quotes, in his words "reminding us of our many. many blessings on Planet Earth" among them this quote attributed to Buddha:
Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us be thankful.
Bill sang and led us in song for two delightful hours, at the end of which he stayed around to mingle with his appreciative audience. I went up to him and thanked him for the music, taking his hands.
"Oh wow, your hands are ice cold!" I remarked.
"It's 'cause I'm nervous," he replied with a self-depreciating smile.
"Oh, well, you know, you really don't have to be," I told him.
Anyway, each morning since the concert I now wake up and find myself starting the day with a chorus of "Zippity Do-Dah!" It makes kind of a nice complement to the "Thank You" prayer.