Gratitudes 9: turtles, music, etc.

I missed a few days, but today I was paying attention. 

1. For the first time in the 30-plus years we've lived here and walked, not daily, but at least several times a week, around our local Frog Pond—today, for the very first time, we saw a little turtle swimming in the pond! I think it was a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). It's a popular pet, so we wondered if it was released by someone tired of their pet... It's also on the list of the 100 worst invasive alien species. But if this one was released alone (and isn't a female with fertilized eggs, which—what are the chances?), we're probably safe from being overrun by turtles. I dunno: I was rather charmed and thrilled to see this little guy periscoping through the water. Maybe I shouldn't be? Or maybe it's a different kind of turtle entirely, and they've been here all these years? Alas, I will never know. But you can bet I'll be looking for him/her/it (but hopefully not them) the next time we take our regular stroll around the Frog Pond.

2. Another Carmel Bach Festival concert tonight, this one a collaboration of a couple of favorites, violinist Edwin Huizinga and guitarist William Coulter, with the beautiful participation of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, a baritone, and a small chamber ensemble. The music ranged from the first piece of notated music from 1400 BC to Procul Harem's "Whiter Shade of Pale," Paul Simon's "American Tune," and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," via Bach, Gounod, and Josquin des Prez, among others. It was thoroughly delightful, the eclecticism and performances both. 

Here's a lyre rendition of the Hurrian Hymn, as the ancient piece is called (tonight's was all voices):

And here's Paul himself a few years ago singing "American Tune"—which every time I hear it, it feels ever more on point, sadly.

I am really grateful that Paul Simon has been part of my whole life. What a musician.

And I'm always grateful for Edwin and William, aka Fire and Grace. Here they are with a little duet they performed this evening.

No #3 today per se, though I'd throw into a general glad-to-be-alive stewpot having finished True Grit (book report of sorts t/k), and running into Laura and Russell at the concert, and sitting next to June, a soprano in David's chorus whom I hadn't yet met, and having a nice conversation with her, and at intermission running into Doug, the drummer in David's defunct band Sidelobe, who made me laugh, and being treated to all sorts of delectable Persian aromas throughout the afternoon as David started cooking an elaborate meal, to be served up tomorrow. Plenty to be grateful for. For sure.