FeedEverybody is Talking About. . .Finding the Music In Life!
October 11, 2012 in Book Club Possibility, Elementary Educators, Helping Girls and Women Around the World, High School Teachers, Journal Writing, Korn-Grimani Sonia, Young Adult Novels Tags: Holocaust, Memoirs, WOW! blog tour, WOW! book giveaway contest
I am very excited about the current WOW! blog tour for the memoir, Sonia’s Song by Sonia Korn-Grimani. So excited that I’ll be hosting something to do with her book THREE times this month!(For a complete review and a guest post from Sonia, tune back in the week of October 22nd.)
I chose to feature Sonia and her book on my blog for a couple reasons. First, I believe in promoting books that show women’s strength and can inspire women and girls to live their best life. (I sound like Oprah, right?) Also, I think although this book is marketed to adults that teens could easily read it, enjoy it, and learn from it.
Today’s post is in participation with WOW! Women On Writing’s mass-blogging event, “Everybody is Talking About . . . Finding the Music in Life.” We are celebrating the release of Sonia’s Song (a memoir about surviving the Holocaust by this internationally-known singer) by Sonia Korn-Grimani. To read Sonia’s post and follow our symphony of participating bloggers, visit The Muffin at http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/. Share your comments on any participating blog for a chance to win a copy of Sonia’s Song, in print copy or e-book! You must leave a comment on my blog by Wednesday, October 17 at 8:00 pm CST to be entered to win the book.
I debated on whether or not to take this topic literally–and I decided to do a little of both. I don’t blog much anymore about my daughter or my experience having her 6.5 weeks early or spending one month in the NICU. But it was a time when music played a huge part in my life.
KB in the NICU about three weeks after she was born
One of the best “presents” I received from one of the NICU nurses was a radio/CD player. At first, I wasn’t sure if I should actually listen to it. If you know anything about preemies, they cannot be overstimulated. Sometimes, this means you cannot even touch them; or when you do, they just like your hand to be on them not moving. The lights were also usually dim in the room. After all, these little guys are supposed to STILL be in their mommies!
The nurse gave me a CD with some soothing music on it, and this was nice–at first. But again, I was there for hours. The music would put me right to sleep, and I actually had to make sure to pump on a regular schedule, do kangaroo care, talk softly to KB, and sometimes, do my freelance work! But I didn’t think she should listen to Top 40 or even classic rock or today’s country hits, so what to do? Then I remembered that Christmas always seemed to come earlier and earlier these days (KB was born on 10/26 and transferred to Children’s on 10/31), and I took a chance that the station that plays continuous Christmas songs 24/7 had already started that tradition. What could Christmas songs hurt? Shouldn’t KB hear about Jesus and Santa?
So, I turned the radio to the Christmas station, and the holiday spirit and joy filled KB’s NICU room in November 2010. I felt better–I felt connected to the outside world and even a bit normal. And who knows? Maybe that’s the reason she got to come home on Thanksgiving Day or maybe she was just tired of hearing continuous Christmas hits. . .
Have you found the music in life?
October 11th, 2012 at 6:12 am
Margo, although I certainly knew about KB’s early entry into the world, I wasn’t aware of how she was taken care of, or all preemies, for that matter. I can understand your loneliness, and yet not upset little KB with the wrong kind of music. Fantastic idea about the Christmas music! Every time I listen to those stations that start playing it way too soon, I’ll think of you and KB!
October 11th, 2012 at 7:00 am
Oh, Becky, thank you!
Nowadays, she likes the same music as her big brother–POP! She can sing right along with, “Call Me Maybe.” LOL!
October 11th, 2012 at 7:44 am
Margo, thanks for going back to that time. I did not know about the environment for preemies. Music is such a comfort!
October 11th, 2012 at 8:21 am
As someone who DJ’s for a variety of events, the truth of how music impacts our moments could not be more obvious to me. Something as simple as sharing a meal with soft music in the background can change the entire atmosphere of this tiny moment. What a blessing to be able to use music during this emotionally draining time to make the days brighter. I love Becky’s comment about “too early Christmas music” making her think of you and KB … what a great way to turn an annoyance into a smile.
October 11th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Wow, Margo, has it been that long already! I remember when you had KB and how hard we all prayed that you would all be OK. Wonderful story! Thanks for bringing a smile into my overcast day.
Oh, and Happy (almost) Birthday to KB!!
October 11th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Hope this goes through…it says I sent it twice, but I only hit comment once.
Wow, Margo, has it been that long already! I remember when you had KB and how hard we all prayed that you would all be OK. Wonderful story! Thanks for bringing a smile into my overcast day.
Oh, and Happy (almost) Birthday to KB!!
October 11th, 2012 at 10:54 am
This is a great post. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Music’s benefit to us is incalculable.
October 11th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Thank you for sharing your story Margo. It is heartwarming, and amazing what the medical world can do today. We can endure anything ,as long as it isn’t something wrong with our children. It must have been a most spiritual time for you. So happy all is well now.
Also wishing Sonia great success with her book. It seems she too is a person who has traveled the troubled road in life. But now she gets to inspire others, what a wonderful gift. May God Bless all of you.
October 11th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
What a beautiful story, Margo.
Thank you for sharing some of your NICU experience. Like others said, I had no idea about the womb-like environment. It makes sense! Personally, I’ve always found Christmas music comforting, even when everyone else is groaning around me for celebrating too early. It’s funny, we have a bunch of pics on our fridge of nieces and nephews, and the other day my hubby was looking at them and said, “Who’s that? Is she one of our nieces?” It was the adorable pic you sent me of KB last Christmas in her polka-dotted dress. 
Happy birthday to KB this month, and hugs to you both!!
October 11th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Hi Margo, Thank you for sharing your story of KB’s early birth. Having music to support, connect, and uplift you was a blessing. I can’t imagine a day or a world without music. It is truly a blessed gift from God, both to listen to and be able to sing. I wish Sonia much success, too.
October 11th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Thank you to everyone for leaving such nice comments!
@Angela–that’s funny that your husband was wondering if he was related to KB!
@Penelope: Music is so important–the more I thought about it today, the more I realized it.
@Susan: Definitely when something is wrong with our children–it is difficult and all consuming
@Carole, Patricia, Linda: THank you for your kind words and support
@Erin: I don’t think I knew you were a DJ too. You are amazing!
October 11th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
I can surely see how holiday music could jolly up your little KB.
Music is so evocative for me…so many tunes can transport me instantly to a time and place. And now you have this extra-special mommy-daughter memory. So that whenever you hear Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed Reindeer you’ll have this indescribable urge to…pump.
(I love that you shared this story, Margo. Honestly, music has brought me through many a tough time. Isn’t it amazing that a few notes can mean so much? Thanks for reminding me!)
October 12th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Thank you for sharing your story, Margo, it was heartwarming and of course with your writer’s talents, I could clearly “see” the scene you described. As a music lover, I was also thrilled that music played a role in your coping and your daughter’s strengthening. It’s amazing how powerful music can be!
Best of luck on your book too!
October 12th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your story. My grand baby was born at 36 weeks this january. We all breathed a major sigh of relief that Elinor managed to stay inside that long. I have some idea of how hard this was for you. What a beautiful little baby!
Blessings,
sue B
October 12th, 2012 at 7:37 pm
@Cathy I’m not sure if I will ever have the urge to pump!
@Susan: So glad your grandbaby is okay. I just remember them saying: Wait til 37 weeks–you’ll see such a difference. HEre’s hoping all babies can make it to 37 weeks!
@Melissa Thank you for your kind words!
October 14th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Touching story about your experience with music in the hospital with your daughter.
October 14th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
@lynn: THANK YOU!
October 17th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Cathy Hall–you were the winner from my blog and your name goes into the big drawing! Congrats.