October 2, 2021
By Arthur H. Gunther III
The cadence of life is the music we exist by, live by, endure by, thrill by, emote by, give birth by, laugh and cry by, die by. It is to each a unique song. Some sing better, some are almost tone deaf. Some never set the volume right. Others are a full orchestra. Some are simple notes. Others are complex chords.
Once, a long time ago – time is relative, though, so the moment could be now – a particular rhythm caught my step, and I was on top of the world, four beats then two repeated as the riff for the full melody. Plans and worries did not exist in the young world – the future would play out; somehow matters would fall in place. For now, for then, it was the music of romance.
Little things gave sustenance – a car ride; the goose bumps of just talking and listening when there seemed to be sync between two; she borrowed your jacket in the cold; moments of silence that were not uneasy but rather proof that two could chill, could let the 4/2 riff continue before the next conversation.
In time, the music changed, at least the tune. It never died, but other scores were written elsewhere, with new songwriters.
As with any mix of notes, melodies, the mind can replay a certain tune from a certain time, especially when the special riff pops into your head.
The writer is a retired newspaperman. ahgunther@yahoo.com
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