A few days ago, my good friend, David Paraiso, sent me a copy of
his book. According to him it “started
as an alumni memorabilia project which morphed into #1 Best Seller in the
Family and Parenting category of lulu.com.”
The title of the book,
which is also available in amazon.com, is:
Growing Up and Parenting:
Two score and Four Years Ago
Collected by David Paraiso
Copyrighted (2013)
This is not a
book review. I will do that another day. After reading most parts of the
book, I sent David this message:
“I like the use of multimedia in delivering
the messages - most especially, the hit songs in a given era reflecting the
noblest emotions of a given generation embodied in the lyrics. It reminds
me of what I wrote in the "Lessons From My Father" which can be read
in this link:
For
this column, let me illustrate how David effectively used some hit songs in
depicting one’s Life Story:
As a Toddler, life is captured through the
song, “Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star”:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
(continued...)
As an adolescent, love expectations are captured by “It
Must be Him” by Vicki Karr
I tell myself what's done is
done
I tell myself don't be a fool
Play the field have a lot of fun
It's easy when you play it cool
I tell myself don't be a chump
Who cares, let him stay away
That's when the phone rings and I
jump
And as I grab the phone I pray
Let it please be him, oh dear God
It must be him or I shall die
Or I shall die
Oh hello, hello my dear God
It must be him but it's not him
And then I die
That's when I die
(continued...)
· Then, heart break is captured by “The
End of the World” by Skeeter Davis:
Why does the sun go on
shining?
Why does the sea rush to
shore?
Don't they know it's the end
of the world?
'Cause you don't love me any
more
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love
(continued...)
· Then, dreaming is captured by “Over
the Rainbow” by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole:
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true
Someday, I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Oh why, oh why can't I?
(continued...)
The
post-adolescent experience is captured by “Sunrise Sunset” from the Fiddler on
the Roof
Is this the little girl I carried? Is this
the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older; When did
they?
When did she get to be a beauty? When did
he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday; When they were small?
Sunrise, sunset; Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days; Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
(continued...)
Holidays and family get together are
captured in “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby:
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all
Your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
(continued...)
Each time a loved one fades away, the
following music and lyrics resonate among us - “Going Home” by Dvorak:
Going home, going home
I'm jus' going home
Quiet like, some still day
I'm jus' going home
It's not far, yes close by
Through an open door
Work all done, care laid by
Going to fear no more
Mother's there 'specting me
Father's waiting, too
Lots of folk gathered there
All the friends I knew
All the friends I knew
I'm going home
(continued...)
The collective message in his book is best captured in “Wonderful World” by
Louis Armstrong and Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole:
I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful
world.
The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
They're really sayin......I love you.
I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
They'll learn much more.....than I'll never
know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful
world
Yes I think to myself .......what a
wonderful world.
(continued...)
I assure you the book is more than just this
illustration. There are specific
narratives by David and his batch mates at the University of the East High
School Class 1969, and there are links to references, movies/videos, and famous
passages. Reading it would make you a learned,
cultured, romantic that you already are, and of course, a cool, hot and trendy
dude.
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