Ode to Joy 12/29/00

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra closed its season last night with a rousing

presentation of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, the Choral Symphony, which includes

the "Ode to Joy."  My goodness, what a lot of memories it sparked.

The memory dearest to my heart is of  a summer many, many moons ago.  

Wynne Pitcairn, Mim, myself and Elsa went to the shore for a week - Ventnor, or Brigantine or Ocean City.  We had a house right on the beach.  Unfortunately, Wynne got sick almost as soon as we arrived.  In true Wynne style, she did not want the rest of us to miss out on a good time, so she had Mim drive her back to her Horigan grandparents' Bryn Athyn home where she could get TLC, recover and then come back to the shore for the rest of the stay. 

We missed them when they left, so I decided that we should take the jitney (a small bus) up to Atlantic City, stroll the boardwalk and see a movie.  We saw "HELP!" which starred the Beatles. 

My, how I enjoyed that movie. 

I remember the scene where the four of them entered what looked like the doors to four separate row houses, only to find they were in a large common room.  It was a delightful movie.  At one part, Ringo is threatened by  the a man-eating Bengal tiger.  A Scotland Yard inspector tells him that all will be well, that it was the famous man-eating Bengal tiger that had escaped from the famous London Zoo and that it could be soothed by hearing the "Ode to Joy."  The inspector starts singing it, then Ringo joins in, then the rest of the Beatles, then the rest of the Scotland Yard contingent, then the group gets larger and larger until there is a shot of an entire stadium singing the "Ode to Joy." 

It also reminds me of the television broadcasts of the Olympics.  I do not know if it still is, but the "Ode to Joy" was part and parcel of the telecasts at one time.  It always set my spirits soaring. 

Whenever I hear the "Ode toJoy," I think of  fun and exhilaration.  I think Beethoven would be pleased.

Have a warm, snug day.  We are expecting a major snowstorm tonight.  Brrrrr.

Take care - >>KRL<<