Category Archives: Family

Purple, not flowers, coat

Lucy’s house
Albuquerque, New Mexico
21 March 2025

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Purple flowers Albuquerque 1

Lucy’s house
Albuquerque, New Mexico
21 March 2025

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20 March 2025

Walking. Albuquerque. The Shire to Narnia.
Spring equinox.
Spring – Tracy Chapman –
Beech Spring – Lewis & Clark – Original Soundtrack Recording
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Very Slowly – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Allegro – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Moderato – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Fast – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Subito Allegro – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Copland: Appalachian Spring – As At First (Slowly) – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Doppio Movimento – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic
Copland: Appalachian Spring – Moderato, Coda – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Le Sacre du Printemps – Pt. I: I. Introduction – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: II. The Augurs of Spring: Dances of the Young Girls – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: III. Ritual of Abduction – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: IV. Spring Rounds – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: V. Ritual of the Rival Tribes – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: VI. Procession of the Sage – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: VII. The Sage – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: VIII. Dance of the Earth – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps – Pt. 2: IX. Introduction p Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: X. Mystic Circles of the Young Girls – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: XI. Glorification of the Chosen One – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: XII. Evocation of the Ancestors – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: XIII. Ritual Action of the Ancestors – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Le Sacre du Printemps: XIV. Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One) – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan
Sparrows in the Spring Grass – Jessita Reyes
The Sun Shines – Ojibway People
Travelling Through Wonders – Marie & Julia Thomsen
My Fellow Creatures -5 Carlos Cipa
Spring – Hania Rani
Ostara – Lisa Thiel
Serenade To Spring – Secret Garden
The Lullaby of Spring – Donovan
Spring In Manhattan – Meredith d’Ambrosio
The Harvest Home Suite: Spring – Jay Ungar
Herald of Spring – Peter Ostroushko
Sakamoto’s Spring – TOKiMONSTA
Silent Spring – emma’s revolution
So Early, Early In the Spring – Judy Collins
Some Other Spring – Billie Holiday
Spring Is Here – Ahmad Jamal
Spring Always Takes You By Surprise – Lydia Adams Davis
Spring Sunshine – Roh Young Sim
The Springtime It Brings On the Shearing – Seona McDowell
Springtime Laughter – Spyro Gyra
summerfallwinter spring – JANNABI
Vivaldi – Spring (After The Four Seasons, RV 269) – Black Violin
When Springtime Comes Again – Verm Williams
Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “La Primavera” (Spring): I. Allegro – Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “La Primavera” (Spring): II. Largo – Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “La Primavera” (Spring): III. Allegro – Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Four Seasons – Melanie Durrant
Here Comes The Sun – Richie Havens
Here Comes the Sun – Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Kate Markowitz, Andrea Zonn & Caroline Taylor
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles

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“You do magic.”

“Now Gimli, you do magic,” Lucy directed.

I sat on a chair atop an elevated slab of concrete at the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo. Lucy and her grandmother (Tricia) sat on a bench facing me.

I did not think quickly enough to say that magic is Gandalf’s gig, not Gimli’s. I did recall my one magic trick guaranteed to impress everyone.

“Watch me pull a bald head from a hat,” I said.

Slowly and dramatically I removed my hat to reveal … a bald head.

When Lucy asked for another trick, wishful thinking took over.

“Watch me pull a head with hair from a hat.” Major failure as the revealed pate was once again bald.

“My head has hair,” laughed Lucy kindly as she came to stand beside me.

“Let’s see if this works,” I mused. I placed the hat on her head. “Abracadabra,” I intoned. I removed the hat and revealed a mass of hair.

“My turn,” declared Lucy. I went to sit with Tricia.

“Pocus-pocus,” Lucy chanted. I’m not sure what was supposed to happen. And in the end it does not matter.

The magic and wonder of the day lay not in any tricks we did or did not perform.

The magic and wonder lay in the imagination and love of a child.

The imagination …
… that transformed any elevated space into a stage where one could dance with abandon or direct a magic show …
… that realized the ramp to the observation deck at the monkey exhibit provided an entry point to a ship of some sort and we needed to help each other on board …
… that envisioned a chair as throne …
… and that made music with abandon on a suspended wooden xylophone.

The love …
… demonstrated by utter comfort and absolute confidence in her grandmother’s arms …
… shown in kindness to other visitors …
,,, and expressed in appreciation for the creatures with whom we share God’s creation.

As I give thanks for Lucy’s imagination and love, I hope I can recover some of that myself. For it is a joyful, joy-inspiring, joyous way to live.

The image is from Lucy’s coat sleeve.

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28 January 2025

Most days no introduction to the playlist is provided. Today, as does every January 28, marks an exception.

About today’s playlist.
Fifty-one years ago today, my father, William H. Koenig, died in a plane crash. A private pilot, he was flying with a colleague to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to advocate for funds for the Grove City school district where they were working. My father served as the assistant superintendent.

They did not make it to the state capital. The plane went down. Both men died.

Prior to becoming a school administrator he had been a high school band director. He kept his hands in music as he career moved in a different direction. He played string bass in the pit orchestra for high school musicals and he was the first director of the hand bell choir at our church.

He also directed a community band for several years. For two years, I played baritone horn in that band.

One or another of the bands my father directed, played almost all of the songs on this playlist at some point. Many of them I played under my father’s direction.

Dad – since it fell unto your lot
That you should rise and I should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Good night and joy be with you

Walking. North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center.
Unless otherwise noted, the artist performing the songs is the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.
Light Calvary Overture – London Festival Orchestra
Semper Fidelis
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Radetsky March, Op. 228
Under the Double Eagle
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Stars and Stripes Forever
The British Grenadiers
Rule Bittania
The National Emblem
Rakoczy March/Hungarian March
March of the Toreadors from Carmen, Suite No. 1
Coronation March from Le Prophete
March from the Love for Three Oranges, Op. 33a
War March of the Priests from Athalie, Op, 74
Grand March from Aida
Procession of the Sardar from Two Caucasian Sketches, Op. 10
March from Symphonic Metamorphoses
Pomp and Circumstance
Scotland the Brave – The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment
Anchors Aweigh
Le Marseillaise
Fest March from Tanhauser
Colonel Bogey

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You’re Gimli

Ten consecutive days of stretching paid off. When the dance instructor told everyone, students and accompanying adults alike, to get on the floor, I made it. Without hurting myself. Without hurting anyone else. Without embarrassing myself. I made. I even managed to let Lucy sit on my leg without a problem.

“Let’s go around the circle and say our names,” the instructor directed. In turn, students and adult stated their name. Our turn came.

“I’m Lucy,” she said with confidence.”

“I’m Mark,” I said.

Lucy whipped around, put her hand on my mouth, and declared, “No. You’re Gimli.”

“And I’m Lucy,” she affirmed as she turned back to the class.

“It’s a Lord of the Rings thing,” I observed. Everyone laughed. The naming ritual continued.

It took a while to get here. But I am Gimli.

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1 October 2024

Day 1.
Walking 62 Miles for the American Cancer Society
Walked in Midway Airport during a layover.
Miles walked: 2.28
Total miles: 2.28
Miles left: 59.72
Soroco – Agua Clara
IMPORTED – Jessie Reyez & 6LACK
La Fonda – Victor Jara
Milagro – Santana
Prenda Del Alma – Los Lobos
Somos La Fuerza Latina – Varios artistas
Carnival In Harlem – Tito Puente
Puedes Decir De Mi – Adrian Quesada & Gaby Moreno
Anquayo – Luis Cachiguango
!Salta! ¡Salta! – Zona Neón & Gaby Moreno
Huayno del Guallatiri Inti-Illimani
1,2,3 (Remix) – Gloria Estefan
El Baile Madrigal – Encanto
Hielo Seco Adrian Quesada, Money Mark & Marc Ribot




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Old photographs

Old photographs

Dust accumulated
through years of storage brings
coughing and sneezing,
itching and wheezing.
Faded images stir
vibrant memories of
people and places,
life and love shared.
Sorrow and joy,
joy and sorrow
mingle with the dust.
And the question lingers:
why are there tears?

17 September 2024
Germantown, Louisville, Kentucky

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Filed under Family, Friends, Louisville, Poem, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

I will be walking 62 Miles in October

In memory of friends we have lost,
in honor of friends who have overcome,
in anticipation of friends who will receive the diagnosis,
I am taking part in the
American Cancer Society’s
Walk 62 Miles in October.
Watch for posts – starting October 1.
But you can get a jump on supporting this effort.
Donate at:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/488632167350335/

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Purple flowers, guest collection #262

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Essie and Lucy Koenig-Reinke
!4 September 2024

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