It only seems logical to write about love this month for several reasons: (1) Valentine’s day is in February and (2) I officially moved in with my lover on February 16th.
One of my favorite stanzas from Dante’s Paradiso is “the love that moves the sun and the other stars.” “L’amor che move ‘l sole e l’altre stelle” in Italian. If you sense a theme about Italy, it’s because we are going to Italy in the fall and – after all – it is all about the Easy Life. So it makes sense to tie in a little Italian each month.
“Dante’s Paradiso” may not be a song but it is a poem, which is like a song in a way. Music tells a story, it fills our souls, and connects us. At the end of the day – no matter who you are – we all have the same emotions and one of those emotions that everyone can relate to is love. How many songs are about love? Falling in love, the ups and down of love, aching for love, breaking out of love. The list goes on and on. I often wonder if music could be the way to peace. Think about the times when you are at a concert with thousands of people and everyone is singing along…it’s as if the voices and melodies move through us and for a moment we are like the sun and stars.
Rich and I fell in love through the notes of many songs. 30 years ago in a car ride out to Sonoma with a mutual friend, he and I sang along to Roy Head’s “Treat Her Right”. Even though we don’t now remember all the details of that day, we always remember our love for music and singing along to that song.
I was down in Florida for a couple of months during the Covid days and each day he would share a song with me and include a short and sweet story and so a modern day mixed tape via Spotify was born. As I often say, “He had me at mixed tape” and that’s how DJ Rich won my heart.
And shortly after our first official date, the first official playlist was created on Valentine’s Day, 2022. It was called “The love that moves the sun and other stars”.
I actually didn’t realize that until now.
I guess I can dedicate this to the one I love!
The Love that Moves the Sun and Others Stars – Public Playlist on Spotify
TL's Moments 