Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Insomnia Issues

The daughter's wedding went beautifully, thank you all for your well wishes. It was a long weekend and isn't over yet. Wish I could sleep but insomnia reigns due to sensory overload. The emotions with their highs and lows. The fatigue which for me is always trumped by nerves. The comedy, the tragedy, the tears of joy, relief, sorrow and basically the entire human experience thrown together and wrapped up into one incredible event.

I can't wait to see the pictures, yet what camera could capture all that was my daughter's wedding. Nor song either, although opera might work in some instances.

And now that it's over, I'm left with an intense desire to write a story. To express my emotions with words like this man does with music.(Result--music combined with story results in 4 minute clip rich in the pathos of human existence, viewed millions of times on You Tube.)

Thought question: Can books move us like music?

25 comments:

  1. I certainly think so!
    Hope you get some rest soon and glad the wedding went well.

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  2. Books can definitely move us as music does, sometimes even more so. Wishing you peaceful sleep and relaxation soon. Congratulations to the happy couple.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  3. Congratulations on your daughter's wedding. Hope you sleep well soon. As a fellow sufferer of insomnia, I can totally relate!

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  4. Absolutely, books can move us!

    Congratulations on what sounds like a wondrous wedding. I can only imagine what it feels like to be at that stage, but I am close enough that I am certain I would be moved by stories on the topic!

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  5. I'm sure your daughter's wedding was lovely. Congratulations to everyone.

    I think the emotional impact of a book is more gradual. The emotional impact of music is immediate, especially with the classics such as Beethoven or Vivaldi. At least for me. Then we have words with music. I'm thinking of Johnny Cash at the moment. His words and music move me emotionally - probably because I can actually understand what he's saying, unlike ABBA whose music I really like, but so often I can't understand the words because the "music" overpowers them. Well, just some thoughts. An interesting question to explore. After a somewhat insomniac night my head isn't too clear this morning. And it wasn't from a wedding!

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  6. again, congratulations!

    and i think books can books can move us emotionally, but i have to admit music seems to do it faster and more often!

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  7. Massive congrats to your daughter! Glad it went well, and wishing you some very sweet dreams - hopefully soon.

    I definitely think books can move us as much as music. Or even more!

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  8. Karen

    Many congratulations to you and your daughter. It sounds like you've been through a lot of stuff that could make its way into a story.

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  9. Congratulations on your daughter's wedding! I'm glad it went well!

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  10. Congratulations to your daughter and you! And I do think that books can move us like music does, though I think it depends on the books and the music. For example, I've never really been moved by any of my critical theory books, except for when I'm moved to rip out every page of them because they're a little frustrating to read sometimes.

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  11. Congratulations!
    Did someone take video of the wedding?

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  12. Congrats on your daughter's wedding. And, I think that books move us like music to an understanding of human nature, just in a different way.

    CD

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  13. Oh wow - you're daughter got married - how lovely!!!! Congratulations!!!

    Awww the lovely Paul Potts - what trouper!

    Good luck with your writing - enjoy!

    take care
    x

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  14. Congratulations on your daughter's wedding. It will take you a while to come down from the dizzy heights - no wonder you can't sleep. So stay up and write.

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  15. Thinking back to the many nights I've spent crying into the open pages of a book, I most definitely agree that the written word can move us. It can change lives. If the intent of the writer is to convey a specific message, the written word can be very effective. After all, Paul Potts' song wouldn't have been nearly as captivating without his story to go along with it.

    Congratulations on gaining a son!

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  16. I feel the pain, sista. My daughter was married recently too. Whew!

    Margot

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  17. Congratulations on your daughter's wedding! Not that I want my 14 year old to hurry up and get married, but I'm looking forward to her wedding. :)

    I do think books can inspire you to write other books. I've been reading one of Winston Churchill's books about WWII, I wasn't very far into it when I started making notes for picture book ideas...

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  18. Sharon, name of book?? This sounds like it's right up my alley! I'm also looking for a good, deep biography of Queen Victoria if anyone knows of one.

    Damsel, what? You can't possibly be old enough to marry off a daughter!

    Melinda, same here. Sobbing over stories. And yes, it's the common man story of Paul Potts that I love (along with his voice lol, AND the opera, especially Nisan Dorma).

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  19. Boy, can books move us. I read a Jodi Picoult novel, and I'm jello for a couple of days. Amazing and moving.

    I wish your daughter much happiness. Now it's time for you to put your feet up and try your best to relax. The sleep will come!

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  20. Sounds like you had a wonderful day. I hope you can relax soon, take a deep breath, and get back to writing.

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  21. Ohh I know that feeling.. not that I have a married daughter!! But when you experience something so moving, so major and so emotional it takes some time before you can work out the feelings. Writing will help.. and yes, I think poetry can move us in the immediate way that music can!

    Glad it was all so good!

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  22. Karen - I can't believe I missed this post about your daughter's wedding - belated congratulations to her, and congratulations to you, proud mother-of-the-bride! Cheers to you both. *raises glass*

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  23. I definitely think so. There have been some books that completely blow my mind and stick with me for a long time, just like a song.

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  24. Ah, memories of my daughter and son's weddings last year, come flooding back. I am so pleased all went well. May I wish her a lifetime of happiness.
    Grab those emotions and get them written down asap. :)

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