Magic, Love, and Music
By David Reiersgord
I was at a cabin in northern Minnesota earlier this week, speaking on the phone with my mother about her thoughts on game 3 of the NBA Finals. She was happy the Magic had made things interesting; she still couldn't stand Dwight Howard. Not much sticks out in my memory from the conversation, except for a story she was describing to me from the halftime show about an autistic boy.
According to her description, this four-year-old boy hadn't spoken a word, prompting his family to grow anxious. However, everything changed the first time he watched the Orlando Magic on TV. Suddenly, he spoke, "play", both baffling and surprising his father at the same time.
His father faced a decision; either continue to make payments on the mortgage, or get his son to the finals, giving him the chance of a lifetime. The NBA got word of this story, and made this family's dream come true. They provided everything from airfare, to transportation -- throughout the remaining games in the series.
Something about this story puts a big smile on my face. There are certain individuals, such as athletes, actors, musicians, or ordinary people, who all possess a gift. Each one of them has the unique ability to inspire people they don't even know.
The first time I had ever had my heart broken was not by a girl. It was by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in 2004 when they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4 games to 2 in the Western Conference Finals. I had never cared about anything so much before. The only thing that mattered was a Wolves victory. There was a dark cloud hanging over the lunch table the following day.
This father risked his home so he could see his son smile. The Orlando Magic made this happen. Beyond the basketball court is a sense of joy from being able to enjoy something we all love. Beyond the fame, these players provide an escape for people from their everyday lives. Beyond the statistics, personal awards, and incredible amounts of money, these same players are human beings, and being able to provide immense amounts of joy is more important than the aforementioned.
I then came across the name Matthew Wadleigh. Who is this person, you might be asking yourself? He has attended DMB shows for a while, and always brought a sign with him, reading the simple message of, "Love".
Sadly, Matthew passed away recently. There's a thread at antsmarching.org that was started, only to have many people post their stories and sightings of Matthew at shows. It's truley remarkable, actually. Think of all detailed signs that you've seen at shows before. I'm guessing that not one of them is as clear, nor does it appeal to so many, as Matthew's does.
Usually, those who bring signs to DMB shows arrogantly boast about how many shows they've attended, or write the song they desire the most. But this one is different. With only that one word, you're forced to think about exactly that, love.
When I think of the word love, I become flooded with thoughts about my family and friends, and how much I care about them. I think about the memories I have with all of them. The laughter that ensues after a terrible joke, or the smiles that arrive when you return from school, reuniting with your best friends after being away for 5 months.
I'm only 19 years old, so the word "love" doesn't carry the significance that it may bear for you. But, I'm starting to see how much I love the people I'm around. I'm starting to see how much they mean to me. Most importantly though, I'm starting to see how these same people are slowly making me into the person that I am. I would be nothing without them.
In my opinion, music has made all of this possible. Wherever I am, I try to find music. It's followed me everywhere I go. Music has this strange power that drives me crazy.
Go back to the cabin for only a second. The night before I spoke with my mother, a friend and I did our best imitation of the song "Highly Suspicious" by My Morning Jacket. If you've ever heard the song, you'll know why this would be interesting. At 2 in the morning, in the middle of nowhere, my friend and I poured our hearts and souls into the performance. Even Jim James would be impressed.
This is what not only music is meant for, but sporting events, or movies. Each one of them allows us to step outside of the normal life and forget about everything else. We're able to make fools of ourselves without any fear. We're able to have a great time with complete strangers. Music reminds me that, however original and personal my innermost thoughts may be, someone else feels the same exact way. Nothing else has ever made me feel the way music has.
There's a whole 'nother world out there waiting to be discovered. Do yourself a favor, and get out there in search of it. Try something new. You never know what you might find, or whom you may meet.
David Reiersgord is a Content Editor for Weekly Davespeak. You can contact him at david.reier@gmail.com
