Seasonal Blues

When you live in the Pacific Northwest during the months from November to February, days are short, skies are cloudy, and precipitation is frequent. By the time you get to March, a trip to a sunnier climate can become a necessity to overcome the Seasonal Blues. Over these past two months, I can definitely see myself slipping into these blues. That’s not to say there haven’t been some nice moments.

One special moment was that my local NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks, won Super Bowl LX (60). The playoff games were awesome! I considered posting about my lifelong association with the Seahawks as an original season-ticket holder since the inception of the team. I had attended the first Seahawk Super Bowl victory in New York back in 2014. I also had an opportunity to attend this one as well, but sold my tickets to purchase new tires and fund a summer getaway because the Super Bowl was off my bucket list.

Then we had the Winter Olympics, Valentine’s Day, and a nice faux spring in the area when the atmospheric rivers flow to somewhere else on the Pacific Coast. I didn’t follow the Olympics very much after being consumed by the Super Bowl championship. Valentine’s Day was slow, but I received a few nice messages. That being said, I’m not dating much right now in order to protect my emotional health.. Nevertheless, this restriction can be a bit isolating, so I welcome friendly contacts and have come to appreciate my local Starbucks near I-405 and WA-522 as a place to meet up with people for coffee chats. You are welcome to contact me if you would like to meet me there.

I almost forgot to mention that I was in a wonderful concert last month with Kirkland Choral Society. I had mentioned this concert in my last blog post and was very happy about the performance. The featured music, The Sacred Place, by Alex Berko, included one movement comprised of the "Mi Sheberach" prayer from Jewish Shabbat services. It was simply the most beautiful musical setting of the "Mi Sheberach" prayer I have ever heard or performed. Aside from the Super Bowl victory, it was my February highlight.

Even with those joyful moments, as I mentioned earlier, the Seasonal Blues are upon me. and many others are experiencing the same thing right now. As for me, I’ve come down to using the following phrase to describe the times we now live in: "Welcome to the Dystopia!" There have been times in my past where I have been actively political, first being raised in a Republican household and later transitioning more to the other side of the aisle, where my preferences currently lie. This current level of upheaval is higher than I can ever remember in my life: multiple wars; international trade disruption; leaders with no regard for human life and welfare other than within their own inner circles; and way too many people in trauma, disease, and death.

I must say, the dystopian circumstances affect me as much as the Seasonal Blues. After going through divorce and almost seven years of mental health therapy, I've become keenly aware of the general scourge of self-centered toxic people, and I'm seeing various flavors of toxic behavior everywhere. Having experienced this personally in my own family and now seeing this in our government, I find I just want to crawl into a hole. I simply cannot bear to be near this scourge! I do need to be aware of what is going on, while being careful of how I get information and who I engage in this effort. I have a few friends keeping in touch, and I cherish them so much. Thank you.

So, I guess I’m focusing on staying peaceful and calm within my own personal apartment paradise. I’m happy and healthy here, but troubled and not connecting with people and music enough as other situations cloud my mind. Connecting with friends through my music, my synagogue, and my day-to-day life is still a strong desire, but I sense there are so many in some form of social retreat, including me. I’m sure much of this is due to economic struggles for many of us. For example, I haven’t dined at a restaurant with someone else for a few months; the expense of going by myself is simply not worth it. That, and my Ozempic medication, which kills an appetite for fancy meals.

But all is not bad. Spring is coming, and I am getting ready to sing in another couple of concerts. Kirkland Choral Society is presenting the April masterworks concert, “Grant Us Peace: The Sky is Silent. We Are Not” on ​Sunday, April 26 at 3 pm with Philharmonia Northwest at Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore​. Go to https://www.kirklandchoralsociety.org/ for details and tickets. Also, Kirkland Choral will be appearing briefly in a wonderful concert, “Inspired By Amadeus,” with Philharmonia Northwest on Sunday, March 29 at 2pm Shorecrest Performing Arts Center at Shorecrest High School. Go to https://philharmonianw.org/ for details and tickets. Maybe I’ll see you at one of these concerts!

Other than that, my composition work continues slowly with a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved with software and platform version changes affecting how I present my scores. I am also learning to use a new AI vocal synthesizer. The music still keeps me going and still provides me with a sense of purpose. That’s It for this month. Looking forward to spring.

Matthew