The Cellist of BWI

It had been a horrible day and it was only 10:30 A.M. We began the morning at 4:00 A.M. and through a series of chaotic events we were stranded at BWI with our three children the day after Christmas. We were all exhausted and sleep deprived. The tank was on empty. I was trying to calm my sad little baby, when I heard a sound; someone tuning an instrument. I looked around to find a cellist in a corner of the near empty terminal. Play it I thought, please play it. And then he began. My reaction surprised even me. At first I was just a little teary but as the suite continued I found myself crying, near sobs. I couldn't stop. When the cellist finished, the few people in the terminal, including my boys, applauded. Jackson and Asher were the most enthusiastic. Jackson even said, "mom, I didn't know there was going to be a band here."

I had to go thank him, He had just changed my whole day. Suddenly everything felt better. The delay in our travel schedule seemed just a little thing. As I approached him I began crying again. He actually apologized for making me cry. It is a good cry I told him, I needed it.

It has been eight years since I graduated with my music degree, and 6 years since I became a mother. There was a time when music was everything to me and now, most days it seems like a memory. But experiences like this one, remind me of the power of music. Carefully planned out notes played on a cello by a master, and everything changes. Again I am drawn back to my piano, and back to my music books because I know what listening and creating music does for me.

The cellist in the terminal reminded me of a story read by my 20th century music history teacher, Dr. Madsen. [Read it here.] If you have the time it is well worth reading. I know that remembering this story is another reason why I was brought to tears. What power a true master musician has!

Disclaimer, I am by no means comparing my story to this one. The story of the cellist of Sarajevo is so beautiful. And it is one of the reasons why the cello I heard that drab morning meant so much to me.

This is the piece that my cellist played