Something to share:

[Dennis S]

I finally have a chance to share something with you that has been a while in the making. Some of you may recall there was a general discussion of how difficult it can be for grandparents to be so far away from their grandchildren. I have felt this keenly with my granddaughter in Puerto Rico with her mom & dad.

Karlynn, while anticipating the birth of her granddaughter had remarked how hard it can be when you are far away. This is something I had thought a lot about, and one night I worked out a poem and presented it on the forum as a gift to Karlynn. Karlynn later sent me a private message asking my feelings about turning the poem into a song. I was delighted, and she went to work.

The song is done, and I have been pushing to make it available. Karlynn could (and probably will) do a recording with more professional equipment, but she is very busy with a new granddaughter, as well as the coming Advent season. I think it is already very good, and have convinced her that it is ready for us to hear.

But how can you hear it? With a little luck, your very computer non-savy author may have figured out how to make a ?podcast?. Try the link below to see what happens. Click on the line below the picture, and if you hear a voice you will be listening to Karlynn sing the song she created.


http://web.mac.com/dennis_smith/iWeb/Sand & Rock/Sand and Rock/Sand and Rock.html

 

[Phyllis]

Darn, Dennis- it opens with the picture and the verse, but no sound- and I have my speakers on too!

 

[Dennis S]

Suggestion

Suggestion

Did you click the tip of the little triangle (that tells it to play). Also, it may take a little time depending on your connection speed, as it is bringing in a song. I just tried it & it works for me, but who knows about computers. I hope someone else will come along and try as well.

 

[CathyK.]

It worked fine for me. That was just beautiful. The music and words are very touching. You both did an excellent job. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[MusicMaster]

Rock and Sand

Rock and Sand

Dennis and Karlynn

BRAVO!!

I was able to access it also. As a retired Music Educator, let me say Thank You for this poignant and beautiful piece. Lyrics and Music together are awesome!

Definitely the high point of my day!

 

[Nancy]

Wow! That was terrific. The poem is beautiful, the song and singing is beautiful. Such talents! Thanks both for sharing this. Loved it!

 

[Mary]

I'm not able to hear the music, but hopefully I will!

 

[Superbob]

Takes a few minutes to load but I was able to hear it. Sounds great! Congratulations to you both on a very creative collaboration.

 

[Phyllis]

Finally got back to this thread and it worked this time! Thanks to both of you- brings tears to my eyes and it is definitely a keeper!

 

[geebee]

What a wonderful teaming for such creativity.

Thank you both for sharing.

 

[Mary]

I'm with Phyllis, I was clicking on the right button before, but something is different because now it's working!
Great musical accompaniment to go with a beautiful poem--congratulations to you both!

 

[kodi]

Impressive, thank you both.

 

[Andrew'sMom]

Wonderful!

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Dennis and Karlynn
That was Wonderful! Great Job.

 

[Christina L]

McCartney and Lennon,

McCartney and Lennon,

Lerner and Lowe, Rogers and Hammerstein, Bacharach and Bayer-Sager, George & Ira Gershwin have NOTHING on you two!! That was wonderful - words, music and the vocal!! Karlynn you have a very lovely singing voice.

Thanks for sharing and what a special gift for your granddaughter, Karlynn, and yours, Dennis.

Christina L

 

[Karlynn]

Thanks so much for your kind remarks. I hesitated giving Dennis the okay because it's such a rough form of the song. I've enlisted a good friend of mine, who is an accomplished guitarist, to help me spruce it up. But given both our time constraints, that probably won't happen for a few months.

I just taught myself guitar a few years ago so that I didn't have to sit at the piano in order to write music, so the guitar is rough. Add me having to sing and play at the same time and it feels like course grade sandpaper to me.

I was fiddling around one day with DADGAD tuning and Dennis' poem kept going through my head, so I asked his permission to put his words to music. I am so honored that he felt the music did his poem justice. When he posted it on a trial Podcast a few months ago and included the photo of his granddaughter with her toes in the sand and surf I realized it was a work that we both had "special" help with. I wasn't really thinking of surf lapping on the beach when I was fiddling with the strumming and chords, but when I saw the photo, I'm not going to lie, it made me pause at the wonder of the hand of Someone being present in the creation of it.

Sorry for getting a bit sappy, but I think Dennis would agree that this is one of those times that we shared a collaboration with the Ultimate Writer of our lives.

 

[Dennis S]

Yes Indeed!

Yes Indeed!

Well, Karlynn--all I can say is YES INDEED. A song produced by two people who have never met-and lyrics written for a voice I had never heard. Then the perfect picture-taken months ago-comes to me in the middle of the night , and I am able to findd it-and finally, I, who consider myself to be just above a novice when it comes to Web stuff figure out how to do a podcast.

I am happy to give the credit to the ultimate writer of my life. Anything else would not be honest.

 

[pipersmith]

Beautiful!!!!

Beautiful!!!!

Thanks to two such special and talented people for sharing a touching song!!!

 

[marky]

Wow I am in the company of greatness!!
YOU two are very blessed and talented!!

Love it!!