To Brazil by way of London from DC - Sweet Melodies

Got to the airport a little early. Two hours until my flight and I’m already at the gate. So I rest and enjoy the music - literally.

I seem to be sharing a flight with a group of Brazilian students who wait with friends, three guitars and kickass beats. It’s not just theirs hips and language that say "we love to sing, dance, we love to live and baby wow ooh, let’s feel the music in our skin, bones, hair. . . . and ouch, Wazzuuuuup?!"

Ordinary kids? Yes. Looking at them, they are absolutely great and normal kids; teenagers speaking Portuguese. But their smiles are lovely and full of a melt-your-bones sweetness. Sweet and warm. Open despite themselves. Quietly sincerely not reserved, despite themselves, and humble, because being loud is simply unnecessarily loud. 

Here I am - listening to their guitars and our American music played so beautifully - 19 year olds from Brazil – Hotel California - while waiting for my flight to London.

"Boom, tsetse boom,psheboom, ptsetse boom" cradles the girl’s rendition of the song.

They’re not shy - just openly beautiful and alive, simply alive as living can only be. So it’s nice to be a little early – such things happen when there’s time to live around my early schedule, little mistakes and gentle smiles. Is there such a thing as a sweet mistake as the girl sings behind my left ear?

To watch, listen, understand, and pay attention to life as it gently weaves in magical moments and becomes our reality – what makes the bigger picture a bit more soulful and gentle, deep like the coral reef under the open sun. 

As they interchange between Hotel California and Brazilian songs, they sway in a sweet and loving movement – sera (isn’t that evening?) and all sing together. Thank you for this wait.