K IS FOR KETTLE-DRUMS

K is for Kettle Drums, aka timpani, the most kingly of drums.

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K is for kneelng in prayer in the hardest and happiest of times. 

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K is for Kumquat in the silly song from  'The Fantastiks'

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K is for Kindergarten, where learning  best be kinesthetic.

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K is for Köchel catalog, as in Mozart's Requiem K. 626.

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K is for the knell of a funeral bell at just the wrong time. 

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K is for kindling where the smallest pieces start the best fires.

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K is for keel keeping steady my sabot, especially as I "come about."

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K is for kindness, no matter how hard to show, is always sublime.

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Our Tuesday Creations challenge was to write something that prominently features the first letter of my first name. So my starting point was to search online for words starting with K. From there I spontaneously picked several words that immediately connected or brought special memories to mind. 

Kettle-drums were my favorite of the percussion instruments as a budding and professional musician. Some of the most exhilarating experiences of my life were while playing the kettle-drums. I also chose Köchel to reflect the importance of music in my life. To see just how much fun and exhilaration one girl can have playing the Timpani, enjoy the video below. 

Kneeling and kindness reflect aspects of my spiritual focus. I strive, with God's grace, to make prayer and kindness a part of every day. 

Seeing the word Kindergarten on the list of K words, took me back to Lynn Valley, North Vancouver. I have such  fond long ago memories of recesses and lunchtimes, riding our tricycles around the tennis courts.  

Kindling and keel enkindled memories of rewarding activities. I joined a sailing club in my teens where we sailed our simple one sail sabots under the shadow of the Lions Gate Bridge  in West Vancouver. And I loved competing with my sisters for the annual family title of "best kindling makers west of the Pecos." Lynn was usually best for the tidiest kindling pile, Sandy for the most aggressive axe wielding, and me for the most productive hatchet work. 

Kumquat and knell brought back great memories.  I had never heard of Kumquats until one night I went to see Chris performing in a production of the musical, The Fantastiks with some dialog and lyrics about Kumquats. It was that night 50 years ago when we first realized that we loved each other ... and the rest is history, as the saying goes. 

And thinking back to the accidental knell of the funeral bell after our friend's wedding still brings laughter. Chris and our friend Henry were asked to ring the Angelus bells, but accidently pulled the wrong cord and set off the solemn knell of the funeral bell. I have such a vivid image of Chris and big strapping farm lad, Henry, tugging and tugging with all their might to get the bell to sound. Chris was lifted well off the ground and hung on for dear life. And once it did sound there was no doubt that it was the death knell.