My mom kept notes of the funny things we said on little note cards that she then filed away in photo albums. Thanks to her careful note-taking, now I know some of the truly nutty ideas I had as a preschooler. They’re still funny to me. So I’m following in her footsteps recording the things Sam says and does in this blog. I hope I can keep up with technology and retrieve them when I’m a grandma myself! Today we found a book at the library on Beethoven’s 3rd symphony, written for kids – I’m guessing grade-school age. It was advanced for Sam but we plowed through it anyway. Then I broke out our DVD of the 3rd and we watched it. I thought Sam would be bored after the first movement (15 minutes into the piece) but he remained interested all the way through to the fourth movement. He actually watched the whole thing with me. We talked about how the music waxes and wanes, like the wind – growing softer, then stronger. How the conductor tells the orchestra what to do and helps them play together, and how the music makes you feel a certain way – happy or sad – depending on the instruments used. When it was over and we were just chatting, he said “I like to watch concerts all day long!” I think he’s ready for his first live performance. I can’t wait to take him. I am SURE that I will cry sitting there with him. Beethoven’s music is so powerful and speaks to me every time. Sam and I listen to classical music on our runs. I am hoping that the music will become a part of him, too. Before Sam’s time, I was listening to the Immortal Beloved soundtrack on each run. After a couple years, it occurred to me that I should calculate how many miles I’d run to Beethoven’s music – I think the total was 3,000 miles. I was astounded! Sam and I have run that many miles together so far, and I’m looking forward to sharing the road with both boys soon.