What a wonderful world

By Tom Quiner

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM]

I see trees of green…….. red roses too
I see em bloom….. for me and for you
And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world.

The  scene is Chuck’s restaurant last night.
Eighty-six year old Julius Brooks has cast a spell on us.  His eyes are closed as he sings Louis Armstrong’s iconic song.  A piano and bass back him with appropriate understatement.

I see skies of blue….. clouds of white
Bright blessed days….dark sacred nights
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world.

The song took me places. I remembered my oldest son singing it at a vocal recital some dozen years ago. I still remember the twinkle in his eyes as he made Satchmo’s song his own.

The colors of a rainbow…..so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces…..of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands…..sayin.. how do you do
They’re really sayin……i love you.

I looked across the room. A sixty-something woman mouthed the words, her eyes closed. Her husband’s hand rested  on her shoulder. They looked happy.

I hear babies cry…… I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more…..than I’ll never know
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world

I thought of the babies who will never cry.
I thought of the pending court case here in Iowa. A judge will determine if we shall increase the quantity of voiceless babies by sanctioning webcam abortion. Or will the judge give the voiceless a voice by siding with the Board of Medicine that banned telemed human abortion?

The colors of a rainbow…..so pretty ..in the sky
Are there on the faces…..of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands…..sayin.. how do you do
They’re really sayin…*spoken*(I ….love….you).

A middle aged woman stood up. She clearly had some sort of mental disability. She was looking around for the restroom. The busman came up. He, too, had a mental disability. He gently pointed her in the direction of the nearest facility. Such kindness and gentleness.
We each react a little differently to a special song, since we each have different memories. But for a few, brief minutes last night, all was right with the world.
Thanks, Julius.
What a wonderful song.

2 Comments

  1. Diane Klopfenstein on October 27, 2013 at 6:06 pm

    Doesn’t he do a great job with that song?!?  He does it every time he is with Gina, but we don’t care.  It’s beautiful.
    btw – I was watching the news report on Friday about Planned Parenthood suing to get the webcam abortions back and they gave a shot of the machine.  Did you see that by chance?  It is the Susan G. Koman Dispensing Machine.  I couldn’t believe it!  Well, actually, sadly, I could, but it was still hard to see.  I watched the repeat of the segment to make sure I saw it correctly.
    I don’t know what Susan G. K. professes to donate to PP for, but they obviously had to approve a grant for that. 
    I guess I really can’t believe it.
    So sad.
    Have a nice evening and may God guide the judge to the favor of the babies this time.
    ________________________________



    • quinersdiner on October 27, 2013 at 6:11 pm

      I never get tired of the song. Great to hear from you. God bless!