Furry leas
The other day, Matt and I were in the car, driving through an industrial part of town when Matt asked me a question. His voice carried all the way from the back of the van (he loves to sit in the way way back) despite loud groanings from my aging vehicle, bumpity-bump noises from driving on a wretched wretched road, and my left ear canal hosting a cage match between white blood cells and invading forces of throbbing evil. Matt's voice is unlike that of another child of mine, whom I have to command to speak up even if she is sitting right next to me, talking through a megaphone, and all other sound has been sucked out of the universe.
Matt asked (this is what I heard), "What does 'Fur Elise' mean?"
Ah, a music question!
I replied, "'Fur Elise' is the name of a song by Beethoven. It's in German, and it means 'For Elise.' He wrote it for one of his students to practice arpeggios I think." I thought to myself that perhaps I'd consult Wikipedia later on that one for more information.
Silence from the backseat.
I wondered why he asked. His piano playing skills have not progressed that far that he would have encountered the song in his own books. Hayley hasn't played it either. I wondered if there was a piano book lying around in the back of the van opened to a page with "Fur Elise" on it. While I mused I drove through another retail section of the city.
Matt finally spoke. "That doesn't make any sense."
"What doesn't? Beethoven wrote a song and called it that." Makes perfect sense to me.
"Why is it on so many signs near buildings then?" And then he pointed to a sign that said...
For Lease
*insert deaf mother related punch line here*
*insert reference to the DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince song, "Parents Just Don't Understand" here as well*
Boy, did I feel stupid. This is why I don't go out much, why I socialize very little--I misunderstand people all the time. So if you know me in person and strike up a conversation with me and you think that I am acting batty or saying strange things, just remember I probably misheard something you said and am commenting on what I heard instead of what you really said.
Matt asked (this is what I heard), "What does 'Fur Elise' mean?"
Ah, a music question!
I replied, "'Fur Elise' is the name of a song by Beethoven. It's in German, and it means 'For Elise.' He wrote it for one of his students to practice arpeggios I think." I thought to myself that perhaps I'd consult Wikipedia later on that one for more information.
Silence from the backseat.
I wondered why he asked. His piano playing skills have not progressed that far that he would have encountered the song in his own books. Hayley hasn't played it either. I wondered if there was a piano book lying around in the back of the van opened to a page with "Fur Elise" on it. While I mused I drove through another retail section of the city.
Matt finally spoke. "That doesn't make any sense."
"What doesn't? Beethoven wrote a song and called it that." Makes perfect sense to me.
"Why is it on so many signs near buildings then?" And then he pointed to a sign that said...
For Lease
*insert deaf mother related punch line here*
*insert reference to the DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince song, "Parents Just Don't Understand" here as well*
Boy, did I feel stupid. This is why I don't go out much, why I socialize very little--I misunderstand people all the time. So if you know me in person and strike up a conversation with me and you think that I am acting batty or saying strange things, just remember I probably misheard something you said and am commenting on what I heard instead of what you really said.
Comments
I love though that you thought it was a musical teaching moment and shared that with him, even if it did confuse him. I will never be able to look at a For Lease sign again without hearing Beethoven.