Chanda Mama, Beatrix and a Palanquin
October 19, 2009 by Janice
Last Monday on this counting of Mondays, I promised you some of my very smart cohorts and colleagues. And I’m delivering. But I have to warn you, there’s a song stuck in my head. Yes. Happens doesn’t it? And luckily it’s not one of those creepy obnoxious ones that children sing. Uh oh…No no thank you, I ‘ll keep this one thanks. ( For a sec, I saw the spectre of a large purple “he who shall not be named”, phew, close call ) Just saying. But this one, it’s liable to spill over into what should be a serious tribute to two really exceptional and remarkable women I met through Brian Clark.
But Chanda Mama wants her due.
Not through with me yet… here’s the Playing for Change video I listened to this weekend, but I am warning you what’s likely to happen:
a) You’ll like it.
b) You will have trouble holding still.
c) You may be tempted to play it again.
Trust me. It lingers. So play at your own risk.
Now here’s the thing. I needed a picture to go with the words this morning. And I wanted something to show you the wisdom that these two women deliver regularly, the power they both have as individuals and as part of a crew. I wanted to give them some serious props. ( Even though one of them has pink bangs and the other is prone to bizarre gallic phrases.) Some respect. Know what I’m saying?
I have some fairly notable advisors in those books you see. Good sound do this, hey, look at this. Here’s a way to do that.
Then I noticed the princess wand and some of my crew. Some of my touchstones.
Reminders.
That make me smile.
The Mouse with the cheese.
My Birthday Monkey I picked up in Santa Fe.
…Cause I was going to tell you these women should be up on that shelf too.
And I chuckled.
And thought…They already are. Up there, I mean. I realized that barely a week or sometimes barely even a day goes by that something they say or do or tweet or point out, I am doing. Or nodding , yes, and … and the conversation goes on. That we are on the same page a lot of the time. Influencing each other’s work. Gifting our point of view. Ever since we met in Brian’s beginning forum. And sometimes they say something that is like waving a magic wand over some something I am noodling around. Voila, forward I go again. Confirmation in hand. Validation, I suppose. Support for sure.
So I now need to get a Beatrix Kiddo figure for Sonia, who just gets out there and goes punch punch punch, and something magical as my Scottish Joanna who would probably know what that Chanda Mama palanquin is. She’s brilliant with words and getting to what matters and look at her gorgeous photographs.
Because not only are they fabulous at what they do, they make it fun. Lyrical, dancing fun…
Which is what Chanda Mama turns out to be about. It’s a lullaby from India. A request actually to the moon for honey and flowers and all good things to be delivered for a baby’s pleasure…a gentle happy , all will be provided…sweets, and lovely blossoming… delivered on a palanquin.
Now how is that for a coincidence? It’s what I would wish for Sonia and Joanna for all their dreams.
The artist smiles, chuckles a bit, and waves to two women who have my utmost respect and affection.
It’s Organizing Monday, only 11 left in the year, I am counting Mondays. Eleven opportunities to really make them count.
Now Chanda Mama…. I’m all yours….one more time… then we have to get to work.
Join me? Chanda Mama, Chanda Mama…for us all.
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Wow – thanks so much Janice. I love the way we are so often on the same page. I learn such a great deal from you too… always