Welcome to Happy Hour! This is a Street Prophets open thread, come on in and enjoy the music:
This particular hand bell group is the Three Rivers Ringers. They are a professional group of hand bell ringers in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I have the distinct privilege of having played hand bells with some of the experienced people who are ringing in this group. The director is an extremely talented woman who is also the director of the the group in which I play with my son and daughter. Some in the group also play in an advanced level group at my church. They substitute for bell ringers in the less advanced group, of which I am a part.
Bell ringing has taught me much about real life. Each person is part of a whole. You need to have all people counting the beat of the music together and doing their own part to complete a piece of music. If even one person is off or, worse yet--is missing, then the whole piece of music becomes less. The bass is the support. It is necessary for those big bass bells to add depth to the group. The middle bells are sometimes melody, but often are harmony. They add the color to the piece. And the itty-bitty high bells are the ones that play the melodies that we recognize. Each ringer must know his own part and hold his own within the group. Each person is playing a totally different part than the next person, all adding to the complete whole of the music.
Another thing about bell ringing is the people. Experienced ringers rarely look down their noses at those of us who are not as experienced. They are always willing to help and to teach us new skills. When ringing beside someone, we help each other. If there is a bell that cannot be played by one, we work it out so someone else plays. We turn pages for each other.
This is where we need to be. We need to support each other. We need to do our job and to be there, so we can make the job of the whole complete. Some of us can Occupy, some can donate, some can bring food and clothes, some can teach others, some can write to representatives, some can be the representatives--and on and on. Without each person doing each person's job, the whole is not nearly as effective. From bottom to top, each one of us can make a difference to make this world a place that we want to be.
Are you part of a group that supports each other? Do you need support? Come on in and grab a drink. I am enjoying a glass of Leibfraumilche. A German white wine. This is an open bar and an open thread. Come tell about your day!