Alicia's blog

One night during the past holiday, one of my friends asked me if I miss people who have made their transition and are no longer with us during this time of year. She recalled how many moments she can still capture just by looking in a family album or using the tableware saved for those holiday festivities.

She reminded me that favorite foods can always be cooked, but somehow will never taste quite the same without her Grandma standing over the pots or supervising the making of the meal. Although it still gave her joy to watch the same old movies she used to watch with her grandpa, but not being able to hear his laugh or verbal reactions, diminished them a little.

I immediately thought of the many things I miss without my Nana or my spirited Titi’s being around to give the holidays that really special meaning. Up until that moment I hadn’t taken the time to look in any family albums or gone into the kitchen to make some of the comfort foods my Nana use to make. But not too long after my friend left, I was sitting at the piano and it occurred to me that even without trying, I could play just two or three simple notes, perhaps even a full chord and that specific sound would push to the surface the voice, even the spiritual presence of my Nana.

It was at that moment I realized that when my family albums are not around or I’m too far away to enjoy eating from my Nana’s favorite holiday plates, I can still “visit” with all of my loved ones by just touching the keys and listening to the melodies that once lived inside of them, and still live inside of me. So, they live in my music.

The usual image most of us have when we envision the beginning of a New Year is a festive occasion with friends and family raising their glasses, making a toast to a healthy and prosperous future. I too have raised a glass to welcome a new year, but when doing it, I’m reminded of that half full, half empty proverb. This New Year, I want to start with a totally empty glass that waits to be filled with all of the experiences and adventures life will pour into it.Leer más

The dictionary defines the word "beauty" as "a quality that is present in a thing or person giving intense aesthetic pleasure or deep satisfaction to the senses or the mind."
It defines the word both as a verb (to beautify) and an adjective (it is beautiful). I bring this up to mention a few words regarding a talk show I happen to catch where the subject focused on a new film documentary by Chris Rock, that deals with the work and effort made on behalf of black women to "beautify" their hair.Leer más

During a break in a recent recording session, I passed through the lounge area where most of the studio musicians were buzzing around, laughing and talking, and happened to notice one musician sitting in the corner cleaning her instrument. I quietly watched the tenderness and care she applied to her cello. Since my role in "The Secret Life of Bees" I've had this "thing" about anyone who plays the cello. When the session ended, a few of us were sitting in the studio and I observed the cellist, gently packing her instrument.Leer más