Lauren Wichelhaus
"MY HEART WAS ALIGHT WITH HAPPINESS AND PRIDE"
... the song has helped me to cope .
The opportunity to sing with Anita Kruse is one that I hold in the highest esteem. Anita is a musical angel, and anyone who knows her will tell you that her compassion for the music of life can be matched by no one else.
"If We Can Fly to the Moon" began as a sheet of glittery purple paper and Anita's beautiful hands on her favorite piano, in her favorite place, home. This song is a tiny glimpse into the magic of love shed by her talent and the warmth that she grants to all hearts. The song came together in the way that the wind blows and the rain falls, and I felt every part of it.
When she told me she wanted me to be a part of its creation and performance, my heart was alight with happiness and pride. What began with a single piano, two voices, and a dream of making a difference through music, grew to become an amazing collage of musical talent that can help anyone through hard times.
I am proud to be a part of such beauty in a time when everyone seems to be confused about this life and this world we live in, a time when the connections we have with others are vital to our happiness and survival. I know that the future can be blurry at times, especially when those you love are in trouble or in pain, but I understand that everything happens for a reason.
On September 11th, my whole word went up in smoke, and I lived in fear and insecurity as I mourned the Nation's loss as well as my own. This song has helped me to cope and will help to heal the world as we know it, make it a better place. Thank you Anita and Robbie Parrish for being there for me when it was the only true light in the midst of a dark time for me, I am proud and delighted to be a part of your world.
