IF

It’s weird how this post starts out about Vinay Gaikwad, the eldest son of Samuel and Prema.
Tennyson and I worked as staff together with his parents at Spicer as young married couples, then later as young parents. We’d joke saying we’d arrange for our children to marry each other. Well, that plan sort of fell apart as both our first borns were boys.

Recently, Vinay and I have become FaceBook friends. He is a physician but also a talented musician who has begun posting videos of himself playing his violin, the guitar and piano. Sometimes he accompanies his wife’s singing, or they sing duets. Today he did a cover of If by Bread. It’s one of my favorite songs — which I’d forgotten about.

I read a NYT story this morning about an Indian female doctor who was infected at work and died as a result, leaving behind husband, mother and college freshman daughter. If only we could play IF for all those people dying alone. I listened to the original recording a few times and sent it out to all those on ventilators around the world.

It’s a song I’d like someone to sing to me on my death bed. A beautiful soft melody, the promise of someone by your side, embarking on an adventure together through the  galaxy. What’s not to like?