When your entire family lives in heaven, 'Guardian Angels' are always around, at every step of the way.✨️💖
FOOTSTEPS 🎶
THERE YOU'LL BE 🎶
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND 🎶
YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION 🎶
(Songs shared from the YT pages of the singers and two lyric videos posted by others, that I found on YT.)
(I was reminded of this old FB post today, which I wrote on this day, 4 years ago, on the 1st of October' 2022. I don't think I have shared this one on my blog before. So, posting it here today.)
There are many times in our lives when we ask questions like,
'Why did this have to happen to me?'
'What if things had happened differently?'
'What if I could go back, to the way things were before?'
I know, that I've been asking these same questions every single day, for more than thirty-six years of my life.🤔
Life continues, but the questions that haunt our minds never stop;
and it doesn't really matter,
How strong or weak you are emotionally,
How deep your Faith and Hope is, or
How many unique and innovative ways and means you find, to escape from reality.
The questions persist, as you try to make sense of the madness; and you coax yourself to move forward, 'One day at a time'.⏳️🕓
For me, the days have turned into weeks, months and over thirty-six years now; but I still haven't stopped asking those same questions.🥲
And maybe, I will never get a satisfactory answer, to any of those questions;
Because how can any answer be good enough, to calm a broken heart and a restless mind, or to fill up, so many empty spaces in our lives, created at regular intervals, ever since you were ten years old.
But, a couple of years ago, I happened to discover this song called 'Blessings' by Laura Story.
In this song, she asks that same question, 'What if?' repeatedly.
Her questions though, look at the 'What If's?' from a completely different perspective.
What if Your Blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your Healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights, are what it takes, to know You're near?
What if trials of this life, the rain, the storm, the hardest nights, are Your mercies in disguise?✨️💖
It's difficult to think about the struggles, the losses and the pain we experience, at the hardest times and moments of our lives, from this point of view every single day; because some days are just harder than others, and we just don't want to.
But then, on other days, we listen to a song like this, and somehow think about the countless 'Blessings' we still have, even though we may not have everything and everyone, that we would have liked to have had, with us.
...and even though we still don't have the answers, we look at things differently; at least for a little while.🎶😊
(Song by Laura Story, shared from the Gaither Vocal Band YT page.)
Last month, on the 9th of August, I attended a very special concert of the Bombay Chamber Orchestra (BCO), which was held at a different venue, for the first time - the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi. The Orchestra was joined by 'The Cathedral Choir' for this concert, and together they performed 'Requiem in D minor' and 'Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major', by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Latin.🎶
This concert was specially significant to everyone associated with the BCO, because it was a 'Tribute Concert' to Ms.Jini Dinshaw, who was the founder of the Orchestra, on what would have been her 96th Birthday. She had passed away, in October '2025, at the age of 95.
I didn't know Ms.Jini personally; but for almost 3 decades, I had seen her on stage, playing with the orchestra, every time I went for a BCO concert to the Tata Theatre. In the last few years of her life, when she couldn't play with the orchestra, she was always in the audience, sitting on the first row at the NCPA, enjoying the concerts till the age of 95. It was wonderful to see her there, year after year, encouraging the orchestra that she had started, decades ago, right till the very end.😊
I started going for the BCO concerts, when I was in college. A close friend and both her older brothers, used to play in the orchestra back then. So, I went for the concerts, to listen to them. I didn't really listen to a lot of Western Classical music, till that time. Going for these concerts, was my introduction to a genre of music, that I didn't know much about.
Over the years, my friend moved to a different country, to pursue her studies, and eventually settled down there. I however, continued going for the BCO concerts occasionally, whenever I had other friends from my choir, or my students, playing in a particular concert, or singing in the choir, that was performing with the orchestra...and each time I went, Ms.Jini was always there.💕
I met many friends and an old student too, in the audience, on the day of the concert, which were all very pleasant and happy surprises. The most unexpected surprise though, was meeting that same college friend's parents, and one of her brother's families, because her brother was playing in the orchestra again, after a gap of 14 long years, just because this was a Trbute Concert to Ms.Jini, who had been their teacher. All these lovely surprises, made this concert special for me also.😊
Ms. Jini has taught many, many people in our city, to play the violin, the viola and the cello; and another friend from my choir, whose entire family used to play in the orchestra, a few decades ago, was also in the audience that day, to celebrate the music teacher, who had encouraged her and her siblings to play, and to learn how to play new orchestra instruments too.🎶
I meant to write this post last month, but had to be away for a little while, due to a death in the family. I guess, I was supposed to write this post, just a day before 'Teachers' Day'.😊 Ms.Jini Dinshaw was never my music teacher, but if you read and hear the countless heartwarming tributes, in the concert booklet, and on the BCO online page, they are all filled with such beautiful little stories, anecdotes and unforgettable memories from her students, who will forever be grateful and indebted to her, for the role she played in their respective musical journeys.🎶
'A teacher truly affects eternity. You can never tell, where their influence stops.'✨️❤️
Jini Dinshaw
August 9th, 1930 - October 23rd, 2025
The Bombay Chamber Orchestra Guest Conductor from Austria - Ernest Hoetzl
The Soloists:
Farah Ghadiali - Soprano (Mumbai)
Tanisha Herbert - Mezzo Soprano (Bangalore)
Kersi Gazdar - Tenor (Mumbai)
Tatsuo Kondo - Baritone (Japan)
The Cathedral Choir
Conductor - Mario Nazareth
Since the BCO performed this concert at a different place this time, I got a chance to see an auditorium in the city, that I haven't been to before - The Ravindra Natya Mandir, at Prabadevi, Mumbai.
A couple of years ago, I got an opportunity to listen to Sonia Shirsat, (a well-known fadista from Goa), when she was part of a choir concert, held at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai. The 'Stuti Choral and String Ensemble' (also from Goa), was performing in our city, for the very first time that year; and Sonia Shirsat performed a few songs too, at that concert.😊
While I had listened to the wonderful Sonia Shirsat and the Stuti Choir online before; that event, was my first chance, to listen to both, her and the Choir, singing 'Live'. I thoroughly enjoyed that concert.🎶
So some time last month, when I saw a poster by the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, announcing that Sonia was going to be doing her own concert in our city, at the Experimental Theatre, in the month of August; I wanted to make sure that I did not miss it.
The concert was very enjoyable. Sonia has an amazing voice; and she is always accompanied by two very talented Goan Musicians, who support her beautifully. At this concert, she was also joined by one of her students, who sang a few songs, and a duet with her as well.
What I liked most, on both the occasions, when I have attended a concert, where Sonia was performing; is the way in which she gives a brief introduction to every song that she sings. Since the 'fado' is a western semi-classical musical genre, where the songs are sung in Portuguese, a majority of the people in the audience, do not speak the language. So, those little short introductions and anecdotes, give us a context to every song. We still don't understand a word of what is being sung; but that's the beauty of music. You don't really need to understand the words, to enjoy the melody and the rhythm of the songs.💕
During the course of the evening, Sonia Shirsat also gave us a little bit of insight, into the history of the 'fado', as a genre of music, which was quite interesting to learn about.
Another thing, which was wonderful to hear about, was that over a period of a few years, Sonia and a few other musicians, have now trained around 300 young people in Goa, in the fado. It's great to hear that musicians, who excel in one particular genre of music, are teaching and sharing what they know and love, with the next generation, in an attempt to help more people appreciate the genre, and to keep this form of music alive in Goa, in the years to come as well.✨️🎶
'You may say, I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.'✨️
For many, many decades, musicians who come from different backgrounds, and who don't always sing the same kind of music; have often joined together, to sing songs for a cause.💕
Some months ago, I discovered these three songs, which brought varied performers and artists together, to 'Inspire the World', through the words and melody, of a classic, unforgettable song.🌎😊
Music has that unique and special ability to break barriers and build bridges. If only human beings all over the world, listened to more music like this, and actually understood the 'Message of Love and Brotherhood', that the lyrics of these songs, have tried to convey; our planet would probably be a better place to live in, 'not just for some, but for everyone'.💖
It may seem like an 'Impossible Dream'; but I wonder why, simple things like 'Love, Peace and Hope', everywhere across the globe, are really such unrealistic things, for human beings to wish for.🤔
IMAGINE 🎶
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW 🎶
THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM 🎶
(Songs shared from various pages on YT.)
I've shared a number of songs by Willie Nelson on my blog, over the last few years. But as I keep listening to his music, I also keep discovering more and more songs of his, that I really like.💕
He just has a way of putting his thoughts down in a song. Simple melodies, lovely lyrics that come straight from the heart, soothing and beautiful guitar parts in almost every song and that unique voice.🎶
Even at 93, he is still composing songs and doing 'live events'. It's just so unbelievable and very inspirational, at the same time.✨️💖
OUR SONG 🎶
LOVE OVERDUE 🎶
MOMENT OF FOREVER 🎶
(Songs shared from Willie Nelson's YT page and from a Willie Nelson discography page on YT.)
A few years ago, I discoved this group called 'Dahlia Row', who sang songs in their own unique way. Their melodious music and lovely harmonies, made the well-known songs, sound even more beautiful.😊
This first one is a Rachel Platten song called 'Better Place'. The very sweet video and wonderful music, adds so much more, to the beauty of the lyrics.✨️💕
'Somewhere over the Rainbow' is one of my many favourite songs, ever since I was a child. I really love how Dahlia Row has sung and picturised this old classic.🌻🌈
The first Dahlia Row cover version that I ever heard, was this one. The Beatles songs were all very popular; and even decades later, they still are. This amazing set of musicians, with their soothing music and lovely harmonies (which they add to every song, that they sing), somehow managed to make it sound, even better.🎶💖
(These cover versions of the songs, are shared from the Dahlia Row YT page.)
A few days ago, I heard that the children from the PS22 Chorus, are going to be singing at the Finals of the Football World Cup, next week. What a feeling that must be, for these little children!✨️
For over two decades, year after year, this amazing Music Teacher called Gregg Breinberg, has worked with different groups of 4th and 5th graders, training them to sing beautifully, in harmony.🎶
I discovered their page, many years ago; and have been following their songs and the journey of the Chorus, since then. They really have sung with a lot of fabulous artists, and at many different events, including the Academy Awards, and for the former President too, among others.
This was a lovely song, that I heard them sing, a few months ago.🌻
Earlier this year, a few amazing women, got together to sing this same song. What a great musical collaboration this is!💕
'Light of a Clear Blue Morning' by Dolly Parton, featuring Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire. Also featuring David Foster on piano and the Christ Church Choir on backing vocals.🎶
(Songs shared from the YT pages of the PS 22 Chorus and Dolly Parton.)
A sweet and beautiful song, from an album of sing-alongs and lullabies by Christina Perri, which was released on her daughter's first birthday, a few years ago.💕
The album has many popular classics, sung very sweetly as lullabies for her little girl. This song though, is one of her original songs, on the album. I'm also sharing a very cute animated version, of the same song, which I really liked.😊
The bond between mothers and daughters, is one that lasts a lifetime; and it stays and lives on, long after the parent is not physically present, in the life of their child. That is something, that only a person who has lost their mother, and who wishes she was still around every single day, would truly understand.🥲
The simple melody and rhythm of this song, expresses that warm, genuine, encouraging, comforting, truly 'Unconditional Love' of a mother for her child, so beautifully.🎶✨️💖
(Songs shared from the YT page of Christina Perri.)
LOVE GROWS AT CHRISTMAS TIME 🎶
- One Voice Children's Choir
(Song shared from the Choir's YT page.)
When a singer, who we have been listening to for more than five years, gets an opportunity to sing a Christmas song, with many artists from different places, it makes us feel very happy for him. I've listened to this song quite a few times already, from the day it was released.😊
So good to see Sheridan Brass in this video, by one of my favourite groups of brothers, who sing together.🎶💕
(Song posted from the 'Music Travel Love' YT page.)
December is still a few days away, but I've been listening to Christmas songs already, over the past 3 or 4 weeks. New ones, which I haven't heard before; and others, which are always good to listen to every year, as the Christmas season draws closer.
I'm sharing two songs from my favourite Acapella group today, because I love so many of their Christmas songs.🎶
I am also sure, that I have posted these two songs before, some years ago; but it's always great to start the Christmas season, with tunes we enjoy hearing, repeatedly.😊
(Songs shared from the Pentatonix YT page.)
On days like today, we all remember loved ones, that we have lost over the years.😔
But when your entire family is in heaven, you can't help thinking and talking about Angels, 24/7 and 365 days of the year.
That's just how, I still try and hold on to my family, and to all the precious memories, even so many years, after they've gone.✨️💖
May all our family members, who have moved on from this earthly life, rest in eternal peace, wherever they may be.🙏🕊
(I found these songs on YT yesterday.)
(Was reminded of a memory from three years ago, posted on 2nd November '2022.)
'Somewhere up there', we all have 'Heavenly Angels', who constantly 'watch over us', from those bright blue skies. They'll always be a part of us, no matter how many years may go by, because 'Love Lives On'.🕯🕯🕯
'Somewhere out there', we all have 'Angels among us', who were probably sent to share this journey with us, and to fill our hearts with Joy and Love, like colourful rainbows of Hope.✨️❤️
'...And everywhere I am, There You'll Be'.
A lovely song 'For your Angels and mine'.😊
THERE YOU'LL BE ✨️🎶💖
- Faith Hill
(Song shared from a YT page.)
If you have always enjoyed Disney movies, musicals and cartoons for years and years, you will enjoy these videos.😊
(Videos shared from the Walt Disney Animation Studios YT page.)
I enjoyed listening to this song in the movie 'Sister Act 2'. Heard a choral version sung by a different choir and an acapella version by Pentatonix today.
(Videos shared from different YT pages.)
I was just listening to a few Gospel based songs on 'Light', which speak about how, we can all be 'A Ray of Hope' to people, in little ways everyday.
Here are a few of them. Most of these, are songs written for children; but can be enjoyed by anyone who likes Gospel music.
BE A LIGHT 🪔🎶
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE 🪔🎶
SHINE YOUR LIGHT 🪔🎶
(Songs shared from different YT pages.)
(An old FB Memory from this day, 7 years ago, 13th October '2018. I watched this Musical at the Jamshed Bhabha, NCPA. It was a memorable experience.)
Sing India Sing! India's first original musical.🎶
It brought together so much talent in one Production.
Lyrics, Music, Choreography, Graphics and so much more.
Some of the most talented and creative people from the Mumbai Music and Theatre Industry, were a part of this one.
Written by Rahul DaCunha and Bugs Bhargava, Music by Clinton Cerejo, Directed by Nadir Khan, and with performers like Suchitra Pillai, Brian Tellis, Kamashi Rai, Uday Benegal, Siddharth Basrur, Asif Ali Beg, Delraaz Bunshah, Sarosh Nanavaty, Naquita D'Souza and many, many more fabulous people who worked on this production, it was one power-packed musical.
Lots and lots of hard work has gone into the show; and I was glad I got a chance to experience India's first attempt, at an original Musical.👏👏👏
(Promo Video shared from the Aadyam YT page.)
An old friend asked me yesterday, 'Have you processed your grief? Have you got closure after your many life struggles, over all the pain and the loss of your entire family, at the young age of 38?
Most people tend to think, that it is necessary to do this, in order to move forward in life.
I guess, that is how everyone copes or deals with, loss and death in the family. Forget all about it gradually, cover it up by making new memories everyday, bury the pain underground, never to be seen again, enjoy every moment in life, because you haven't died yet, and you're still breathing.
That probably works, for a lot of people. But, I'm not one of those people. I could never ever, close the most significant chapters of my life, just because those people, are not physically present, on this earth anymore.
A parent and a sibling, can never be replaced by anyone, even years and decades, after they are gone. It is absolutely impossible to fill in the gaps, left by the absence of a mother, a father and a brother.😪 From where do you get a new mother, a new father and a new brother, after they have died?💔...You just can't.😔
So, I will carry the memories of my parents and my brother with me, till the day I join them up in heaven. The happy memories, and the sad and difficult ones too. Those memories; even the painful ones, are what keep me connected to them...and I will hold on to every single one of them, 'Forever and Ever'.✨️💖
It's difficult to explain this concept to people. Even family and friends, don't really seem to understand.
They may want to forget. I don't want to.
They may choose to move on. I never will.
...And that's how, I deal with Loss and Death.🤷🏻♀️
No two people process 'Grief' in the same way. Each one has their own methods. It doesn't make any one, the right or wrong way. They are just different people's 'unique techniques and coping strategies', of making sense of whatever situations, life takes them through.
I'm sharing a few videos that I've watched recently. I liked listening to these. Hopefully, they may help another person, to deal with their own challenging situations, one day at a time; even if it is, two steps forward, one step backward. 🙏
