magid

I live on a relatively busy street, not far from a couple of hospitals and fire stations: in addition to the sound of passing cars, trucks, and buses, there are not infrequent sirens. I also hear the particular sound of skateboards on sidewalks, musical selections blasting from cars stopped at the streetlight, and amazing snippets of conversation of loud teenagers late at night. In the early morning and late afternoon all this is supplemented by a variety of birdsongs, as well (I wish I could distinguish species based on bird calls).

But the most individual sounds I hear regularly in my apartment are courtesy of a woman living in the second-floor next-door apartment. She plays the accordion, and it's wonderful to hear. I've heard such a variety of things, including Star Wars music, one of the zillions of tunes to "Shalom Aleichem" [1], bistro music, and something that sounds rather like it could be from the sound track of Amelie, among many other music (none of it making me think of polkas, however). Sometimes she sings along, frequently in French, sometimes just lalala, and her voice is beautiful.

Apparently she also plays the flute; I've heard that as well. And I've heard clarinet, but I think that may be someone else, since sometimes the clarinet and accordion are playing at the same time. I wonder if she's in a group that performs somewhere.

I just went on the porch to check on the plants, turn them to get more even sun (another nasturtium flower! a yellow one!), and she was playing, facing the window that looks onto my porch. We shared a smile. Perhaps I shall evntually have the guts to ask if she performs somewhere.

[1] a song traditionally sung Friday nights before kiddush (the blessing over the wine that marks the beginning of Shabbat dinner).