SOTW: "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John

Please forgive us dear readers for the virtual silence the past few weeks (and, for myself, since the summertime). Between starting new jobs, global trotting, and the continued barrage of this jet stream called life, the distance between ourselves and the act of sitting down to write a blog entry seemed insurmountable. We could blame it on the epic nature of this election year. Or we could blame it on the panic at the disco energies surrounding the Wall Street meltdown. But really we can blame it on something a bit more cosmic and, therefore, universal - Mercury retrograde.

Named after the Roman god, Mercury, when our solar system's smallest and innermost planet starts to move backwards, beware the inevitable slowdown in affairs of travel, communication, technology, and finances. Though life may not be going as we planned it in the last few weeks, Mercury retrograde's "lo & slo" approach forces us to reflect, reconsider, and retool ourselves for the future.

In the spirit of the astrological season's call, my SOTW summoned itself through a string of enchanted recent events -- a game of "witchy" Scrabble in San Francisco and a serendipitous session of karaoke in Los Angeles. Off the Xanadu soundtrack, Olivia Newton-John's uplifting love song, "Magic," signals a viable mantra as we see new possibilities on the near-horizon. The song conjures up a nebulous energy that some of us might call magic(k) or chi or The Force but, no matter the assignation, it is a power inside each of us.

From where I stand
You are home free
The planets align so rare
There's promise in the air
And I'm guiding you

Through every turn
I'll be near you
I'll come anytime you call
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll be guiding you

You have to believe we are magic
Nothin' can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Your destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you

They are hopeful words that need to be heard during these trying times, set to the synthesized lilt of John Farrar's melodies coloring our minds with their aural Lisa Frank designs. Dealing everyday with the seriousness of "tenure track," "retirement funds," "power of attorney," and "economic meltdown," Olivia Newton-John's blown-out, interplanetary visage and Andy Gibb-inspired falsetto moves offer a musical respite. Call it 1970s nostalgia wrapped in some sugary abandonment. But, after the second or third listen, I'd like to see you tell me that you yourself don't believe. - (CBB)