On Friday morning, I attended a Creative Mornings Fieldtrip at Craftsman Avenue, an art studio in Gowanus (Brooklyn, NY). The session, "The Art of Ceramics at Craftsman Ave," was run by potter Danielle Clare Pomorski. While she talked about pottery techniques and how she became interested in the medium, the group collectively created a pitcher, each adding our own textures to the clay slabs.

Engrossed in the methodical hand movements as she shaped the clay, a familiar piano composition seeped into consciousness. It was a piece by Ludovico Einaudi, a renowned Italian pianist and composer. 

I discovered him a few years ago when a friend posted one of his songs on Facebook. I quickly became enthralled by his beautifully crafted and poignantly nostalgic compositions. In fact, at the time I was taking a dance class in college and chose to create my semester's final dance piece to his song "Le Onde."

My favorite song of his is "Nuvole Bianche." It's wistful and heart-wrenching with a tinge of hope and an underlying thread of comfort. It's a staple of my instrumental playlist.

When I hear emotive songs such as this one, visual scenes form. For this one --

It's like seeing an old lover across the train station, people swirling about in their hurried states; your feet immobile, your eyes transfixed. The memories of your long-intertwined lives rush to the surface as your blood surges at the unexpected encounter. Birthdays and sports games, rain storms and lost loved ones, summer nights and Christmas parties. Your heart swells and then stops at the reality thrown forefront: much time has passed -- time that's unravelled your intertwined lives into two individualized and distanced ones. This is not a grand awakening nor a monumental reconnection. This is merely a moment of paths crossing. You remember the reason it ended, smile a sincere crescent of mended heartache paired with well wishes, and continue to your train.

Now carry on with that tinge of hopefulness and have a glorious Monday.

xxChris