DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN

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Independence

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Thank Goodness for Butterflies

Recognizing Alarms

A Way to Play Today

On Performing

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Waiting for the Rain

Just Say Oops

Remember To Breathe

Posed To Do It

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BECOMING LESS VERBAL

It's summer on San Juan Island, and musicians are everywhere. There are the usual lounge performances and theatre programs with concerts at the port park as well as at various festivals and art shows. Musicians played before, during, and after the 4th of July Parade. This week we can listen to "Music on the Lawn" at the Historical Museum and a banjo concert at the Episcopal Church. We seem to love our musicians.

Some of the performances are professionally polished. Others are homegrown. The styles include classical, gospel, blues, jazz, folk, rock, Dixieland, reggae, country & western, and even marimba music from Zimbabwe. Each group seems to have its own loyal supporters as well as an assortment of curious observers and passersby. Some people listen to the entire performance and demand encores, while others sample the musical fare and decide to move on.

What seems to be universal, however, is the way that those who stay and listen to the music connect with the musicians. I've seen it over and over. Often it begins with knowing audience members arriving early to get a good seat. Other times it begins when pedestrians notice the music and come to check out what is going on. Either way, a smile almost always replaces other facial expressions. Before long toes, heels, and fingers are tapping; and this leads quickly to other body movements. Feet take little steps, legs sway, hips swerve, waists pivot, torsos undulate, hands clap and wave, arms float, shoulders scrunch and flex, heads nod, and often this all happens while the person is seated.

Somehow this impromptu dance becomes a wordless conversation between the musician and the listener. I wonder how many other wordless languages there are, and how our world might be different if we used them more often in our daily communications with each other. It's worth considering.

• How many wordless languages have you noticed in our world?
  
  
• Which of these do you allow yourself to use regularly?
  
  
• Are there others you'd like to add to your linguistic repertoire?
  
  
• What will you do to become less verbal today?

© 2006 David Bentley

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David Bentley, M.Ed., is an avid observer of people, places and events. He uses his storytelling and questioning skills to help himself and others think outside the box in an ever-changing world.

Comments about his column can be sent to davidbentley@sanjuanislander.com.

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