Thinking of Sharks, Jets and others

When I was about 7 or 8, my teenage sister played the “West Side Story” soundtrack album something like a trillion times, give or take a few million.

Everything about that obsession was off my radar. But I guess I must have absorbed the music against my will. Because, though I’ve watched the movie only a time or two over the years, I pretty much know the songs by heart.

In tomorrow’s print Slice, I note that, from all reports, the recent “Sound of Music” singalong was a hit. And I speculate about what other musicals might lend themselves to audience-participation here in Spokane.

In referring to “West Side Story,” I suggest it features some of the most beautiful songs ever. That’s not exactly going out on a limb. But since when am I such a fan?

Maybe I have adopted that attitude to honor my sister, who died more than 10 years ago.

I wish she were still around and could go to a “West Side Story” singalong. She wouldn’t have needed the subtitles.

“…Tonight, tonight

“The world is full of light…”

“…Could it be? Yes, it could.

“Something’s coming, something good

“If I can wait…”

“…I’ve just kissed a girl named Maria,

“And suddenly I’ve found

“How wonderful a sound can be.”

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