Eight Point Star

We raised a family in Mystic, CT across the street from a woman named Edith. Edith lived for 103 years. She was cheerful, industrious, and grateful. I wondered sometimes, “What was key to Edith’s longevity?” 
I didn’t get my answer until her funeral when her family read from her diary. 
Edith wrote in her diary every day and began every entry with these same three words:
A wonderful day. 
WW1, WW2, the great depression, no matter what was happening, Edith began her report with, “A wonderful day”.
I believe it was this attitude of gratitude that explained her long and happy life. 

Ediths daughter’s name was Delight. 
Delight moved in to help Edith in her later years, 
and just like her mother, Delight was always, cheerful, industrious, and grateful.

Our four kids grew up next to these two ladies who wore gratitude every day like a quilt, 
and I believe we were all made better for it.

I wrote this song for Delight’s birthday party last year, she was 96 years old. She passed soon after, and sharing my gratitude to her for her gratitude exposed goes down as one of the finest moments in my songwriting experience. 
This song is called, “Edith Writes”. 

Edith Writes

In March of 2020, I was inspired to write a song by the Scripture verse: "Draw Near. Hold Fast. Take Care," from the Book of Hebrews. At that time, I was hosting a chamber music group from Juilliard School for a performance, and we were sharing lunch together. Suddenly the cellphones of these young musicians were buzzing "off the hook", informing them that their music school was closing and all of their important performances were cancelled because of the "Corona Virus”. New York City was going into a lockdown. We would not know for how long.

Greece locked down too. I saw an image in the newspaper of a violinist there, playing a song in an empty public square. Every window of every apartment building surrounding the square was flung open, with listeners waving and cheering their gratitude for the musician's precious gift.

Back in the US, A friend who is a nurse told me she was bracing herself for the impending flood of Covid patients in the hospital. 
"Draw Near, Hold Fast" became an expression of honor for all of our healthcare workers. They draw near, they hold fast, and they take care, when no one else can. 

This song is a part of my 2023 compilation called, “Quilted: a colorful patchwork of original songs and the stories that stitched them”. The song's subject, providing direction and purpose in troubled times, folds nicely into my “Eight Point Star Quilt” hope chest. *

LYRICS: Draw Near Hold Fast
Verse 1:
In these uncertain times
when the curtains close, and streets are empty
Rhythm falls out of rhyme
but the Maestro’s wand is at the ready

Chorus:
Hand me the rosin for my bow
the sweetest sound to float the feather
I have a song to dash the foe
Draw near, hold fast and help one another
Draw near, hold fast and help one another

Verse 2:
On this unsettled day
when a wish you well is not forsaken
Connection is held at bay
and a breath is not for granted taken

Chorus:
Draw me into the public square
and open wide the windows shuttered
I have a tune to beat despair
Draw near hold fast and help one another
Draw near, hold fast and help one another

Bridge:
We have to draw in now
We have to begin a walk in the dark unknowing
Fear not, each step of the journey within 
It is vast, it is rich and ever growing
Don’t worry, don’t fear
The Maestro will lead us there

Verse 3:
solfege

*What is an "Eight Point Star" quilt?
https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htm
Stars are probably the most common motif used on quilts. Homesteaders traveling West used the stars for guidance; and they looked upon stars as religious symbols of their faith in God.

There are hundreds of star patterns. Some quilts have just one large radiating star, often called the Star of Bethlehem or Blazing Star, while in other quilts, dozens of smaller stars are used. The simplest and most popular star pattern is an eight-pointed star.

A star pattern is not an easy design to cut or sew. Precision is extremely important as any inaccuracy in cutting or piec-ing is multiplied as pieces are added. If poorly pieced, the quilt will not lie flat when finished. An intricate star pattern was one way for a woman to show her needlework skills.

Many times the quilt maker deliberately sewed a mistake somewhere in the quilt. It is thought, by some, that this reflected the maker's faith in God; for only God can make a perfect thing.

This song features violinist Lucas Stratmann, who recorded his part remotely from his home in New York City and shared it with me via email. The rest was recorded in my home "ReisUpStudio" and mixed and mastered by Quinn Music. 

Music Video:
I like to make videos for my songs and have a YouTube channel @dotreiser. 
Please view and share my "Draw Near Hold fast" video here:
https://youtu.be/pn5GnKpgVuE
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvRmSss7xTumfXvdQvLKfMA

Draw Near Hold Fast

For more songs, stories and links to my newsletter, please visit my website at www.ReisUpStudio.com. Thank you!

Eight Point Star

Dot Reiser