Oh, I am just overwhelmed. Let me catch my breath! I have just watched as Paul Simon has been awarded the inaugural Library of Congress Gershwin Award for Popular Song. Tonight our local public television station aired the two-hour tribute to his music from Washington, D.C. It was unbelievable. I have been obsessed with Simon & Garfunkel since the age of 12. I know every word to every song. I learned to sing really good harmony by listening to them.

Many prominent artists sang Simon’s songs, with varying degrees of success. James Taylor did a beautiful job with Still Crazy After All These Years, while Marc Anthony absolutely butchered El Condor Pasa and Late in the Evening. And Stevie Wonder forgot the words, for goodness sake, to Loves Me Like a Rock! The verse that begins, “If I was the President …” They had to start the whole song over. I’ve never liked Stevie Wonder. Who forgets the words to a Paul Simon song?

But … about 15 minutes before the show ended, Paul Simon introduced his long-time singing (and arguing) partner … Art. Voice of an angel. And they sang Bridge Over Troubled Water. My favorite song of all time, by anyone, ever. And they sang it together tonight. In case you didn’t see it or are just wondering, yes, they do still have the chops.

And, yes, I did cry. Just a little.

Sometimes older is better, sometimes newer is better. I loved the old Apple logo with all the colors, but I have to admit I like the clean simplicity of the new one too. I had a 1999 emerald green Suburban and I put my last of the old stickers on the back window. When the engine died, I had to get a new Suburban and the car wasn’t worth much at all without an engine. I tried to persuade the salesman that the sticker was worth another $1000 on trade-in — let’s just say that the salesman didn’t quite understand the value.

Older is Better
• Simon & Garfunkel together
• Popcorn on the stove
• Coke in those small glass bottles
• A real person on the phone instead of those annoying automated menus
• Being able to see stars instead of bright lights

Newer is Better
• The Internet
• OSX!
• TiVo
• Text messaging
• CDs (vs. 8-track tapes!)
• iPods

Not Better, Not Worse, Just Different
• The Apple logo — I really do like both
• Having teenagers instead of toddlers
• Getting older

What do you think? Older is better? Newer is better?

When I get really, really stressed (like lately!), I put on my headphones and zone out. I like to listen to music when I’m alone in my car, and while working on projects on the computer, but there is something about the headphones that just shuts out everything else. I have a 45-minute playlist on my iPod that I call Calm. It is a very eclectic list, to say the least. Here’s what’s on Calm:

1. Cantique de Jean Racine, Faure
2. Benedictus, Simon & Garfunkel
3. Bleecker Street, Simon & Garfunkel
4. And Now My Lifesong Sings, Casting Crowns
5. As We Seek/Jesus, Draw Me Close, Maranatha! Promise Band
6. Elijah\He Watching Over Israel, Felix Mendelssohn
7. Hello, Evanescence
8. Hymn, Jars Of Clay
9. If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot
10. Requiem\Lacrimosa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
11. My Immortal, Evanescence
12. Song for a Winter’s Night, Jewel & Sarah Mclachlan
13. The Water Is Wide, Karla Bonoff
14. Thread of Scarlet, Wes King
15. Wonderful, Merciful Saviour, Selah
16. Angie, The Rolling Stones
17. Lullaby for an Anxious Child, Sting
18. O Sacred Head, Bach
19. Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton

Of all the songs, my favorite right now is the song by Jars of Clay called simply, Hymn.

Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine says the song is about “the depravity of man and the brilliance of God and the gap in between.” It’s very soft and quiet with a beautiful guitar part and to me it is comforting, poetic and soothing. The lyrics are so beautifully written, but the language makes their meaning less than obvious, which I think is why the song inspires me so. You have to use your mind, and in the process you absorb the words on a deeper level.

Oh refuge of my hardened heart
Oh fast pursuing lover come
As angels dance around Your throne
My life by captured fare You own

Not silhouette of trodden faith
Nor death shall not my steps be guide
I’ll pirouette upon my grave
For in Your path I’ll run and hide

Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee.

When beauty breaks the spell of pain
The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain
But not when love be ‘pointed king
And truth shall Thee forever reign

Sweet Jesus carry me away
From cold of night, and dust of day
In ragged hour or salt worn eye
Be my desire, my wellspring lye

Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee