aikimuse

History

Member for

1 year 22 weeks

Audio

listen to aikimuse's recent audio files

Personal Information

Your website

http://melanieorpen.blogs.friendster.com/life_the_universe_and_eve/

State

PA

Bio

I cannot remember a time when I was not fascinated by stories. I’ve studied them throughout my life since childhood’s first library books to television’s once all too predictable mellow dramas to radio’s silver age classics, to cultural myths, to poetry and song, to film sagas or vignettes--memoirs, novels, articles, blogs, paintings, music, dance, drama, stand up comedy, and slam poetry. My newest obsession is the graphic novel. At the end of the day, I see increasingly how each is a tool for the same use—that the shades, and textures may change with the medium but each suppose who we are, why we are here, and how we might choose to occupy ourselves in this life on this tiny planet on the edge of the galaxy, in this dream we share and hope to awaken from, in this experiment of the universe coming to comprehend itself, or through the lives of others in a galaxy far, far away that look like us but think and act a bit differently. Each tool expresses a thought designed to share its experience with an audience, or record it as an artifact of the thinker. I have always wondered why, followed later by: where, what, when, and how.
I see life as an opportunity for personal empowerment and transformation. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone lived in their bliss. I believe that doing what we love has the power to transform us. The founder of Aikido, a 20th century martial art from Japan built on the principles of non-violence and love as the common point of connection between all beings said this: if you want to change the world, change yourself. I challenge myself to live in my bliss—to do what I love and take the risk of loving what I do. And I see that doing this often inspires others to do the same, but it’s all based on choice, not force.
I believe that one story can change the world because one story has changed me. And that’s why I want to give the same opportunity to every person I meet or reach with the sound of my voice—if they choose to take it. That’s why I tell stories. It’s who I am in my love and my bliss. Its challenges and compels me, disintegrates and rebuilds me. It is not easy because it requires me to face myself in every person I meet, every piece I see, read, or write—and hardest of all when I look into the mirror.
But this is the consequence I choose in living to be inspired. I could tell you a list of accomplishments mundane and elite. I will if it interests you. Sometimes it interests me. But the highest truth of who I am is that I love stories, and I live to share them.

What's your favorite public radio show?

My all time favorite radio show is "The Shadow," for anyone out there who used to listen to 1210 am Philadelphia when they used to play old radio shows on Saturday nights. I used to dream of Lamont Cranston.

But these days, I listen to WHYY 90.9 pretty exclusively. "All Things Considered" was my staple at morning jobs. "Fresh Air" is my favorite in the car show, unless its late at night and then its "This American Life." Working around the house, I love "Here and Now" or "Talk of the Nation," but the best for cleaning and odd jobs, especially moving, is "American Roots." "BBC America" keeps me feeling fair and balanced. And when I just need a little something different, I turn on "World Cafe Live" on 88.5 WXPN. For humor I like Click and Clak or "You Bet Your Garden." Not too many people find gardening funny, but I always leave the show with a smile on my face and much happier plants and animals.

What's your secret talent?

Baking and an incredible ability to spot faces in cameo roles on popular (to me anyway) tv shows. Jackie Chan on an episode of the "Gilmore Girls." Or my friend from college who walked on to an episode of "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer," and who now stars in "Prison Break." Yep, if they spent 3 secs on screen, I can spot 'em and place them. But if you had to choose between that and my chocolate chip cookies, I know which one you'd choose. And you'd be right.

What's your favorite sound memory?

I got my first library card when I was 6 years old. Each week my mother took us to the Melinda Cox Library and we would descend into its hallowed depths that featured a children’s reading room with live stories and a front desk occupied by my favorite sound memory.
We were allowed only 12 books. Back then, this small library seemed like a veritable cornucopia to me. I made my selections carefully, always longing to bring home more, knowing I would read each one before the week was over. At the close of each visit, we approached the circulation desk. On top of my pile of books was a thick paper library card with a metal tag affixed to one side in the middle. I cannot now remember if it was me or the librarian who set the books in order—largest on the bottom to smallest or thinnest on top—but it is a method I still employ.
The librarian would next arrange the books with the card pages out and aligned so she (they were always women then) could skillfully pluck one card after another and place it into the maker of my most treasured sound memory—the mechanical library card punching machine. It was the size of a toaster, if the toaster had a door that comprised one thick side and allowed it to open like an oven door to exactly 45 degrees. It was surrounded in plastic the color of chocolate milk. To one side was a lever that applied mechanical advantage to the plate that comprised the angled side so that when it closed, it met with your library card set into a bracket on the machine’s internal face. Once your card was placed on its side in the center bracket, a paper slip with the day’s date was placed horizontally over top, so that the top of the slip would be imprinted with your library card’s stamp. Once the lever was pulled, the machine activated and the world as I knew it shifted:
Snap
Clat!
Buzz
(Grundle).
Click.
Sigh.
The mechanical beast came to life. It consumed the key. The mouth reopened and the tongue lolled to reveal a list of treasures I could take home with me.

The metal stamp made a quiet metallic snap before sliding against the back of the central metal plate. The slip made a dry rustle and clat as it was placed. The lever triggered a sound of swelling electric current, an excitation of electric bees waiting to come out of the hive, all waiting to be unleashed and set chain reaction into motion. It emitted a sound between a grind and a low grumble as something audibly crawled over the contents now secured within the inner sanctum. A click as the door released and sprung open to reveal the contents. And the sigh of the machine as it came to rest once again.
The magic slip now held the imprint of the metal shield that bore my name. My temporary treasures lay on the counter before me. Like all good treasures I would have to return them one day for use by someone else.
I pulled the pile of books off the smooth linoleum counter into my eager arms. I hurried out of the library, anxious to begin reading the moment I got home. Each time I left the building, I looked up at the old bell tower steeple. An old owl was rumored to live there. In this place of magic, I wanted to see the owl who watched over my fantastic kingdom. But being very good at being an owl, I never saw him.
A great sound memory is like magic. It brings places long gone alive and transforms living places into fantasy. That's what makes this one my favorite.

Which station do you listen to most?

90.9 WHYY Philadelphia

Affiliate

Affiliate points

aikimuse has earned 0 points.

Points

User points

403