“At last, my love has come along……and life is like a song.”
This signature piece made famous by Etta James, was penned in 1941 by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren and could easily be the theme song for Rick Denzien and Debra Lee who collectively are Lyra Project. They will be my guests on It’s All About Relationships on February 21st, 2013. Being in their presence, one can feel the sometimes crackling with electricity, often playful and silly, alternating with ahhhh-serene flow energy. Such is the nature of their music as well. It seems as if the relationship itself is The Muse that follows them around throughout the day, whispering and, I imagine, often roaring in their individual and shared consciousness. Their home studio is a welcoming place, and it is where I recorded the intro and outro for the show and from where the theme song: Only You, was created. When I was considering the concept for the weekly show, Rick’s eyes lit up and he indicated that they had the perfect piece. I get goosebumps (which I call my ‘truth barometer’) each time I hear it.
They describe themselves as a couple who are “full-time musicians, songwriters and recording artists. Together they form a collaborative songwritig duo, Lyra Project, and have a new CD they call simply LP-1, with songs that create a sonic painting of romantic relationship at various stages.
LP-1 CD is a creative collaboration of songs that draw on the universal feelings all couples experience with each other in various stages of relationship. LP 1 songs result from an “energetic synergy” that express a wide range of emotions – from lust to heartbreak – the effect on listeners being uplifting, healing and empowering.
Rick and Debra draw on the personal experience of their many faceted and sometimes complicated relationship to create music.”
Complicated relationship. Hmmmm…I can relate to that concept, since I had one and still do, with my husband who ‘left the building’ a bit more that 14 years ago; as a result of Hepatitis C that ended his life in an ICU bed in Philadelphia. Michael and I created and published a magazine called Visions (1988-1998) which focused on holistic health, spirituality, transformation, as well as peace and social justice issues. It was where I forged my journalistic sensibilities and had the opportunity to interview movers and shakers in various fields and, truth be told, the experience planted the seeds that all these years later, have me on this side of the microphone, bringing the listening audience on Vivid Life Radio the folks who will be sharing their ideas and expertise about relationships. We met in 1986 in a series of cosmically coincidental events, during which I scheduled and then canceled a trip to Russia with other spiritual teachers and healers on a “Citizens’ Diplomacy Mission”, planned from October 12-25, so that Americans and Russians recognized our common heart instead of seeing ourselves as enemies. It was then that ‘the Voice’ came into my consciousness and clearly stated “You are not supposed to go to Russia, you are supposed to be in Philadelphia.” Huh? “But this is the trip of a lifetime. I will be spending my 26th birthday in the home-land of some of my ancestors.” and the Voice repeated. “But I don’t live in Philadelphia.” and the Voice repeated…and on it went, until I finally surrendered to the inevitability that it wasn’t about to let me go, so I let the trip go. On October 24 (the day before the trip was to end), I went to Philadelphia with friends to hear Ram Dass speak on the subject of Seva (Sanskrit for Selfless Service) and during the intermission, my artist/healer friend Ute Arnold approached me with a curly red haired and bearded man and said in her soft German accented voice “This is Michael Moser.” He held out his hand to shake mine. “He’s taking the workshop you’re giving in 2 weeks. It was called The Love Yourself Playshop and it was on the subject of self worth (the topic 14 years later of the debut show!) Had I gone to Russia, the workshop would have been about the trip and as such, Michael would not have attended, since it was off his radar. I greeted him, engaged in pleasantries and then trotted off to chat with other friends. When he told the story, he would say that his heart was pitter pattering and when I told the story, I said that it took two weeks for my heart to catch up. I was in a rather dysfunctional relationship at the time, that I was contemplating leaving, but not quite ready to take the leap.
Fast forward to the workshop setting in which we were sitting in a circle and I was talking about the importance of eye contact in communication and Michael, being a good student was perched in a chair, opposite me, leaning forward, blue eyes lasering in to mine. “Oh my,” I thought, sliding down in my own chair. Over the subsequent months, we spent more time together, deepening our relationship and on May 2, 1987 we were married, in a ceremony in Peace Valley Park in Doylestown, PA. The ritual was interfaith, hippie-esque with rainbow streamers on trees and on the pavillion where we had the reception. An interfaith minister friend officiated, friends serenaded us and unfortunately, the weather was a portent of things to come. It was chilly, damp, overcast, with gusty winds. Our guests wore winter coats over Spring clothes. My short sleeved, filmy gown and Michael’s white linen suit flapped in the breeze. Perusing the photo album, we and our family and friends laughed at the memories. What comes to me, from a distant perspective, is that just as we accomodated, adjusted and made the best of the conditions on that day, so too did we throughout our marriage that was filled with love and fraught with challenges; Michael’s health only one aspect. Since relationships are not 50/50, but rather, 100/100, with each person bringing all of themselves to the table, each is responsible for the creation or deterioration of the third entity of the relationship itself. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not talking about allowing for or excusing addictive or abusive behavior between the members of the couple. What I am saying is that in our interactions, Michael and I unpacked our history, attitudes, beliefs and actions; all that we knew how to do at the time. Sometimes it was healing, sometimes hurtful. I would often say that being in business together was the best and worst thing that happened to our marriage. I can look back at the younger people that we were back then who so wanted to love with all our hearts, who sometimes didn’t know how. It was that proverbial “If I knew then what I know now….” All these years later, I look at them with compassionate eyes. I know that is one of the reasons I am fascinated with how other couples make it work. It is also why I am eager to do this interview with Rick and Debra; partners in love and lyrics.
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Written by Edie Weinstein
Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW (Bliss Mistress) is a colorfully creative journalist and interviewer, internationally known transformational speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, Bliss coach and the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. Over the past 25 years, she has interviewed such notables as Jack Canfield, Marianne Williamson,Dan Millman, Shirley MacLaine, Ram Dass, Ben & Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She is a regular contributor to Beliefnet, Elephant Journal, Wisdom Magazine, The Whirling Blog, Identity Magazine and Bellesprit.
