Shannon’s Pick: Bravest Face

“In the sweetest child there's a vicious streak”
“In the oldest eyes there's a soul so young”

Those two lines right there, they are the ones I kept coming back to when trying to decide which song to pick for Larry’s contest.  And to this day they are the ones that keep me coming back to this song.  They will always make me think of our youngest son Connor and my paternal grandmother.

It was around this time that my sweet little boy was showing me a darker side to his personality.  He was always the little boy who would give you the shirt off his back to make you happy so I worried for a while that the world might take advantage of his sweet nature.  I also worried that if he gave into the Darkside too much he would lose all of that kindness.  Turns out I had nothing to worry about, he found what I think is a healthy balance between his kindness and his Darkside.

It was also around this time Connor was starting to just spontaneously burst into song while he was gaming.  That reminded me so much of my grandmother.  You could be sitting at her kitchen table with her playing cards and she would just start singing, usually it was Patsy Cline, and now my youngest son was doing the same thing.  It was a full circle moment for sure.

My grandmother was a huge influence on my life and her soul and spirit stayed forever young.  I wish she would have been around at least long enough for my kids to have their own memories of her, but she passed when they were one and two.  I do make sure to share stories with them and especially let them know if they do something that reminds me of her….like I did when Connor started bursting into song.

P.S.  I know my sarcasm and wit are what keeps bringing you back but tonight especially make time to peruse Larrys as it will explain the pictures.

Larry’s Pick: Bravest Face (note Shannon’s link is the song – my link is the Snakes & Arrows concert)

Although there is a great story (to us) that goes along with this song - don't be fooled. At the core of it, this song has the potential to be emotional in some way for everyone.

This is off of the Snakes & Arrows album released on May 1st, 2007. And for me, for reasons that I won't discuss here, this is the Rush album I had been waiting for my entire Rush life.

I think it was because of that fact - that I was so happy about it - that I decided to issue Shannon a little challenge. Mostly to prove how freaking awesome I am. And if memory serves me, this was the first and I believe only time that we did this.

There are 13 tracks on this album. I gave her a couple of weeks to listen to the album so she could pick her favorite track. And I bet that I could pick what she was going to pick. I'm pretty sure I immediately wrote it down, sealed it in an envelope and told her to tell me when she was ready to reveal her pick. I think she was shocked at the fact the album had just come out, I had listened to it and already knew which song she would like best.

For clarity - not unlike almost every other Rush album - there are some heavy, deep thinking songs on this album. So it's not like just one song jumped out at me that would be her favorite. For a brief moment in the beginning when I listened to it, there were a couple that I wavered on. But, again, based on how awesome I am, I chose Bravest Face and waited.

When she told me she was ready a couple of weeks later, we decided that we would do the big reveal to each other at the Groveport Aquatic Center while the boys were taking their swimming lessons. And the rest, as they say, is history. I can recall sitting at the little table in the Groveport Aquatic Center ripping those envelopes open and laughing. Was I right? Well see the actual picture results in this post.

Just a great, fun, nerd memory we have. I'm sure we told the boys about it, but they were young and could probably care less then. This might be a fun memory for them now.

When I thought about this song today and this evening, the fun memory for us is there in my mind, but honestly, in today's world, I can only think of Shannon and how every single day she puts on her Bravest Face with her Small Fiber Neuropathy. If you haven't had the chance to read Her Diamonds, I humbly ask that you do.

She has a few great days, a few more good days, but mostly it's a struggle every day. 

Every. Single. Day. 

It's hard for me to comprehend the physical and emotional toll it takes on her. But just like the lyrics in Her Diamonds:

"And I don't know what I'm supposed to do - But if she feels bad, then I do, too"

"And I don't know what I'm supposed to do - So I sit down and I cry, too - But don't let her see"

Today this song officially got added to the "Second-Time Around" playlist...


Bravest Face
Music by Lee and Lifeson / Lyrics by Peart

Though we might have precious little
It's still precious

I like that song
About this wonderful world
It's got a sunny point of view
And sometimes I feel it's true
At least for a few of us

I like that world
It makes a wonderful song
But there's a darker point of view
That's sadly just as true
For so many among us

Though we might have precious little
It's still precious

In the sweetest child there's a vicious streak
In the strongest man there's a child so weak
In the whole wide world there's no magic place
So you might as well rise, put on your bravest face

I like that show
Where they solve all the murders
That heroic point of view
It's got justice and vengeance too
At least, so the story goes

I like that story -
Makes a satisfying case
But there's a messy point of view
That's sadly just as true
For so many among us, For so many among us

In softest voice there's an acid tongue
In the oldest eyes there's a soul so young
In the shakiest will there's a core of steel
On the smoothest ride there's a squeaky wheel

In the sweetest child there's a vicious streak
In the strongest man there's a child so weak
In the whole wide world there's no magic place
So you might as well rise, put on your bravest face

Put on your bravest face

In softest voice there's an acid tongue
In the oldest eyes there's a soul so young
In the shakiest will there's a core of steel
On the smoothest ride there's a squeaky wheel

In the sweetest child there's a vicious streak
In the strongest man there's a child so weak
In the whole wide world there's no magic place
So you might as well rise, put on your bravest face

Put on your bravest face

Though we might have precious little
It's still precious

In softest voice there's an acid tongue
In the oldest eyes there's a soul so young
In the shakiest will there's a core of steel
On the smoothest ride there's a squeaky wheel

In the sweetest child there's a vicious streak
In the strongest man there's a child so weak
In the whole wide world there's no magical place
So you might as well rise, put on your bravest face

Oh you might as well rise, put on your bravest face

Put on your bravest face

Put on your bravest face

Put on your bravest face...

Rest In Peace, Neil Peart - 09/12/1952 - 01/07/2020