First Rehearsal

What a muggy evening. The air is heavy and still, the humidity high. We open all the windows in the sanctuary and turn on the fans. Regardless, sweat is trickling down my back in rivers within minutes. I am delighted to see such a great turnout and feel badly that they will have to endure this oppressive situation. Some look exhausted before we begin, and I decide to skip the physical stretching and just do vocal warm-ups, humming and sighing and working our way up and down the scale.

There is happy chatter and catching up with friends. I get to see pictures of grandchildren who have grown by leaps and bounds, hear about summer trips, and updates on health issues. How wonderful and grand - it is like a family reunion! We sing through the service music and have time to work not just on our first anthem, but to look ahead a bit. Despite the heat, it is a good rehearsal and a wonderful start to the season. This is going to be a terrific year. Best part was, I was able to sing and my voice worked most of the time! I wasn't sure I could do it. Between coughing and vocal fatigue, I have not been able to sing on Sundays at all over the summer.Here's hoping I will be able on Sunday as well.

People at Panera's

I don't often get to eat at Panera's these days. But today I found myself ordering my favorite smoked turkey on country white hold the onions sandwich, and sitting down to fully enjoy a meal. I selected a seat in the back room beyond the unlit fireplace, back where the sun was shining merrily through the windows and there were fewer people. I faced towards the outdoors, unwrapped my sandwich, took a big bite, and sat back to warm my face in the sun. I even closed my eyes, knowing no one was looking.

Slowly I tuned in to what I was hearing, and found myself drawn into half spun dramas where my imagination had to supply some of the details. In the corner booth, surrounded by paperwork and a laptop, sat a middle aged man nursing a cup of coffee. He seemed to be some sort of sales rep, and spent most of the time on his cell phone making nice with people, being understanding of their situations, asking for appointments. By his frequent between-calls sighing, I suspect things are not going particularly well these days, whatever it is he is selling. I watch him nervously tap his pencil and shuffle papers around while his honey smooth voice cajoled people on the other end of the line.

Across the room sat another young man who didn't even have a cup of coffee or anything else in front of him. He just slumped over the table as if he were exhausted, his face somber, his eyes puffy slits, his sweatshirt pulled up around his ears, the perfect picture of sad. He sat completely still, tucked in the far corner behind the fireplace out of reach from prying eyes, his hands crammed into his pockets.

The only other occupants of the back room were two older women chattering away happily about some juicy event that they had both witnessed. Their conversations was peppered with "can you believe" and "what was she thinking" and other epitaphs of incredulity about whatever it was the offender had done. I half wondered if they were discussing a soap opera, and expected to hear comments about illegitimate children and illicit love affairs. Mostly though, they were obsessed by something that was said.

I took a bite of the dill pickle, letting the sharp tang tantalize my tongue, and returned my gaze to the outdoors, tuning out the other occupants of the room. This lunch is for my enjoyment, and I intend to take full advantage of the time to thoroughly appreciate my food, this day, this moment of leisure, and the wonderful weather. Companions in the room notwithstanding.

And They're Off!

Monday, the first day of the semester, was fairly calm in the library. Every semester has its own pace and flavor. This one seemed to be quiet and reserved. Until today! Today began with a bang and went upwards from there. Every computer is occupied, every group study room full from the very first part of the day to the very end. Not a lot of rowdy chatter either. Lots of serious study and work being done despite the ubiquitous Facebook going on.

This feels like the real pace of the semester. Full house with lots of good work happening. I'll take it! I love to see students in the library doing what it is that I naively think students mostly do - learn. Now if Drew could just get the message . . .