Noontime Honors

Dr. Noel Magee served Roberts Wesleyan College as assistant chair of the Fine Arts Department and theory professor since 1991, and retires at the end of this semester. He did much for the institution, and music faculty organized a noontime concert to honor him and thank him for his service and dedication. Faculty performed, and it was a delightful concert with a wide variety of presentations from Bach to Glazanov, traditional to spirituals, piano to solo unaccompanied voice.

There seemed to be no touch of either nervousness or one-up-manship. Merely friends who have come together with anticipation and eagerness to hold and support one of their own, a friend who will be moving on. There were no tears or catty remarks, no maudlin emotionalism, no pettiness or gloating - the political garbage that can so often be prevalent in an artsy community. Each gift was performed in a caring way with the recipient in mind, a gentle caress to let him know they treasured working with him and sent him out with encouragement.

At one poignant moment in the program, during a trumpet piano duet titled Autumn Leaves, the packed house watched with amazement as the fall wind swirled leaves against the floor-to-ceiling corner windows in Shewan recital hall. They seemed to dance with the music, blessing the event, celebrating a life of joyous service now turning to other endeavors.

When the music was soft, only two or three leaves danced playfully up and down the window sills. As the music increased in dynamic level and in speed and complexity, the wind tossed a pile of leaves against our view of the world, tossing them around in a mini maelstrom as the tones of the trumpet filled the interior space. Inside and out filled with excitement and happiness!

It was a wonderment! Though the trumpet player did not see what was happening, the whole audience did, forgetting the player, the music, the event. Just like children seeing fireworks for the first time our mouths hung open, our heads following the chase and patterns of the leaves bouncing by, our eyes wide.

Could we but have that same attitude towards moving into a new chapter in our lives, how much easier it would be to say goodbye to one thing and embrace joyously another. As I look back, I rarely ever held that sense of grandeur of the passing of time, rather sliding bumpily from one season to the next.

May your next season's change be marked by all as a time of great celebration and an integral part of the grand scheme of things.

Chivalry is not Dead

This morning I got to drive the new route for carpool pickup. I swan if they keep changing the rules, I'll never keep up! At least I am getting to know where everyone lives and who belongs to whom. Anyway, we picked up a girl I haven't had to pick up before. She was the last one we collected before we began the 20 mile trek to the East Side.

Drew had started out in the front seat, and when we pulled into the drive, he jumped out and hopped in the back with the other boys so Beth could have the front seat. Beth threw her backpack in the trunk, then opened the back door.

"Drew, you can sit up front. I don't mind being in the back seat," she politely offered.

"No, that's OK," Drew responded.

There was an awkward moment of silence, neither kid wanting to inconvenience the other. So I gently intervened. "Girls in the front." They both sighed with relief. How nice to know that Drew was not only conscious of the polite thing to do and willing to do it, but downright uncomfortable about not treating a young lady with the proper respect.

I hope that stays with him for life. Better yet, I hope it rubs off on his attitude toward Mom!

On Being Stoned

Funny how that phrase can mean so many things! In the Old Testament, if you were stoned, they pelted you with stones until you died, usually because you had committed some horrible sin. In the Middle Ages, it meant something made out of stone (a stoned pot). In the 60s, it meant you were totally mellow, intoxicated and divorced from reality due to the drugs you were smoking (stoned from pot). Fruit like peaches have stones. There are stone cutters, StoneHenge, stone's throw, stoneware, and Estonia. OK, maybe that last one is a stretch.

In this case, it is referring to my Dad, who is currently wrestling with a kidney stone. Those of you who have had a kidneystone will sympathize. It is no fun. Dad has a history of kidneystones, inherited from his father. I got mine from my Father. But this little bugger is refusing to exit. Dad ended up in the ER where they dutifully hooked him up to an IV to flush the thing out. Now he is swimming in fluids, but still no progress.

If you have a moment today, would you say a pray for Dad? He would appreciate it, and so would Mom who is keeping bedside vigil now that he has been admitted. Thanks.