on the rim

No creaking wooden floors.  No glorious stained glass windows.  The floors were polished, as were the stairs, and the view of the city skyline was awesome.  Wonderful woodwork, though not structural,  light colored, not dark.  No suit, no tie, no black folder.  Not a singer, not this time. Tonight I went to Messiah at the Kaufman Center, in Kansas City.  My wife and I were guests of good friends.  The Spire Ensemble and Orchestra were magnificent.  Professionals all.  I also heard a male alto sing.  Two, actually, and how they could sing!  The performance from start to finish was nearly flawless. The first time that I heard a professional group perform Messiah was last spring, It was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with the Orchestra on Temple Square.  Besides that, I have sang in Messiah, twice, as part of a community choir, in a century old building in Independence, with a wonderful pipe organ, a harpsichord and orchest...

I had several years of piano lessons.  I obviously didn't apply myself and now, like many others who had the opportunity, regret that I didn't keep going, and keep practicing.  I played the tuba for six years in Jr.High, and High School.  I didn't do the traditional college thing, and as a tuba is a rather expensive instrument, didn't have one to just pick up and play.  After years, I did start toying with it again, as I had a son and stepdaughter that played the tuba, so did several Tuba Christmases, and even acquired a helicon on Ebay (shipped from Lithuania). I really didn't do any singing growing up.  I remember my mother and father singing in the Stake Choir for the dedication of the Independence Stake Center by President Spencer W. Kimball.  I don't remember really ever getting into singing until I went to Spain as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I had companions that played the piano, and I started to appreciate ...

I have been thinking for a week or so about how to write what I am feeling.  I probably spend way too much time looking inward, often completely oblivious to what is going on around me, so it is hard to put on virtual paper those feelings, and thoughts. I think this roller coaster started last Saturday, as I was traveling back to Twin from a Thanksgiving weekend in Rexburg with Callie.  The drive to Rexburg on Wednesday night was very interesting, with black ice from Burley to American Falls, where, thankfully, it turned to snowpack to Blackfoot.  From Blackfoot on, pavement was dry, but couldn't bring myself to the 80 mph speed limit.  Driving home was very peaceful, dry all the way, and sunny.  I was listening to XM 80s on 8, and the VJ Top 40 countdown from that week in 1981.  I was a senior in high school then, dating a girl from Oak Park High School, working at, if not fast food, then at least food. (Ponderosa on N Oak), earning sub-minimum wage. (an...