Music and Memories

This week, the school my children attend (a small private Baptist school) has been host to an evangelistic team that comes every year around this time.  They come and host a variety of activities from fun school-day events to special evening programs.  They teach, entertain, preach, and perform.  Today was their last day at Trinity.

On Monday evening Katherine wanted to attend the evening program because they had special "spy" activities planned for the elementary aged students...and boy was Katherine excited to go.  She had so much fun that she wanted to go on Tuesday, but it just wasn't going to fit in our schedule so I told her she could go to their final event (last night).

Patrick was also eager to hear them perform.  The Pettit Team is more than just a group of energetic young people (except for the leaders, most of the members of the group are in their early twenties) leading fun activities for the kids.  They are actually quite skilled musicians...all of them.  In fact, musical skill is what gets them into the group.  Most of them sing and play at least one instrument; guitars and mandolins, harp, penny whistles, dulcimer, bodhran (Celtic drum), accordion, cello, string bass, and piano.  And they are quite good.

Last night's concert was Celtic in style, but what really got my attention was the longing I had for "the old days".  In this case, "old" means college...back when I was part of a well trained vocal ensemble that traveled the country giving concerts and doing public relations for the university.  It was such a real treat to be able to work with a great group of musicians who were so skilled and so well trained.  Seldom since that time have I been part of a group of people who could sing such tight harmonies and sound so awesome (with lots and lots of practice, of course).

Obviously, I can't go back to that time (and, frankly, I wouldn't care to repeat it), but I miss that kind of musically challenging singing (and I probably miss performing, too). The last time I felt like this was when Patrick was a baby and I was "missing" a creative outlet in my life.  It was during that time that I rediscovered knitting.  I wonder what I'll rediscover this time.