Hello everyone,
Agony! I was just putting the last touches on this update covering two weeks and… I accidentally deleted the draft! Arg, OK, here’s take two… hopefully I’ll be sufficiently eloquent. The biggest news was that my chorus WON the competition and it was thrilling!
Good things (starting two weeks ago):
FB: When your rocket scientist buddy is coming for brunch... save the dry ice from a meat shipment the night before. Principles to live by that I figured out all by myself!
FB: It's such an enchanting spring day!
[And that’s been the feel for these few weeks; I wrote later in the week:
The forest smells glorious today! The sun is almost summer-y and it's like every plant wants to share its green-i-est best! Since I can't send smells, this is the feel, "Ma nature's lyrical with her yearly miracle, spring, spring, spring!"
FB: You could not make this stuff up! Why is the thirteen year old sleeping on the floor?!?!?
(I took the time to get it up on youtube because this kid just cracks me up. Naturally, one couldn’t “drown” the legos by putting them on the floor.)
On our way to Sparks (Reno suburb), Nevada!
FB: Still feeling so overwhelmed with joy and release and tears and not much sleep after this experience of competing and winning with my chorus sisters. A mini-montage from rehearsal and travel to tears, hugs, and... exhaustion. I'm so grateful for these loving, talented, kind people.
(Our final rehearsal at home before traveling)
(Manicures so our nails are competition ready)
(Fun lunch stop we found that had sweet-pea hummus)
(Checking in. My roommate is taking a travel writing class and took lots of pictures.)
(Rehearsal the morning of competition without risers “flat floor rehearsal”)
(Decked out… a few hours until showtime)
(Warm up room, final place we can make any noise before approaching the stage where performances are occurring)
(Very wet face after our acceptance song… blue ribbon, first place!!!!!!)
This is a recording of our dress rehearsal of the acceptance song… but it was much more powerful on the stage!
(The newbies! For a medium sized chorus to win and especially with so many people new to the regional competition is especially challenging.)
(About a half hour later, the chorus dinner. Tenor Barbara is always putting little notes and sweet things in the chorus mail boxes and is just a super-nurturer.)
(Quartets serenade the choruses at the chorus dinners)
(Afterglow party, Becky is a fellow autism mom and always manages to sparkle.)
(Exhausted and my bed was still covered with make-up and competition-prep disaster… I wound up on my knees.)
Homeward bound! Brrrr!
I’m home and I visited my snuggle trees. The house is in decent shape. I still feel rather raw, but I’m looking forward to a gentle night of snuggles and calm.
And, later in the week, the director posted a picture with the plaques and look what popped up on the chorus webpage:
FB: Homeschooling smile... the natural position for studying the Iliad:
FB: Still a bit giddy, but the raw feeling of overwhelm is less! I have taken off my first place medals (and a bracelet present from Tonya from the contest boutique) and bedecked one of our downstairs bronzes! It's also so nice to get friendly with my redwoods again after the noise, smoke, and glitziness of a Reno Casino. Feeling happy!
Beautiful piece from a lady who started with the chorus in February:
How does he manage to roll like that?!?!?
FB: Hmmm, when you find the perfect, enclosed spot to let the goofy dog frolic and then discover it's currently inhabited! (I was fine with the sea gulls flapping away, but I think seals get first dibs! So, no off-leash time for the doggie while his human gets state testing done.) Still, quite a soothing gray day
Smooth final day of state testing
Listening to the next, new songs I get to learn for chorus
Listening to the next, new songs I get to learn for chorus
Here’s to learning and growing joyfully,
Rachel
❤️
🎉
