Endings...

We attended my youngest son's final High School Orchestra Concert last night.  It was awesome!  Lucky 13 plays the cello.  He got to riff a bit, on his electric cello, during their last song.  Like me, he gets a bit of stage fright... the shaking hands.  I played piano, and that kept me from going as far with it as I might have.  Singing never scared me as much as playing.  He really pushed through it, and he ended up having a great final performance.

His Senior year was taken from him by illness, so instead of graduating last year, he is completing his final classes this summer.  He has just two to go, and they will be done at an online High School.  The wonderful thing is, all of the delays won't matter a few years from now.  As I've told him, it only matters what you're doing today!  Don't hang on to regrets of the past.  High School will only be a small blip on the map of your life. 

I am so proud of him.  He played so well last night and with such  confidence!  Another "era" ends, and it's on to new beginnings...

You gain strength, courage and confidence

by every experience in which you stop

to look fear in the face.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Lucky 13's Good News...

My youngest son, Lucky 13, has been in Orchestra since it was offered in Middle School. He plays the Cello, and really enjoys it.

About a month, ago he auditioned to be part of a local chamber orchestra and was accepted. They have two hour practice sessions each week. It has really stretched him musically. The pieces are a higher difficulty level and very challenging for him.

He came home from school today with a big smile on his face. First, he shared that his speech went over really well with his Speech class. He wasn't too sure he was going to be comfortable doing speeches. Several of the other students told him they enjoyed the sense of humor he brought to the presentation.

The he shared his bigger news... He's now first chair for Cello in the school orchestra. He did very well on his test. His playing has improved partly due to the new challenges of playing with the chamber orchestra. He loves playing Cello and takes great pride in improving his skills.

I wish all young people had the opportunity to take music in school. Often when the budget has to be trimmed in schools, the music and arts are the first to be eliminated. I believe music enhances learning. It's something that gives pleasure throughout your life, whether you perform professionally or for your own enjoyment.


Take time today to put a little music into your life...

Brenda Photo Challenge - "Play"

This time the theme is "Play"

I love to "play" the radio!

Here's Lucky 13 and a classmate "play"ing

their cellos with the school orchestra!

And here's a band I fell in love with

on a trip to Blue River, Oregon...

You should have heard them "play"

...even if it was only in my mind!

I hope everyone had as much fun with this challenge as I did!

Go to The Brenda Photo Challenge link to see the other entries.