I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack! I love when I accidentally post more than once in the same week. Okay, month. Whatever. I have a story to tell you today and I will do it, come rain or shine! And it's "come rain" in this case, cause it's sprinkling outside. As you know (?), I graduated from Holland Hall in 2001. I was a Walter Arts Center (WAC) rat and spent most of my time there singing, dancing, sometimes acting, and playing the violin. I remember the feel of that place and the fun I used to have performing on that big stage. Last night I went back and, after ten years of absence, sang on the stage again. Our beloved choir accompanist, Ms. Shank, is retiring from Holland Hall and our choir director invited alumni to join the current choir students and sing her farewell. Believe it or not, when it came time to go onstage, my heart was pounding furiously. I was so nervous! I've been on that stage dozens of times. I've danced solos, played solos, sung solos. I'm no stranger to the bright lights but WOW was I nervous to sing with all those little kids who look so much younger than when I was their age. Wow, what ten years will do to your perspective. We sang a John Rutter piece that was sweet and easy, which is good since I was sightreading. Yeesh, my voice is out of shape.
It's funny to watch all these performances and inevitably compare my own to each one. Things were different ten years ago, yet I still feel at home in the WAC. I'm glad I'm not in high school anymore, but I did have such good times there. I miss dancing and singing and performing with all my friends. Nostalgia is funny that way. I remember the way the stage looked when the spots were low and we were running to take our places. I remember frantically changing costumes in the wings because I was one of the few students in every part of the show. I remember laughing with my fellow performers when something would go wrong. We were all in on the joke and the audience was just lucky to get to watch us enjoy ourselves. Last night I was watching these 18-year old kids and they were laughing at their own inside jokes. I thought,
"What's so funny? I want to be a part of this! You may not know me, but I've done this, too! I've been where you are!" Give them ten years and they'll know how I feel. It's not a bad feeling by any means. It's a little bit warm, a bit melancholy, but wholly satisfying. I'm glad I'm where I am now. I generally love being an adult. But sometimes it's just good to be a kid. Oh, and Ms. Shank? We'll miss you.
