Play It Again, Sam

I had my big Spring piano recital last night. With 19 students, the program made it look like it was going to be the longest night of my life. But, I knew from timing Braxson that his performance would take 34 seconds and his songs were longer than others. There were a few interminable pauses when one of the kids forgot the song they had been playing 20 times a day for the last month now that they had an audience. It was all I could do to stay back and not walk up and help them move on. (I didn't do that and they got through it anyway. Character building moment!) Even with refreshments we were under an hour.

I had three rookies last night - Lauren, Hannah, and Quinn (pictured at left). When I saw each of them arrive, I couldn't imagine them getting through this experience. They looked so scared! Poor Lauren had forgotten her music for our duet, too. (We played her other song as a duet because I brought that music. She played a song she'd never had to play without music in front of all those people and she didn't make one mistake. Hooray for Lauren!) None of the three had any trouble - they played their songs perfectly. Putting these recitals on is always a sweaty experience for me, but watching all of them perform for each other and their parents makes it worth it.

There was so much going on (mostly in my head) last night that I didn't take any pictures. Brian took a few - enough to remind me of the experience. If I'd been in my right mind and if I had the camera, I would have taken a picture of...

1. Quinn's little sister (and Bridget's friend), Josie, in her red Annie dress and tap shoes. The girl knows exactly what to wear for every occasion.

2. Katie announcing her first song, playing her first song, then staring the audience down for an uncomfortable minute before I whispered to her to play the second song.

3. Brody red from head-to-toe as he was playing his songs (perfectly). I have a special place in my heart for nervous red-heads.

4. Braxson sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for his name to be announced so that he could FINALLY get his dream trophy.

5. My sweet husband filling water pitchers. Major love feelings arise every time I have a recital because Brian is always behind the scenes taking care of all the stuff I can't wrap my brain around.