These Operatic Nights

Interlude

When you are in a crazy season but have 30 minutes
in which to grab dinner, use your time well.

Fall Work Day Treats

The beauty of my job is that sometimes I can hunker down at home,

and take walk-to-the-post-office breaks in the glory of fall sunshine.

Having arrived back to my sweet little cottage,

I can then make my new favorite beverage

[I am obsessed with hot water and lemon!]

enjoy the sunshine at the table,

or even sitting on the porch steps.

[Why, hello strange little football! Where did you come from?]

And then, even when the following day is dreary and requires me to be in the office for a while, I can make my way homeward 

[having forgotten to bring lunch!] 

and take the rest of the afternoon to curl up in my chair,

to finish reading applications that get more enjoyable every year 

[yes, I actually have a clue what these people are talking about now!], 

all with warm beverage to boot.

I am loving these treats of fall...

Good and Long

Last week I found myself here

with my good friend Em,

for the purposes of this:

Early Friday and Saturday morning, I drove to her in-laws,

took in this view, 

and then Em & I drove together 

through mountains and red-rimmed trees

toward these fine folk:

Then Em climbed on the podium

and told them what was what,

and we made some fine music finer.

I watched this friend--whom I met in a choir situation much like this and have known a long time--walk in her giftings. I worked a bit, with the pianists. And I marveled at the opportunity to teach some children more about what we've worked on for so long. 

Eventually, the people came to hear us

and we were all very glad for the experience.

The musical experience in and of itself would have been just fine,

but this lady and I were grateful for some good old-fashioned

quality time.

Talking deep, and letting the Lord speak.

In friendship, good and long.

Opera Scenes

Late Nights

Debussy, rattling my brain to sleep.

Sometimes,

I step out on my porch,

and breathe.

I have been seated at her table

This fabulous friend recently had a dream come true,

a book, published,

about what it means to know that you have a place at the Table.

Add to this accomplishment that in a few brief weeks 

she will arrive at 40 years of age,

and understand that a celebration was massively in order.

Hence,

those who love her gathered,

reuniting with each other,

in happy

and [cute cute] joy.

There was football in the basement,

there was karaoke in the living room.

The children adored it,

but so did:

the adults.

The love in the air was palpable.

For an extended moment in the course of the night I had to disappear, 

to take a phone call where I was placed on hold.

I sat in my dear friend's bedroom, 

curled in the chair where she seeks the Lord,

her cat curled on my lap.

I listened to the children banging around in the room above me, and remembered the early years of our friendship, when she and Ash would be downstairs with the grad students they love, and I would be upstairs with her children, laughing so loudly we had to be shushed.

I listened to the voices echoing from the hallway, the kitchen, the living room, and thought of all the stories, all the persons who have come in, sat down, walked out having been loved. I thought of all the lives that have changed in all of the years we have spent here, 

sticking it out, together.

I thought about that book she wrote, 

the stories included which I was privileged to witness first hand

in their beginnings, unfoldings, and ends.

I thought of the many days of sitting at her counter, crying tears of hurt and confused or just hearing all that's new, the many nights of sitting at her table, talking through places of wonder and need.

I sat in my dear friend's bedroom, 

curled in the chair where she seeks the Lord,

her cat curled on my lap.

And I thought: What a precious precious gift,

to be seated at her table.

Did I say it was Fall?

I must have meant winter.

 [Good thing I cleaned out that pond before the ice storm swirled all the remaining leaves to the ground...] 

And so, I cozy up inside, with book, sweater, and warm beverage.

Totally ok by me.