So why do I do this?
After looking at the schedule I posted yesterday, and becoming both horrified and depressed at the same time, I have to ask myself, "Why do I do this?"
Three answers:
1. Because I can
2. Because I should
3. Because I want to
I am still young enough that I can be involved in all of these things and it doesn't kill me, it just wears me out. The fundraising stuff and the involvement at my kids school I do because I think I can make a difference. Believe me, the shape that the programs were in when I got involved were terrible. I didn't fix it all myself, but I certainly helped.
The homework gig is one that is difficult for me, but I do it because I should. I am like most other people at the end of the day, and the last thing I want to be doing is my son's sixth grade math homework. The deal is, though, that last fall, after a teachers conference, we concluded that Joe is working way too hard for the results he was getting. After almost 8 months of evaluations and doctors visits, MRI's, visual scans and countless other things, we have determined that he has a learning disability.
This is crushing, not because we had any illusions that we had the perfect child, or that he would cure cancer some day, but if you met and talked to my son, you would never guess there was anything wrong. He has been in a school environment since he was 4, and it took us seven years to figure out that there was legitimately something wrong, that had nothing to do with a lack of motivation or effort. Coupled with the LD, he has developed some anger problems as well. There are days that I wish I could home school him, but I know that I cannot.
This is my only son.
There is nothing that I would not do for him. It breaks my heart to see him struggle so. I thank God that he is in the school he is in, with the teachers he has. The kids around him seem to be good kids, and he has not complained of being made fun of. I know that when I went to school we were merciless on kids that were different. I guess things change.
I actually consider it a privilege that I can somehow steer him through this.
The last reason, because I want to, is for all of the singing I do.
When I was in high school, I discovered Drum and Bugle Corps. To me it was like combining the symphony and the ballet, and putting it on a football field. I am hard pressed to think of a higher degree of performance combined with artistry. I wanted to march so badly, but as you can imagine, it requires a great deal of talent, as well as money, as well as ability.
The catch with Drum Corps is that you age out at your 22nd birthday.
I waited too long to decide that I was good enough. That is a road I can never take.
The good news, is that I discovered Barbershop. I visited the chorus in 1990, and realized that here was my chance at Drum Corps, albeit, on a stage, singing 4 part harmony, with men that were old enough to be my father or grandfather, but it was a second chance.
Since then, I have traveled all over the US and Canada, sang in some of the greatest halls you have ever heard of, and even won the International Championship in 1992. But once again, there was a higher level to strive for. For all that Barbershop choruses offer, it pales in contrast to quartetting. That puts you, on stage with three other men, singing other parts, trying to change lives, with your music.
I did my first contest this weekend, and we placed 7th out of 24. The judges were very complimentary, and we qualified for the next round. We will compete again in October for the District championship. In another year or two we should win it.
Then in April, we can compete in the International Prelims. If we score high enough, we will be invited to compete against the best in the world. I think this is within our reach this coming spring. Lord knows we have worked hard enough.
Last thought for the day, is that I don't sing for the glory, or the pats on the back, or anything like that. What I love to do, is make incredible music with people that I care about, and use that to ease the weight of the world from the people that are kind enough to listen.
Peace
Three answers:
1. Because I can
2. Because I should
3. Because I want to
I am still young enough that I can be involved in all of these things and it doesn't kill me, it just wears me out. The fundraising stuff and the involvement at my kids school I do because I think I can make a difference. Believe me, the shape that the programs were in when I got involved were terrible. I didn't fix it all myself, but I certainly helped.
The homework gig is one that is difficult for me, but I do it because I should. I am like most other people at the end of the day, and the last thing I want to be doing is my son's sixth grade math homework. The deal is, though, that last fall, after a teachers conference, we concluded that Joe is working way too hard for the results he was getting. After almost 8 months of evaluations and doctors visits, MRI's, visual scans and countless other things, we have determined that he has a learning disability.
This is crushing, not because we had any illusions that we had the perfect child, or that he would cure cancer some day, but if you met and talked to my son, you would never guess there was anything wrong. He has been in a school environment since he was 4, and it took us seven years to figure out that there was legitimately something wrong, that had nothing to do with a lack of motivation or effort. Coupled with the LD, he has developed some anger problems as well. There are days that I wish I could home school him, but I know that I cannot.
This is my only son.
There is nothing that I would not do for him. It breaks my heart to see him struggle so. I thank God that he is in the school he is in, with the teachers he has. The kids around him seem to be good kids, and he has not complained of being made fun of. I know that when I went to school we were merciless on kids that were different. I guess things change.
I actually consider it a privilege that I can somehow steer him through this.
The last reason, because I want to, is for all of the singing I do.
When I was in high school, I discovered Drum and Bugle Corps. To me it was like combining the symphony and the ballet, and putting it on a football field. I am hard pressed to think of a higher degree of performance combined with artistry. I wanted to march so badly, but as you can imagine, it requires a great deal of talent, as well as money, as well as ability.
The catch with Drum Corps is that you age out at your 22nd birthday.
I waited too long to decide that I was good enough. That is a road I can never take.
The good news, is that I discovered Barbershop. I visited the chorus in 1990, and realized that here was my chance at Drum Corps, albeit, on a stage, singing 4 part harmony, with men that were old enough to be my father or grandfather, but it was a second chance.
Since then, I have traveled all over the US and Canada, sang in some of the greatest halls you have ever heard of, and even won the International Championship in 1992. But once again, there was a higher level to strive for. For all that Barbershop choruses offer, it pales in contrast to quartetting. That puts you, on stage with three other men, singing other parts, trying to change lives, with your music.
I did my first contest this weekend, and we placed 7th out of 24. The judges were very complimentary, and we qualified for the next round. We will compete again in October for the District championship. In another year or two we should win it.
Then in April, we can compete in the International Prelims. If we score high enough, we will be invited to compete against the best in the world. I think this is within our reach this coming spring. Lord knows we have worked hard enough.
Last thought for the day, is that I don't sing for the glory, or the pats on the back, or anything like that. What I love to do, is make incredible music with people that I care about, and use that to ease the weight of the world from the people that are kind enough to listen.
Peace
posted by Troubador @ 11:31 AM
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