12.8.09 bodies buried at the holiday party
Once upon a time I loved singing in front of people. I could walk into a room or onto a stage and open my mouth and be reasonably assured that the sounds that emerged would be controllable and familiar. Even in French or Italian or German...I would do a decent job. I, well, wouldn't suck.
And then I stopped singing in front of people...there are lots of folks who sing better than I and all that. And on the odd occasion that I'd open my mouth in public to sing, the results were less than consistent.
Sometimes? I sucked. In public.
Or, perhaps more charitably, I was so uncomfortable that the experience sucked.
Sucked like a Hoover freakin' vacuum, my friends.
Tonight?
Tonight was fun.
A little Sufjan Stevens with a group of colleagues who play and sing and collaborate well and generously? Heck, Christmas came early!
Add to that a talented colleague who suggested a last-minute addition to the program, and then said "never mind - next year"...taking the onus of performing off my plate. And then add a dear dear friend who said "C'mon....pleeease?" and another friend who said "I'll play bass!" and a well-timed glass of shiraz and well, I sang in public.
And liked it.
Liked. It.
Merry Christmas! I got what I wanted. Before I even knew I wanted it.
My five:
And then I stopped singing in front of people...there are lots of folks who sing better than I and all that. And on the odd occasion that I'd open my mouth in public to sing, the results were less than consistent.
Sometimes? I sucked. In public.
Or, perhaps more charitably, I was so uncomfortable that the experience sucked.
Sucked like a Hoover freakin' vacuum, my friends.
Tonight?
Tonight was fun.
A little Sufjan Stevens with a group of colleagues who play and sing and collaborate well and generously? Heck, Christmas came early!
Add to that a talented colleague who suggested a last-minute addition to the program, and then said "never mind - next year"...taking the onus of performing off my plate. And then add a dear dear friend who said "C'mon....pleeease?" and another friend who said "I'll play bass!" and a well-timed glass of shiraz and well, I sang in public.
And liked it.
Liked. It.
Merry Christmas! I got what I wanted. Before I even knew I wanted it.
My five:
- Being pushed out of my comfort zone.
- Collaboration. I can't begin to tell you how important this is to me, in all aspects of my life.
- Comfort food.
- Playing music with friends...I can't emphasize how rejuvenating, invigorating, all-things-*ing it is!
- Happiness.
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