We rarely hear the inward music, but we're all dancing to it nevertheless. - Rumi
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| Ledges |
153
In Junior high school <>
and somewhat beyond,
2 years better put into a state of suspended animation or amnesic void,
I tried out for chorus,
excited at this new huge school,
full of enthusiasm,
ready to become the next Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand,
Carole King,
Peter, Paul & Mary,
Janis Joplin,
Mostly anyone but me.
Mom and Dad had a stack of records, as did my siblings,
It was the 60's.
We screamed music all summer to the stereo,
anywhere.
There were 153 people trying out.
Funny I still remember that number,
like it is seared somewhere in my brain...
They could take 150.
Really.
150,
another number seared.
As I approached looking at the last Psalm,
150,
the number yanked me like a painful string.
ouch.
When the names went up for who got in,
could you imagine how long were the faces of the 3 who failed?
Wonder if the other 2 girls ever forgot.
The next year, I tried out again.
Admittedly I had no training, no concept of keys, tuning.
I played tuba in the Bass clef,
repetitive,
which confused me too.
Our grade school autoharp was out of tune.
But I tried.
The music teacher had me sing a song.
She then stopped, looked up and said,
"Where were you last year?"...
That is where I am pretty sure my head spun straight around,
I did a princess turn,
and walked right out the door,
never to return.
Years later, an ember still burns for her,
that misguided teacher.
How could you have even heard 3 people?
Give them a tambourine...
a flag,
a chance.
So when Sister Rosetta Tharpe sings to
"Sing, because you are so happy,
Sing because you are so free, yes indeed...",
I think,
Freedom has its price.
And yet that doesn't keep me from singing.
We are free.
