Pearl has become a Backyardigans junkie. It’s animated operetta…kind of “High School Musical” for the preschool set. I love my daughter, but her taste in music is getting on my last nerve. Is this how parents of the ’90s felt about Barney? (“Barney is far worse,” says Will from the other room.) -----
Speaking of Will, his grocery-buying habits continue to amaze me. This is a guy who, as I have blogged on one or two occasions, personally spikes our nation’s sugar stats by purchasing cereals such as Reese’s Puffs and Cap’n Crunch, also routinely grabbing super-sweet yogurt products (YoCrunch, YoSnack—Yo, High-Fructose Corn Syrup), and rarely coming home without a jumbo package of Strawberry Twizzlers. And yet two days ago I opened the refrigerator to find a package of organic alfalfa sprouts. I LOL’d!
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Vi performed in her school’s “Winter Holiday Concert” last night. She sang a solo with the chorus in a song called, “Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child.” She also played with the band as part of a 2-girl trombone section that really rocked the house, especially in the upbeat opener, “Jingles on the Housetop.”
The vocal solo, in particular, was the cause of much anxiety in the days leading up to the performance. Yesterday morning, careful coaxing was required to deliver my dear daughter to the Middle School for rehearsal. Then, further coaxing was required to prevent said daughter from vomiting in the nurse’s office and retreating to the safety of our Home-Sweet-Home. To see my poised girl standing at the microphone, 10 hours later, singing sweetly of the season in front of approximately 800 people, was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. It was, in a way, a Susan Boyle moment—a moment when she faced the dragon of doubt and vanquished its fire with the beauty of music.
Thanks to my Moms group, especially, for praying Vi through the day and through the concert. (As one who has actually puked before many-a-big moment, I don’t take anxiety lightly.) And thanks to the music teachers for giving kids—and parents—these kinds of opportunities. Aside from Vi’s solo song, of course, my favorite piece in the concert was “Beautiful December” by Amy F. Bernon (link leads to a grownup rendition, not the A-Town 5th grade chorus). Enjoy!
5 comments:
I can feel your anxiety for Vi...what a sweet memory! Well written!
Way to go Vi! Tell her congratulations. Any chance someone taped this so that you could share with us at our next gathering? See you next week!
Mary
I followed the Backyardigans link out of curiosity. The idea of finding the whole world in your backyard is vaguely disturbing. I guess it's one thing for a Zen master to find the world in so small a space...It kind of implies that if you learn all you can about your immediate surroundings, there's no need to look any further. Or that the world beyond the garden gate is just like what you know. Of course, I am most likely reading too much into it. All the same, I am glad we do not own a TV.
We were TV-less 'til Vi was 2 or 3. I miss those days. I could certainly live without, but I would have to mount a major uphill marketing campaign to reclaim that blissful state of peace and quiet.
I must defend our beloved Backyardigans! We have loved and enjoyed this show along side our two little boys. The basis of imagination of play in your own backyard seems harmless enough. And Will is so right that they are better than Barney! Way better! We keep all their CD's in both our cars and Scott and I subsequently know most of the words... I've even found myself childless in the car singing exuberantly along! (That was disturbing, I have to admit.)
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