From the land of dial-up...

Every few days, I have to brave the internet to check in on my messages because it is apparently socially unacceptable to leave the realm of communication for a period of time. So while I was doing that, I thought I'd post some pics and a little update on life.

Gratitude 95
I rather enjoy coming home and being somewhat freed of the ruling powers of the computer.

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The last week before I left for my holiday at home, was absolutely dreadful! In short, it involved various monetary crises (of which are still not resolved!!!), house issues, and an acute case of bronchitis that gave me a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit and a cough that seems to want to linger eternally.

However, despite all that crap, I am home now. And as "humdrum" as country life can be, it is comforting. It was partly per "Doctor Lynn's" orders that I go spend time with my mommy and partly my need to just get away for a bit.

Tracy, Sarah, and I went on a road trip last week to come home. They stayed for a few days, and we embarked on crazy adventures. We went around to the "exciting" sites in my little corner of PA. I think they had a good time. ;) My favorite part was driving around with the windows down blasting classical and opera music. (We are such music geeks!) Some of the faces we got were priceless! Just spreading a little Beethoven, Mozart, and Puccini cheer! haha! ;)

(Tracy's first experience of making rice crispie treats)

You know, I think that them coming home made me really feel just how much "in the sticks" I live. But it's cool. Again, there is something comforting about it. Of course, my mom had to tell them bear stories, so I had them "freaking out" on me all weekend.

After they left, it was Mommy's Day, and since then, I have just been hanging out at home. Mom and I watched Baby Xander for a bit. That little pipsqueak is crazy! haha! :) And he moves fast now! His adventure of the week was mastering how to put his little Gerber puffs into his mouth all by himself.

Ott honn....

It has been a horrid week! I'm off to PA for some time, so posts will probably spit-spotty.

My Sample Column for the university newspaper:

This evening, I sat down and cranked it out! Enjoy! :)

A Soprano on Her Head: Living life upside down…

I was once given a book called A Soprano on Her Head by Eloise Ristad. A brilliant book, the author tells the anecdote of a master class for musicians she gave in which one particular soprano found her greatest operatic sounds came only when she was flipped upside-down on her head. Quirky as it sounds, the ideas of “resonance and placement of the voice” became comfortable and friendly to her practice when upside-down. Eventually, though, she would have to return right-side-up in order to sing in performance. In the end, she was, indeed, right-side-up, but the tension of controlling the sound held her back once again. Her next instruction was to forget about the how of singing and concentrate on anything else within her body…how her knees felt, the way her arms could move with the lilt of the music, etc. Soon, on slightly shaky ground, her return upside-right held the comfort of being upside-down but with renewed spirit and a stronger sense of possibility.

I have often pondered this anecdote and have discovered over these years that I am the “quirky” soprano, turning myself upside down every now and again to push myself beyond the protective walls of what I know…or, at least, what I think I know. I find that it is sometimes in the most peculiar of moments that the world becomes clearer. A “revelation” in my own vocal studies usually happens when I stop letting my brain control my voice after weeks of trying to manipulate how I think it should happen or sound. Moments like these remind me that when we try to control life, it begins to control us.

Last fall, I had a vivid reminder of Who is really in control of life. Wandering through the Budavari Labyrinth in Budapest, my path lit only by the dim oil lantern in my hand, I remember the sense of fear that began to consume me. I no longer had the ability to find my own way through the winding paths, for the soft glow of the flame reached only but a few feet around me. When I finally realized that I just had to trust the light would lead me in the right direction, I felt a great sense of calm fall upon my shoulders…Someone Else was in control. In those moments, I was flipped upside-down and back upright again with a brighter spirit.

When we have these “revelations,” then, why is it that we still all too quickly revert back to what we knew – or thought we knew – before? Are we that afraid of the unknown or too fearful of handing over the conducting baton? I have to admittedly say that I often feel the fear of the unknown and try with all my might to keep control, but every time I do, life decides it is going to send me tumbling until I am upside-down and won’t let me right-side-up again until I consent to loosening my grip on life. That said, I am certain I live my life upside-down quite often!