Slow down, you crazy child...

...Slow down you're doing fine, you can't be everything you want to be before your time...

...you've got your passion, you've got your pride, but don't you know that only fools are satisfied?...

Recently, I have fallen into a Billy Joel phase. I don't think I ever consciously listened to his music before. I don't know why...I suppose I was just never really introduced to it. But you know, I am really enjoying it. :) Music is weird like that...different styles, genres, songs, artists, etc. "speak" to you at different times in your life. Josh Groban, my jazz streaks, showtunes only times, exclusively classical days...and whenever I am home, I find myself surrounded by country...but that is also partly because of my mom. (What she doesn't know...well, until now since I am writing it, and she will surely read it...is that there is some of that I choose on my own to listen to.)

It was really dear old Joyce (Didonato, that is!) that brought me to Billy's music. A beautiful opera singer by trade (with a gorgeous voice of gold! and a brilliant photographer, too!), she is never afraid to let her love of "the other stuff" be known.

In one of her more recent postings I caught as I have been trying to catch up on after my blogging hiatus, she was at her Kansas home grabbing a few days of "Joyce time" between jet-setting from Vienna to Roma. (Someday...I'll have that life someday...) It was a "grounding" post...I love those...she is truly genuine, and it is spiriting to know where she came from and what she has become...makes me think there's still hope! ;) ...Even the mere fact that she...and Renee come to think of it...had their falls and had a slow climb to the top of the mountain they are now on...it's comforting to know...

Anyway, through reflections of her recent week in Vienna and then returning home, she made a comment about how the lyrics of Billy Joel's "Vienna" reverberated through her thoughts and, as she stated, "...These lyrics which have accompanied me through thick and thin finally hit home..."

Slow down, you crazy child
and take the phone off the hook
and disappear for awhile
it's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize...Vienna waits for you?

So out came the ol' Billy Joel tunes, and as I listened, the melody, the harmony, the lyrics...were exactly what I needed to here. And "Vienna"...scarily felt like the Big Daddy above was trying to comfort and console His daughter of her fears, disappointments, and discouragement. (Yes, I know this sounds completely and utterly silly, but nonetheless...) ....I suppose, too, that it was a little more poignant for me, as I was slightly jealous and have been longing to be back soaking in the culture and beauty of Vienna...honestly, one of my favorite cities. :) It waits for me to return someday...

Music is weird like that...speaks to you in the most unsuspecting of moments. (Then, of course, there's the absolute capture of your entire body, soul, and heart with every single listening of a fragment from Bellini's La Sonnambula that just makes your heart ache from the beauty. haha!)

*****

So...my audition yesterday afternoon upset me greatly. I'll be honest. I am very angry with myself. My brain left me, and besides my high notes (which were brilliant!), I felt like I completely smacked the ground running. Certainly not one of my finest moments, and I feel Lynn would have been very disappointed had she been there and saw/heard that. Ugh. I'm just upset. A HUGE audition for me, and I lose my brain the second I walk through the door. Just trying to keep reminding myself "Thy will be done" and "you can't be everything you want to be before your time." And whatever the results happen to be from yesterday are the way God meant for them to be...whether I end up liking them or not.

After that whole fiasco, I went with Katie and Bryan and have been chilling out in Sandusky. We went downtown to experience Ohio Bike Week last night. haha! I thought it was hilarious...nuts, but nonetheless funny. SOOO many people and SOOO many motorcycles! Not really sure we fit in to the "biker crowd." haha! Then, we just sat on their front porch shooting the breeze and watching the escapades that passed by the house. Katie and I had a little girl time, talking till 4am! We started to hear birds chirping and decided we ought to hit the pillow before they start singing for real with the sunrise. haha! So, this morning I was a bit dizzy from tiredness, but it was worth it. ;) I missed our girl time.

We went to church this morning at the church where Katie and Bryan will be getting married next June...and I am singing at! It is beautiful! That is going to be fun to sing in! ;) Then we went out on the lake on their boat for a little cruise around. A lovely time...and a soaking wet butt when the waves splashed over the side of the boat! Oh, well! ;)

Gratitude 97
I am thankful for the scent of vanilla candles. :) I LOVE that smell!