Things that made me come alive today

Listening to the Chattanooga Symphony String Quintet perform at our school today

I play the flute. Did you know that? I do. Well, I did. I started playing the flute in fourth grade. We lived in Nashville at the time and in the public school system, every child had to either play an instrument in the band, the orchestra or sing in chorus. I will forever be grateful that the school system valued music so deeply as to require that. It was playing the flute that gave me some of my most amazing musical opportunities. I played all through middle school, taking lessons periodically, and all through high school as well. I auditioned for every all-county/all-district/all-state band or orchestra that I could. Band geek? Yes, proudly.

One of the greatest musical experiences that I ever had was being accepted to play flute in the North Carolina Governor's School orchestra. Governor's School is an exclusive summer program designed to enhance the academic, artistic and performing talents of North Carolina's high school students. Each year, there is fierce competition to obtain a coveted spot on one of their campuses. I practiced and rehearsed for that audition like none other. And it was worth every minute.

I was part of a group of students that were as passionate about music as I was. We were exposed to all types of orchestral music, not just classical. I remember being completely weirded out by a piece that we played composed by Phillip Glass. The printed music consisted of simply beats on a page with directions about what to do with our instrument. Not musical notes, but directions that had me blowing directly into the mouthpiece while loudly banging on the keys. It was bizarre and modern and completely unlike anything to which I had ever been exposed. It was awesome.

However, the highlight of being in the Governor's School orchestra for me was being introduced to Gustav Holst's "The Planets." Oh my. I had never heard anything like it in my sixteen year old life and I was hooked. I couldn't wait for the section of rehearsal when we pulled out "Jupiter" and played that lively, rollicking piece. Even better, I won the piccolo part and playing those light, airy notes made my heart leap. Oh, and then the solemn and mournful middle section where the strings and horns join together in a reverent melody! I remember when we finally performed it for our families and friends, I sat in my chair with tears in my eyes at how achingly beautiful it sounded. To this day, I can't listen to it without being moved that same way.

The string quintet today brought back all those memories. I play classical music for my kids each morning but listening to them reminded me that a worthy purchase might be the pieces I know and love. I so miss teaching at a classical school, one that values that piece of a child's musical education. The classics, the music that has and will stand the test of time. Listening to them made my heart beat a little faster, I found myself breathing more deeply and a part of my truest self was uncovered. I'm wondering what I might need to do to truly reconnect with that part...

Wandering around Barnes and Noble

I texted Jason after school, "I need to go to Barnes and Noble and soak in some books. Be home around six." Oh yes, I needed to go to Barnes and Noble. Something about the string quintet had me thinking about the things that I deeply love. I don't know if it was really even conscious but I just knew I needed to go buy a book. A good book. One worth reading. Or maybe it was just that I needed to be in the midst of books. Either way, it was good. It was calming and soothing and I bought a very good book indeed, an old friend with whom I'd like to be reacquainted. I also found an inexpensive copy of "The Planets." Thank you, bargain bin, don't mind if I do.

Hearing a pair of owls hooting in the distance as I took Knox for his evening walk

It reminded me of when we lived here and got to experience this and this and this and this. Sigh. I would've stood on the sidewalk and listened for a while but I think I was weirding out the folks in the nearby houses. Still, it did my heart good to hear those calls and know just what was behind it all.

And to know it wasn't monkeys on the loose. Seriously, go check out the "this" links.

Technological Vacay

My computer crashed Wednesday.

Crashed and crashed hard.

Thankfully, the talented young man on The Geek Squad at Best Buy (shout out to Tim!) was able to access everything on my hard drive. All my documents, music and pictures are now safely stored on an external hard drive.

Which is really good, because if I had lost the almost six hundred pictures Jason and I took at my sister's graduation, she would have killed me. And then who would write in the Diary of a Southern Drama Queen?

So, rest assured, the Diary lives on but not until next week when I go through the laborious process of restoring my computer.

Sigh.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying The Third (Usually) Annual Cousins' Trip computer-free. When I shared that with my cousin, Megan, she exclaimed, "Oh good! We'll actually get you for the weekend!"

Yikes.

Put down the internet and step away.

See y'all next week...

Love,
The Southern Drama Queen

P.S. I randomly picked a book from the library for its chick lit potential. It begins with a southern woman throwing a hissy fit. I can't relate to this book at all. {Wink.}

It's like I'm eleven years old again.

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Do you know what is just so much fun? Going to the library to find just the right books to take on a week long trip. We have the most darling library up here on Signal Mountain. I use the word darling because it is just that- small but full, bright, cheerful and staffed by folks who share a common love of the written word. I adore walking in the front doors and wandering over to the "New Books" shelves to see what novel I can devour next. I won't lie to you- sometimes I will pick a book simply because it has a beautiful cover design.

Do you know this love of books? Do you revel in a shelf full of titles, an entire row of bright colors with bold print? Do you savor the smell of a library? It is a distinct aroma, you know. I'm fairly certain that even blindfolded I would know when I was being led into a library. Libraries are almost magical because here are all these books and they are free for the taking. All it takes is a card, the scan of a barcode and that book is yours.

Well, until two weeks later. But still, yours! You don't have to loan it out, you don't have to share it, it all yours to read at your own pace.

I've always been a bookworm. Always. In fact, throughout my elementary school years I was rewarded for good grades by a trip to the book store to purchase two or three books of my choosing. Honestly, there was not another reward that could have made me happier.

Except maybe tickets to a Tiffany/New Kids On The Block concert, but that's another post.

So I picked out my books today. Three in all. One based on a pretty cover and the topic of sisters, one because I had previously enjoyed another book by the same author and one because...well, it just looked interesting and like I might learn something from it.

One deep, one delightfully fluffy and one biography.

I also picked up the literary version of one of Jason's favorite movies. I'm no Robert Redford, but perhaps a read-aloud on the long trip will help to pass the time.

Mmmmmm, books. Now I just have to keep myself from starting one of them tonight...