Photo of Benjamin Magnuson on Broadway in Sweeney Todd…

It is a slightly dreary Sunday morning… the wind was strong all night and continues to blow steady and hard. I took Flyer for a walk wearing shorts and a pullover, and I was very comfortable.

Friday morning, I slept for several hours after taking the BGSU men to the church and waking the boys. I realized that I could definitely keep up with 19 and 20 year olds, but the recovery is hell! Friday was the longest day – by 5:00pm it seemed much like 10:00pm. I took Flyer for a walk at 1:00pm to generate more energy and Brody was home between middle school choir and his last two high school choirs. I brought Marcus home with us and the dogs, rather than play outside in the beautiful weather, decided to curl up next to me while I took another – much needed – nap. The evening was uneventful, but restful.

Saturday, we were out of bed early and I drove Matt over to the high school for the show choir to load the busses and take off for the show choir competition in Columbus, Ohio. Amanda Berlon, the mother of one of my piano students, Zach, picked me up at 12:15pm. Her husband, Scott, was with their youngest son, Caleb, at his soccer game. After that was over, Scott and Caleb picked up Jose so he could spend the day with them. I have grown fond of Scott and Amanda over the past few years. Zach and Matt have been good friend and spend a good deal of time with one another in the choir and show choir, and Jose and Caleb are in the same grade, best buds, and sports nuts. The Berlons and I are very similar in our parenting, our personalities and our sense of humor.

Amanda and I seldom have a quiet moment between us, and I believe we covered – in the 190 minute round trip – everything from cooking to parenting to sports to choir to adoption… The contest was good and both our show choir, Illusion, and our women’s show choir, Mirage, made the cut for the evening finals. Amanda and I cut out for dinner at O’Charley’s and returned for the night finals. Fairmont’s ladies placed 4th and Illusion placed 3rd. Had Olentangy HS not bowed out of finals due to an evening conflict, Mirage would not have made the cut, and Illusion would have been 4th. Teays Valley and ETC, both Ohio show choirs, are absolutely phenomenal. I could watch their shows over and over.

Amanda and I returned a little after 11:00pm, and the busses pulled in after midnight. I picked up Matt and Zach, and drove Zach home. This morning, Sunday, I allowed the boys to sleep in. I took Flyer on our mile walk and tried to call my mother but she and my sister were en route to Northwestern Indiana for the christening of my brother’s son.

Today, Sunday, at 2:00pm we will be in Springfield, Ohio for the memorial service of a lovely lady, Helen Reed, who sang in my church choir and was my music librarian. Helen was a darling lady, and her physical presence will surely be missed at Faith In Christ Lutheran Church.

Then, at 6:00pm, we will head south to Cincinnati to see my friend, Phil Clary, perform in Xavier University’s production, Sweeney Todd. Phil is a choral director in a Cincy School and has been invited back as a guest artist to perform the role of “Pirelli.”

Last Thursday, my former student, Benjamin Magnuson, officially opened as “Anthony” in Sweeney Todd on Broadway. Last Sunday, his mother, Sheila, and I spent the entire day together, seeing Ragtime at WSU and then enjoying the remainder of the evening listening to a master class Benjamin had at CCM with Kristen Chenowith! Ahhh! What a thing to hear! Sheila says that Benjamin and Stephen Sondheim, the famous Broadway composer, have become great friends and Sondheim is commonly referred to as “Steve.” Sheila flew to NYC for the opening preview and this Thursday’s offical opening night and party – so I will have more details once she returns and we connect.

Monday and Wednesday are show choir nights with suppers after 9:00pm. Jose has basketball tryouts and he is feeling the pressure.

Tuesday is my longest day of teaching and then off to catch the second half a concert for one of my students.

Thursday, following a tight schedule of teaching, my co-writers and I are off to catch Ragtime at Wright State.

Friday, the boys do not have school and we may do something fun in the morning. Our dear family friends, Bill & Kay Hetzer will be traveling to Michigan and their son, Chris, will be spending the entire weekend with us so that I can get him to basketball tryouts. At some point, our dear friends Jeff Carter, the BSU Singers director, and his son, AJ, will be coming for a visit. That evening we will be attending Ragtime at WSU.

Saturday afternoon is the National Adoption Month party and I will be taking Matt, Jose and Chris to that event.

I really do not know what the rest of that particular weekend will have in store, but I think it may be set aside as a definite day of rest for this 41 year old!

Ok… time to rally the troops and get life moving here.