Home Again

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project, I have started a Happiness Group with Umami Girl and two other friends who don't have blogs but should--if that's what they're into. We decided to jump in with some resolutions and report back in a couple of weeks; but also to give some serious thought to Rubin's 1st Commandment, "Be Gretchen." What does it mean to "Be MomVee"?

One thing that occurred to me is that I love music, and although it's a big part of my life, I could be happier by making it even bigger. I thought a resolution as simple as "Remember to turn on the stereo" might be warranted.

Last night Not-so-big-R. posted a status update on Facebook with a few selections from the eclectic jukebox in the restaurant where he was dining with the big kids on their ski vacation: All the Girls I've Loved Before, Xanadu, You May be Right, One Fine Day, and Atomic. "I love 'One Fine Day,'" I commented, and he replied, "I know you do." That was nice in itself.

So I started thinking about One Fine Day, and Carole King songs in general, and I thought, "I should rip the CD of 'Tapestry,' and then I can run to it tomorrow." Well, I had forgotten how much I loved that album. When I was 11 or 12 I listened to it over. and over. AND OVER. I know the whole album sequence, which side is which (I prefer side 2), every schmaltzy string section, the moments when James Taylor chimes in, and of course every word of the lyrics.

Today I ran on the indoor track at the Y, and I began to recall auditioning for Pirates of Penzance with King's "Home Again," in my warmest, easiest, biggest voice. But there was no accompanist there that night, and the director suggested that the few people present come back and re-audition on Saturday. He seemed particularly encouraging to me. When I returned I had changed my song to "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood" from Camelot. It seemed more appropriate for a Gilbert and Sullivan audition. Great song, don't get me wrong, and I can pull off the humor--but the image of the director chatting with the music director the entire time I was singing is burned into my brain. Chorus. There aren't a lot of parts in that play anyway, and I was young and inexperienced, but still: why didn't I stick with what worked?

I'm not sure what all of this means, except that MomVee is an Alto (like Jay), and she loves Carole King.