My friend Micah Gogan got married today and Lynne and I were invited to attend the ceremony and the reception. Between the marriage and the party Lynne and I ran a few errands in the city and got a call from Micah’s dad, asking if Lynne and I would be willing to sing a song at the celebratory festivities. I said yes, not realizing that Lynne would go into panic mode: “We haven’t rehearsed!!! We HAVE to rehearse!”
“But Lynne, we don’t have time to rehearse. Let’s just sing our song about ONENESS that I wrote a couple of years ago. We’ve done it before and it turned out great.”
Those words didn’t seem to bring her inner peace. She scrambled through her purse looking for pen and paper so she could write the words down. Couldn’t find anything but a napkin from Wendy’s and a diaper for Sadie. I suggested the napkin because it was yellow and the lettering would show up better.
We drove around the block enough times to practice the song in the car and then found a parking space and took the elevator up to the ninth floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building where the reception was underway…I figured this out when I saw how fast the hors d’oeuvres were disappearing.
Between hugs and hellos Lynne would pull me aside and start singing her part, very softly, to make sure she was prepared. I promised her she’d be great and everything we be fine. Then, mid-meal we were invited to sing our song. I went as relaxed as could be and Lynne was trying to disguise her anxiety.
When we finished the audience was very kind and appreciative, and truth be told, it went pretty well except for one small, little error. I played the song a third too high.
When we sat down she kicked my shins. I deserved it, and it made me laugh. If only Lynne were on a M2B:) she’d have seen the humor….and I’d have avoided the bruise.
3 Comments
I would have been anxious too, good job Lynne.
There are things that people who are naturals don’t realize: for me, the sudden request that I fill in as a speaker or a teacher is a great treat – for almost everybody else in my ward, it takes the time between request and execution a terrible, stomach twisting nightmare. For me, the world is golden and the fun in heightened. For the ones who don’t do what I do, it ruins every moment that would have been sweet, shooting it full of nervous anxiety and fear. When it’s easy for us, we have to work to understand how really terrible it may be for others. Like night and day. The difference between joy and sorrow.
I didn’t mean sorrow. I means suffering. Going back to bed.