Saskatoon Girls

No, those trees are not in southern Alberta, that is a street (3rd street in fact) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  (Say that five times fast!)

Yes.  I went to Saskatchewan for the first time with my ginger-haired friend Glenda.  It took six hours to drive each way and that was a lot of flat grayness with the overcast sky meeting the road and the horizon 360 degrees around.  But it was nice to have company and we shared the driving.

When we got there it was beautiful.  Saskatoon reminds me of Eugene with a river running through it and bridges and lots and lots of trees.

Our friend Deborah Buck is the musical director at Persephone Theatre there and Glenda and I were auditioning for their Christmas musical "Little Women."  It's a long stretch to imagine we would be cast, but it is a special story.  It would mean a big decision process for our family if they offer me a part as that would mean a 5 1/2 week contract.  So, Dave and I are looking at a number of different prospects on the horizon and trying to see what should be.  Decisions we make in the next two weeks will affect the rest of our year.

That's Deb up there in her fabulous home.  She made a wonderful supper for tired Glenda and I.  She even made tiny cheesecakes for dessert.

In theatre, one must always treat themselves after an audition, so of course, the three of us went out to Deb's favorite restaurant for lunch: Calories.  We ate a CHEWY turtle torte with shortbread crust... [no words adequate to describe... insert groan with eyes closed and a deep breath.]

It was delightful.

It was fun to meet the artistic director Del Surjik and his wife Johnna who is the director of Little Women and it was great to have Deb there as the accompanist. 

It was such a quick trip with so little notice before, it's almost like we never went.  But these few pictures are proof.  Yes, I have now been to Saskatchewan!

The Lifter of My Head

I had the most amazing meal tonight.  Oh my goodness, yes.  Ray and Carol Wall (our pastor and his wife) hosted an Indian dinner.  We made tons of Basmati rice and others brought butter chicken, coconut shrimp, spicy beef, chick peas, Naan bread, chutneys, mango shakes, you name it.  And at the end we sipped on Chai tea and rice pudding which had been made ever so slowly and was so luscious and comforting. Ummm.  I felt calmed with each creamy spoonful.  Carol knows how to balance a meal and her generosity doesn't seem to end.  I'm so grateful.  My tummy is slumping over my waistband and needs some rest, but I'm so happy.  I appreciate their company and hospitality.  It was fun to chat with Deb Buck who is staying with them at this time, and to Paul and Heather Zacharias too.  I don't get to see them as much anymore now that Fiddler's done.  Funny, how you can live in the same town and yet not see someone for a week or so because of differing schedules!

My coaching with Samm tonight went well.  She's really getting the knack of classical text.  She had done an entire paraphrase of her Aricia piece and now it's really coming alive.

We did a run through ("stumble through") of Christmas on the Air today.  I felt a bit rough with some of the singing.  I long to be free, but it's scary for me to throw my voice out there and trust it will latch onto the right pitch and quality by actually letting go!  I'm getting there, but sometimes I can't find that freedom/spinning place.  I hear when I'm in and when I"m out, but it's a mystery how to get there sometimes.  I think it's especially vulnerable for me because I'm the only one singing soprano, and often the melody, so I feel indispensable in this regard.  Deb saw my fear and my struggle and she gave me a wonderful image.  She said to imagine that someone's hand was resting and supporting me from the back of my neck.  Suddenly I could open up and not feel so tight or alone.  I imagined my mom's hand warming my neck and encouraging me to relax, and the sound came soaring out like it's been wanting to my whole life.  Granted, I haven't mastered this continually as there are other word, rhythm, and pitch variations to keep in mind when singing,... but it was a great relief, and a very helpful image.  I had to laugh because I forget that I always work better from an image rather than technique.  And this image in particular stuck with me all day.  It reminds me of the psalmist who says God is "the Lifter of my head."  I want to remember that I am not alone when I am singing and performing.  That if I let Him, God can take the weight of my fears and allow me to relax into my natural state of openness for greater communication and further inspiration.

I'm daunted as we head into week two.  The upcoming rigorous performance schedule can be tricky for good health and balance.  I'm scared, but I will start preparing now best I can.  Thank God I've already done most of my Christmas shopping!