On teddy bears and Josh Groban
I'll start with Thursday night, since I didn't really get into that. I said I'd be out there between 6:30 and 6:45. It took about an hour and a half when I went to the birthday party, and despite leaving during rush hour--5:00--I didn't anticipate it to be too much longer. In fact, I was perfectly on time for the first half of the trip, and then near Yorktown Mall it took me five minutes to get through one intersection, thanks to what appeared to be a stalled car. Y'know, it's helpful if you put your blinkers on in a situation like that. The other slow spot was at 83 and the Ogden on-ramp. The ramp was packed, moving onto an already-packed 83, and there's really no merge-lane there--you basically have to merge immediately. Great planning, guys. So when I made it out there, it was closer to 6:45, but that was fine. I got the music, ran through it...and discovered it was seriously only eight measures long. For the non-musicians out there, it's comparable to being asked to join a public speaking engagement and only reading a sentence or two. You seriously couldn't find any other person nearby to do this? Okay, fine. Victoria and I talked a bit before heading next door to the church. We ran through the music again there, and at one point I even sang it (shock), but then she started wondering where the pianist was. Granted, Victoria even admitted not calling her back to confirm the time. That might have helped. And, when reached, the pianist had gotten caught up with dinner and lost track of time. Despite apologizing profusely, Victoria would not let it go, guilt-tripping the poor lady about how I came all the way from Batavia and basically being really passive-aggressive about it. Hi, she apologized, let it drop. I'd think, by being a minister's wife, she'd have a more Christian attitude than that. God forbid. There was also an incident involving office keys, as they wanted to get into the office to see what Sunday's hymns would be, in case I wanted to play along with any of them. You know, so I'd get to play more than the eight measures. Victoria didn't have them and didn't want to run next door to get them in case she woke up the kids, and the pianist didn't have them either--and Victoria was being passive-aggressive about that, too. Seriously, I don't care. I get so few chances to sing that I'd almost rather sing the hymns, anyway, and it's not worth berating this woman who is doing you a favor over it. All in all, I spent a couple hours over there and made it home by 10. I was kind of glad to get out of there in a way, though I did spend some time talking to Victoria again outside.
And now Sunday. The ride went way faster than last time and even for the party. Even better, construction on 95th Street is winding down. Driving there on Thursday was scary, as the street had recently been repaved and the lane markings were almost non-existent. On the way home that night, the workers were marking the lines, so that by yesterday everything was great. The ride took maybe an hour and fifteen minutes. This was still a half-hour before the service, but people already were showing up, so I went inside and started getting my flute out. The pianist saw me and took me upstairs so I could warm up, as Victoria shows up at the last minute (God forbid she be there to show me around--you know, the guest *she* invited who had never been to the church before). I went back downstairs and sat at the end of the second pew; Victoria, the kids, and her friends from her previous congregation sat in the third pew. I've never been to one of Tim's regular services, only the baptism last year, and I have to say he's pretty good--knowledgeable, excited to be there and to share his beliefs. I may not be a proponent of organized religion, but I respect people who are, and it's clear that the congregation likes him. My only concern about the whole thing was communion--I do not take it, and I was so worried about possibly causing discomfort that I contemplated saying something to Tim before the service. I didn't get a chance, and it turned out to be a non-issue. We performed during communion, and by the time we finished the group had moved to the back of the sanctuary where a group of older congregants, not able to come up, were waiting. Phew. I'd worried, since I was right up there, that they'd offer me some and I'd be like, uh, no. They use actual bread, not wafers, and they dip the bread in the wine. They also had these little tiny cups, no more than an ounce, for people who preferred to drink the wine or were concerned about germs. Now that I can get behind--Catholics drink from a communal chalice. That always seriously grossed me out, especially the way the older congregants would wrap their lips around the cup's edge. Ew. Anyway, the service was a good hour and a half long, but it went by quickly, and at the end the children of the group sang a song. Not all of them knew the words, but when they came to the chorus, all of them knew the first word: Jesus! Boy, that could get loud, but it was pretty cute, and one little boy at the end channeled Elvis: Thank you very much. Nice. :)
This was a special day at the church. They do something called the teddy bear ministry, which they just started last year. They got the idea from a church in Michigan, I believe. Basically, they pass out teddy bears to people who they think need a bear hug, and then they tell the stories. The bears were passed out last week and so, after mass, everyone was invited down to the fellowship hall for cake, coffee, and bear stories. A lot of them were sad, involving sick people, but some were inspirational. Also, they pass out the bears to visitors and new members as well to show them love:
This is Liesel Bear. All the bears had names, with some of them coming from current and former church members. I kept telling people that she reminded me of The Sound of Music, but the last person I talked to must have been part of the couple that spearheads this whole thing. She told me that the real Liesel is a lovely woman who has gone blind. She doesn't make it to church very often anymore. On listening to everyone's stories, it made me think of who I might send a bear hug to--I certainly have some family members who could use one--but I'll have to see. I almost asked for a couple more bears, but I know I have stuffed animals at home I could use should I do this. Anyway, most of the people I spoke with were kind and friendly and appreciative of my music and hope that I come back, which was nice. As I was leaving, I talked with an older woman who told me she wanted to take up the flute, but the guy at the music store said that older people's arms fall asleep while playing it. I guess I can see that, but only if she's playing it for hours at a time. A few minutes here or there? Come on. So we talked music for a bit and I didn't discourage her. As for Victoria, after making such a big deal on Thursday about me coming all the way out there and blah blah blah, she didn't even invite me over for a few minutes to visit. She was like, I'm leaving, bye. I understand that she had friends visiting, but still--we'd sat at the same table in the fellowship hall and talked a bit, and they were just fine. Like, it's polite to offer, or to say, I'd invite you over but we'll have a house full of little kids, but no. Just a dismissive bye. So I feel a little used after all that. I'm glad I finally did it, though, because now I won't feel as guilty saying no to her. And at least all the church members were friendly.
I decided to not waste the lovely afternoon. The drive there takes me through one of the largest forest preserve areas in Chicagoland, and I'd wanted to drive around and look at fall foliage, so I didn't go straight home. All told, I only ended up driving an extra 15 minutes, but I did get to see some nice scenery. I think my favorite tree was on 93rd Street near the church--so many colors, and so bold and fiery--but there were plenty of others. I also chose to take a different route home than normal and I ended up driving past Cog Hill in Lemont as well as Argonne. I had no idea it was so close to my cousin's house, like basically down the street. I told my parents that the next time we go out there, I'll have to drive them past it, as the road also goes through a preserve. Overall, it was a pleasant afternoon, though I did end up with a headache. It could be sugar-related, or just too much time in the car.
Oh, and my father claims I never told him the song was "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. He is preparing to rib me for it for some time. Hey, I didn't pick the song; I just played it.
And now Sunday. The ride went way faster than last time and even for the party. Even better, construction on 95th Street is winding down. Driving there on Thursday was scary, as the street had recently been repaved and the lane markings were almost non-existent. On the way home that night, the workers were marking the lines, so that by yesterday everything was great. The ride took maybe an hour and fifteen minutes. This was still a half-hour before the service, but people already were showing up, so I went inside and started getting my flute out. The pianist saw me and took me upstairs so I could warm up, as Victoria shows up at the last minute (God forbid she be there to show me around--you know, the guest *she* invited who had never been to the church before). I went back downstairs and sat at the end of the second pew; Victoria, the kids, and her friends from her previous congregation sat in the third pew. I've never been to one of Tim's regular services, only the baptism last year, and I have to say he's pretty good--knowledgeable, excited to be there and to share his beliefs. I may not be a proponent of organized religion, but I respect people who are, and it's clear that the congregation likes him. My only concern about the whole thing was communion--I do not take it, and I was so worried about possibly causing discomfort that I contemplated saying something to Tim before the service. I didn't get a chance, and it turned out to be a non-issue. We performed during communion, and by the time we finished the group had moved to the back of the sanctuary where a group of older congregants, not able to come up, were waiting. Phew. I'd worried, since I was right up there, that they'd offer me some and I'd be like, uh, no. They use actual bread, not wafers, and they dip the bread in the wine. They also had these little tiny cups, no more than an ounce, for people who preferred to drink the wine or were concerned about germs. Now that I can get behind--Catholics drink from a communal chalice. That always seriously grossed me out, especially the way the older congregants would wrap their lips around the cup's edge. Ew. Anyway, the service was a good hour and a half long, but it went by quickly, and at the end the children of the group sang a song. Not all of them knew the words, but when they came to the chorus, all of them knew the first word: Jesus! Boy, that could get loud, but it was pretty cute, and one little boy at the end channeled Elvis: Thank you very much. Nice. :)
This was a special day at the church. They do something called the teddy bear ministry, which they just started last year. They got the idea from a church in Michigan, I believe. Basically, they pass out teddy bears to people who they think need a bear hug, and then they tell the stories. The bears were passed out last week and so, after mass, everyone was invited down to the fellowship hall for cake, coffee, and bear stories. A lot of them were sad, involving sick people, but some were inspirational. Also, they pass out the bears to visitors and new members as well to show them love:
This is Liesel Bear. All the bears had names, with some of them coming from current and former church members. I kept telling people that she reminded me of The Sound of Music, but the last person I talked to must have been part of the couple that spearheads this whole thing. She told me that the real Liesel is a lovely woman who has gone blind. She doesn't make it to church very often anymore. On listening to everyone's stories, it made me think of who I might send a bear hug to--I certainly have some family members who could use one--but I'll have to see. I almost asked for a couple more bears, but I know I have stuffed animals at home I could use should I do this. Anyway, most of the people I spoke with were kind and friendly and appreciative of my music and hope that I come back, which was nice. As I was leaving, I talked with an older woman who told me she wanted to take up the flute, but the guy at the music store said that older people's arms fall asleep while playing it. I guess I can see that, but only if she's playing it for hours at a time. A few minutes here or there? Come on. So we talked music for a bit and I didn't discourage her. As for Victoria, after making such a big deal on Thursday about me coming all the way out there and blah blah blah, she didn't even invite me over for a few minutes to visit. She was like, I'm leaving, bye. I understand that she had friends visiting, but still--we'd sat at the same table in the fellowship hall and talked a bit, and they were just fine. Like, it's polite to offer, or to say, I'd invite you over but we'll have a house full of little kids, but no. Just a dismissive bye. So I feel a little used after all that. I'm glad I finally did it, though, because now I won't feel as guilty saying no to her. And at least all the church members were friendly.
I decided to not waste the lovely afternoon. The drive there takes me through one of the largest forest preserve areas in Chicagoland, and I'd wanted to drive around and look at fall foliage, so I didn't go straight home. All told, I only ended up driving an extra 15 minutes, but I did get to see some nice scenery. I think my favorite tree was on 93rd Street near the church--so many colors, and so bold and fiery--but there were plenty of others. I also chose to take a different route home than normal and I ended up driving past Cog Hill in Lemont as well as Argonne. I had no idea it was so close to my cousin's house, like basically down the street. I told my parents that the next time we go out there, I'll have to drive them past it, as the road also goes through a preserve. Overall, it was a pleasant afternoon, though I did end up with a headache. It could be sugar-related, or just too much time in the car.
Oh, and my father claims I never told him the song was "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. He is preparing to rib me for it for some time. Hey, I didn't pick the song; I just played it.