that extra ounce

It dawned on me this week that I am solidly booked with musical gigs right up until the 23rd, and have absolutely no plans for socializing, other than the family gathering on Christmas Day itself.

Christmas completely snuck up on me this year!!

There is so much to say.

I shouldn’t write about music school politics in here, but I will say that I have been remarkably un-cowed by it all, and have been quietly asserting myself as I simply try to do the best job I can in teaching, coaching, and office work.  I should note that colleagues have fought most of my battles for me behind the scenes, and I’m very grateful.  I’m in the happy position of fully believing that I was worth the battle, too.  Time was when I would have agonized over possibly letting down the people who had faith in me.

I went back to the Archangel’s island with my sister to do an Advent service gig.  That is several tales in one weekend, but except to note that I may never do a gig with my sister again (she is holding me back musically), I will only dwell on one layer of that weekend here.  I saw this trip as a sort of goodbye to that period of time (three years?) in which I was practically a member of the Archangel’s family, and full of hope for the future.  There is still nothing to compare with the sheer joy of that beginning.  But I am glad to see that the Archangel has a new family set-up that has him the most content/relaxed I’ve ever seen, and it was good to see the Sprite (who is 17 and going to my old university next year!).

It’s time to be unabashedly fantastic.

Off to have lunch with Oma now!