87/365: all kinds of happy!

i've been teaching photography to high school students at my alma mater Redwood High School, where i first learned photography. was more than a bit nervous before the first class ... but very quickly i fell in love with my students! each in a different way, so open and sincere, funny and vulnerable, cheeky and creative. i miss seeing their photographs, and i miss seeing their faces! 

so much happy even before heading to my wednesday evening singing at chorus, where we're working on "the creation" by haydn, including the story of the happy pair adam and eve. 

i sang my heart out ...

twice a year, for a few years now, i sing in public. these few hours have become highlights in time.

i am merely one of 100 singers. and each time, i only completely know all the music just in the nick of time for the performance. 

but when i sing for the audience, i am completely "on." it's not that i don't make mistakes, because i do, but i'm giving it all i've got. every ounce of attention and every molecule of energy focused on our maestro, the music, my voice, and the sounds encircling me. i get a little carried away by the sheer force of the sound, the power of the situation. i sing as if my one voice really mattered. i sing my heart out.

jubilate deo

gratitude project, day 2

most wednesday evenings, you'll find me singing to god. which may sound weird from someone who eschews religion. 

'god' is a tricky word. organized religion makes the word and the idea of god heavy with dogma, rules, shoulds. 

but my direct experience of god is of pure freedom. pure love. everywhere. at all times. in all people. that is what i know of god. 

so on wednesdays, i gather with 100 other voices of god to sing ancient music to god, in honor of god. and god, do we sound good!