snippets of joy

As I write, I am sitting on my couch, sipping Seattle's Best coffee and nibbling on chocolate. It's an overcast day outside, and I am happy to report that the weather has FINALLY cooled off and autumn has officially arrived. It's been a relaxing day. This morning, I jogged down to the farmer's market to get some squash this morning, so I put together a casserole of sorts this afternoon. My apartment was a disaster, so I spent some time cleaning, singing and dancing as I went. These days off are a gift to my spirit - and a necessary time of refreshment.

As I reflect on the last few days, I smile to think of the little snippets of joy that have brightened my world this week...
- I met a Whitworth music grad last week as I went on a walk with my Whitworth t-shirt on. He is officially the first person I've met here who has even heard of Whitworth.
- I got 4.5 hours of sleep on Wednesday night, and then woke up Thursday with unexplainable energy and played for a total of 5 hours with no pain. What a gift.
- Every day, I walk through the halls and hear the piano performance majors practicing Beethoven sonatas and Liszt etudes, and I THANK GOD that I am not them. Apparently I picked the right major ;o).
- One morning this week, Georgia the custodian came in to say hello as usual, and she came over and said, "Give me some love" and gave me a hug. So now when I am lying in bed in the mornings, not wanting to get up to practice, I think, "But I get a hug from Georgia..." and somehow, that's just the extra push I need to put my feet on the floor.
- On Thursday, my friend Eric and I had an in-depth discussion of the poetry of one of the song cycles I am playing. It was so wonderful to process through the text and discuss the incredible genius of how Schumann set it to music. Somehow, after that, we ended up having a dance party in my practice room. Best thing ever.
- I have found a place to walk. It's not green, but it is by the water and away from the crowds. It reminds me of Europe, just a little bit. (Photo credit: Liz Walton!)

- Sometimes I walk through the "grand arcade" of Peabody when the orchestra is rehearsing in the big concert hall. The music wafts out and resonates in the huge atrium. Glorious.

- Nadja and I now have "our table" at the bistro up the street. This week we've been there at least twice, if not more. Let me be clear in saying that neither of us has time to take coffee breaks, but we both know that these times we share are as much a part of our education as classes, rehearsals and practicing. We sip coffee and share one of the delectable desserts and talk and laugh and cry about anything and everything...music, family, spirituality, our lives before Peabody, our hopes for the future (if there is, indeed, life after Peabody). I still marvel at the fact that we have only known each other a little more than a month. We think very similarly about life and have so much in common. Friday was another example of the CRAZY connection we have. She turned to me and said, "You were in Spokane, right? One of my teachers from my university in Belgrade lives there now." I said, "Do you mean Ivana?" She said, "Yes - she was my teacher for a year." I looked at her in disbelief and replied, "She is now doing the job I just left at Whitworth." What a small world.

- It rained this week. Another sign that autumn is in full swing. And it wasn't one of the humid downpours that feels too much like a tropical storm. No, this week, it was a cool day and it drizzled just a little bit. My Western Washington soul did a little jig.