Fundraiser Rehearsal #1

We all waited in our cars for Joe to come. The rain had soaked us while we ran to every entrance of the church to see if any of the doors were unlocked. Everyone was there- Becky, Col, B, Tommy, Kevin, Dominic, Jeremy, Christine, Mo, Mandy, Karen, Barb, Chris, and then Joe. We all hugged and reunited and the energy was crazy high.

I honestly have been dreading this whole thing after I put it together. It had been one weekend after another of busy-ness this month and all I wanted to do was sit at home and watch I Love You Man and eat caramel icecream in my snuggie. But after seeing everybody, so excited to see each other again and to sing, I was back to how I felt when I first planned the fundraiser. I was excited and couldn't wait for it all to happen.

We walked into the church and as Joe set up the piano and turned on the lights, everyone commented on how beautiful it was inside. I guess I never stood back to realize how pretty St. Helena's church is. And it felt good to be there. Not like someone made me go to mass and I couldn't wait to leave. But I wanted to be there and it didn't feel like a chore.

We got started and learned 4 of the songs. Throughout, I got frustrated here and there, but I couldn't believe how quickly everyone flew through the songs! We practically just "winged it" and everyone was on top of it all. The voices sounded great and it was different. It wasn't like an audition or the first rehearsal of a show where the rest of the cast sits back and listens to you sing and makes their own judgements about your voice and your look and what-not. We all knew each person could sing, we all wanted to be there, we all were giving suggestions, and taking suggestions and trying different things and laughing and rolling on the floor, (literally), and being guided by Joe. I forgot how good Joe is. I put the music in front of him and he took it and ran and was so patient. And I was so thankful that these people wanted to be a part of this. I can't wait for Saturday.