Our Reunion, Our Friendships, Our Music.

The last 11 years of my life have not been easy. Three years ago, when I had to stop teaching music, I struggled with not only my identity, but also with the fact that I may never be able to do it again. Yesterday, even though I wasn't "teaching music", I was able to experience something that has given me more pleasure than I've been able to have in years.

The satisfaction, love and joy that filled my heart and soul this weekend, was more than I could even imagine. My elementary music teacher, Sue Cook , my high school choir director, Don Vieth, both of my college choir directors, Doyle A. Dumas and John Egbert, my private piano teacher, Dr. John Shelton, my brother in law, Daron Nall, and many of my best friends from college, were able to raise our voices in song TOGETHER, all while having my husband there taking care of all the other things and playing timpani so that I could actually sing. The "healing" that took place in my heart yesterday can never be explained with words. The music. The love. The forever friendships. The JOY.  Things I've been missing for a long time.

I'd like to thank EVERYONE who was a part of it yesterday! But, the biggest THANK YOU'S go to Dr. Chris Goeke for making this thing actually happen, Dr. Peter J. Durow, for giving up his ACDA trip to Dallas to conduct us-and by the way- YOU WERE FANTASTIC!! Also to Dr. Doyle A. Dumas and Dr. John B. Egbert for being such wonderful influences on me during college and bringing that back to life for me through your music yesterday.

AND- to all of my college friends...you people rock my world. You are the funniest, smartest,  most talented group of friends a gal like me could ever hope to have.  We have aged, yes. And now, many of YOUR kids are in college and are the age now that WE all were when we first met and formed these life-long bonds. That makes me happy. Music brought us together then, life scattered us across the miles, and yesterday, music brought us back together. I love you all, dearly. Thank you for making me laugh, cry and remember WHAT my life can be again. There's a song in my heart...once more.

Love, Hugs, Song & Joy,
Carolinn:)