Greatness

Today is the first day back in the office.

It's been ripe with repertoire choices, catching up with students, and giving subtle (well, actually, not so subtle) nudges to students who are still not enrolled.

I had 4 days after our trip to Arizona to recharge and get the household in order.

To his credit, Aleks had the house spic and span when we arrived. 

There was no evidence of the raging house parties and bachelor behavior that took place while we were gone.

During our visit, my brother Matt asked me if I felt the need for greatness in my life. 

It's a good question.

I think that my 20s were largely spent searching for greatness in a broad and public way.

I did a brief stint in the opera audition circuit. Then decided to start my own opera company.

All wonderful things, but looking back, they were vastly unfulfilling.

Now that I'm (just barely!) on the other side of 30, I think I still want to achieve greatness.

But now I don't really care whether other people know about it or not.

Maybe my children have just drained me from all energy that I might otherwise spend caring.

Or maybe it's just part of growing up.

I do know that letting go of some of those desires has allowed me to be affected by others in deeper, more meaningful ways.

I find myself blinking back tears at the most random times.

Like when I took the girls to vote this November.

Or anytime the lights dim on stage and the first notes appear out of thin air.

Aleks and I went to grad school with a guy named Richard Kriehn. He became a close friend and we've stayed in touch through our many moves.

Richard plays fiddle, mandolin, and guitar (even sings sometimes) for Garrison Keillor as a member of the All Star Shoe Band. APHC just happened to be in Arizona the same weekend I was there and Richard was able to get tickets for me last minute.

(I took my dad who is a long time listener. He and my mom used to stick my brother and me in the bathtub for an hour so they could listen to the show. By the time Garrison signed off, we'd be shivering from the cold bathwater. And I remember sitting outside the house in the car with my dad on a Sunday afternoon, waiting for a Guy Noir skit to wrap up before heading into the house for lunch.)

There's nothing quite like seeing the red "on air" sign light up. It's pure magic.

And Richard was great.

This is a horrible picture, but Richard is the white blur sitting down.

I love that so many people know how cool he is.

Kelle Hampton, the author of a blog I like to read, wrote this the other day, "Right now,  I have two girls who challenge me to be the woman I want them to become."

I've been struggling in my greatness as a parent to Ruby.

It's like I'm a first time parent all over again.

Look at the sweet earnest face.

She can make me so mad. And I hate that.

Aleks and others keep reminding me that it's just a phase.

I'll tell you what, it sure feels like she hates me.

So, I just try to kiss her and tell her I love her every single minute of the day.

And look at this picture a lot.

Especially those little eyebrows.

And while we're speaking of greatness, how about this expression?!

Maia went to the dentist for the first time and nailed it.

So, what's my point in this rambling post?
I guess, it's that greatness is something for which we all yearn.
And to encourage you that even though your greatness may not be known on a large scale, it doesn't diminish the fact that you are great.

Get on with your bad self and enjoy the weekend!