(no subject)

[violachic]

No, I will not regale you with a list of the loot I picked up in the last week. However, there are some cards I received that certainly deserve a special mention, due to their cheerful content and touching intent.

• Way back when we were all looking to exchange addresses in order to send Christmas/Holiday cards to each other, dkasak made a mention that he would not be sending out Philip Glass music.  However, being 1)the smartass I am, and 2)the huge fan of Philip Glass I am, made mention that, forget the Christmas card, I want music by Philip Glass!   So when I received the card from him, what was inside? A xerox copy of the first movement of "Glassworks", for piano.   I thought this was enormously cool.  Thanks, Don!   Now I must get back to practicing the piano so I can play it someday.  Oh yeah- and I'd actually LOVE to have PG ringtones, but I don't think my cheap-ass Motorola supports that.
• There is an older couple from my church who moved to a retirement community in Indiana this summer.  My sister and I were quite close to them, and it wasn't until they moved that we realized they basically thought of us as extra grandchildren.  We hadn't kept in very good contact over the last few months, but I did receive a card from them.  Not only was it nice to hear from them, but the letter "Crispy" (his last name is Rice, so years and years ago he gained the nickname) wrote in the card was very touching.  He writes a little about how his physical condition is deteriorating, but even through that he is cheerful and loving.  I really miss having them around.  Its nice to be considered someone's extra grandchild.
• I had a viola student for three years who was quite good.  Despite only having started in fourth grade public school programs, by the time she finished her freshman year of high school she was giving the Suzuki brats a run for their money.  At the end of last school year, we made the decision that she should move teachers.  I gave her a list of teachers in the city, and she interviewed several of them and picked one.  I haven't heard from her since, which is fine and good, as when you make a break like that, you have to make a clean break.  But she sent me a card, telling me about her new school (they also moved over the summer), and how she made it into a fairly competetive youth symphony!  Apparently at her audition (after only being with the new teacher a few months, so yes, I am taking credit for this!) the conductor told her he was impressed with her playing, and that she had great technique. She thanked me for being a great teacher and giving her such a wonderful foundation. She even asked that I write back, so I will probably drop her a note next week.  I tell ya, this one made me tear up.
• Having heard that one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time is "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and how much I love the Vince Guaraldi music to it, karenb2 not only sent me a card, but also sent me a CD of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"!  Thanks, Karen, that was incredibly thoughtful!  It was especially sweet considering this is someone I hardly know (although I'm hoping to remedy that), and it was something she just kind of picked up on.
• This year I actually warranted a Christmas card from the conductor I've been working with for the last three years.  I've never gotten a card before, just paychecks (not that I sneeze at those, mind you)!  I've been really blessed to work with Frank as much as I have, musically and personally, and I'm really touched that he thinks of me as a friend, not just some viola player he hires.  After the last concert, he even invited  me out to dinner with his family and close colleagues to Illuminati's Pizzeria, but I had to turn them down due to a family event.  I'm thrilled to realize he thinks so highly of me.  I love playing for him, because it is the singular place I feel as if I'm not only important, but vital. 

 

All in all, Christmas was generally anticlimactic, but definitely very pleasant.  With the exception of the car bit, of course.  Which we are working on.... 

Comments

[stannate.livejournal.com]

You are welcome. I was trying to look for a good score to send out to anyone who made a comment about Philip Glass, and I was glad to find that one.