I had a band teacher in high school who was ...
well, simply put - awesome!!
Every spring we played a pops concert complete
with tables on the gym floor and kids serving food and soda.
We played the funniest and most entertaining things.
One year he dressed up in a powder blue tuxedo to conduct
(complete with a ruffled shirt).
All of this was brought back to my mind
after my recent attendance at a Boston Pops Concert.
It was a stunning performance.
It was a tribute to America and patriotism.
They had the flag from the Twin Towers in NY.
It's tattered edges and insides mended with american flags
from other towns across America who also faced disasters.
They had rescue workers (including a rescue dog!!)
who had helped rescue
and recover at ground Zero.
Do you remember singing
"This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land"
in elementary school?
Arlo Guthrie, the son of Woody Guthrie, who wrote the song,
came and performed.
He sang his own music
as well as that famous song of his father's.
He told a lot of jokes.
He was very funny.
The world premier orchestral piece written about the
3 Kennedy brothers Bobby, Ted, and Jack
was performed and narrated by 4 amazing actors:
Cherry Jones, Robert DeNiro, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman.
The music was powerful,
the words were taken from speeches
given by each of the three brothers,
and the photos accompanying it all provided
a true view into history.
All in all, an amazing night.
And - the best part -
getting $15 tickets to the "cheap seats".
I may not have had the best view,
but it was good enough for me!
As my mom said,
it doesn't matter if you can see or not,
as long as you can hear!
