Days to go: 966 -- Pieces to go:10

Day 34: Went out to Sibbald Point (near Sutton on Lake Simcoe) very early this morning and watched the geese play in the water. It was refreshing and breezy and I happily splashed along the shore in my bare feet. Sat on a picnic table right by the beach and enjoyed the quiet and a Tim's.

Then people seemed to arrive all at once -- lots of kids wanting to swim and many adults laden with picnic baskets. Pretty soon I left. Wouldn't want to inadvertently cause anyone to develop super powers, my being radioactive and all.

Came home and learned THE LAST LINE! of the Bach. It is nice to be done. It is like building the frame of a cabinet -- now on to adding the doors and shelves and panels. BTW, Tibor's big cupboard at the church is finished already and looks like it has always been there. He has even matched the trim on the doors to the confessional.

After finishing the "work," I "played" a bit. Since I was practicing at home on the piano, I decided to see if I could improvise some "jazz." I put the word "jazz" in quotation marks because what I produced at first was pretty funny (and not in a good way!) Who knows? Maybe when I am more skilled at this I'll play in a piano bar. Or on Fr. Charles' piano. I wonder if he can set his grand player piano to karaoke?

Tomorrow: a poem by an unlikely author. Here's a hint: "Nevermore!"

Days to go: 967 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 33: Short post today. I'm on my way over to the church to learn the second-last line of Bach and to "play" a bit before heading down to the 'Brook for the CT-PET scan. It is a long procedure and I'm not sure how I will feel when it is finished, so better to practice now and sleep later!

Anyway, I have lots of water packed and my iPod (since reading is not allowed). And I will be radioactive for a while, so it will be a very quiet weekend at home. I thought of going over to hear Deacon Mike's homily --

http://www.itinerantpreacher.org

-- at the 12:30 Mass on Sunday but I can't take the chance around crowds. Just call me "Fallout Girl" (with apologies to Bart Simpson!).

Wouldn't it be something if, when the doctors got the results, they said, "Nothing wrong with THESE nodes. What were we THINKING?"

Days to go: 968 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 32: The most amazing thing happened yesterday. As you might remember, I decided to focus on "improvisation" in my new church job at St. Leo's. So, as soon as I finished posting my blog, I did a bing search: organ improvisation how-to. Near the bottom of the first page of websites was this one:

http://www.amlamortpipeorgan.com

So I went to the site. Reader, you have to check this out! Anthony Mark LaMort has done a spectacular service here. I went immediately to his "Improvisation Blog" and listened to him play. Yes, I knew right away: this is how I wanted to play. It is like Eric all over again. (Eric Hauser designed the Letourneau that I practice on and is a gifted improviser.)

Then I read Mr. LaMort's bio and realized that his website is going to keep me extremely busy for a long time. It is so very interesting! We share an influence: Paul Martin Maki, who gave a masterclass (in which I played the Franck B Minor Choral) at the University of Western Ontario years ago. I believe Maki was a friend of Larry Cortner, of blessed memory.

I went no further in my bing search, took a BIG chance, and emailed Mr. LaMort. HE WROTE BACK!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? He wrote many, many helpful suggestions as to how I could get started improvising. My goodness, he writes well. I hope he writes articles. I hope he writes books! He suggested that I just "play," to start, as a child plays.

So today after finishing the 3rd last line of Bach, I put the music score firmly aside. What sounds would I use to begin? Those of you who know me personally would say, "celestes with the swell box closed," but you would be wrong, wrong, wrong!!! I pulled out all the pedal stops, including the 32', and the glorious great trumpet!!! I played a great big fanfare!!! I used double pedal!!! I even did a huge two-armed gliss up and down the keyboard!!!

("This is not Trude talking, you are thinking...). I tried to remember what Anthony did and imitated registration and patterns. Was it ever fun!!! I can hardly wait to go back and do it again!

You'll notice that Anthony and I are on a first-name basis now. That is his little tiny picture under "followers," there on the right of your screen.

How can I thank you, Anthony? I will be forever in your debt for your generosity of spirit and your kindness. St. Leo's will be, too, as I grow in skill, thanks to you.

Days to go: 969 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 31: Only 3 lines to go on the Bach, and these are manuals only. I have been playing the lines in context, so practice time has increased exponentially, but it is so pleasant and peaceful. "Soothing music," Richard called it this morning.

Tibor and Richard and another guy were building a big cupboard to house all the gear belonging to the Contemporary Choir. The equipment had previously all been crammed into the left confessional, as I recall.

Well, doesn't Tibor send Reg out for coffee and donuts for us all, and we all sat down and had a coffee break together, even the teen who is working off his community service by straightening out all the hymnbooks in the pews. (Great idea, that -- someone's a genius!)

Then Elaine (Tibor's wife, who sings in the Senior Choir) came in with lunch for the work crew: BBQ chicken sandwiches and beer. I tell you, it must have been just like this back in the days of building the old medieval cathedrals -- the good wife (the "wench?") bringing in "fyne fayr" for all the hardworking craftsmen.

It was so good to see them all -- it has been a very long time. All in all, a productive, enjoyable practice session with lots of social time thrown in. Also, I was able to identify which aspect of the church job I want to focus in on first: the skill I have always admired so much in others -- improvisation.

No, the angel wasn't there today...but the peace she brought remains.

Days to go: 970 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 30: My apologies for being such an emo kid yesterday. And, further on in that vein: this morning I woke up and the Sword of Damocles was still there -- that Sword that suddenly appeared over my head as I was wheeling out of the church parking lot after the meeting with TPTB at St. Leo's last night.

Suz was such a great help as we tried to sort out my craziness at T&T's over coffee. Then I went over to the church: another line of Bach learned. Only FOUR lines of the fugue to go. While at the church I took time to brainstorm my anxiety about the church job on a mindmap.

It was an EPIC mindmap. No wonder I am scared to death. It is as if my hidden self (evil twin?) is saying: "All those things you said you'd do in a church job if you ever had time? Well, guess what? You are out of time. THIS IS IT! You have to do it all NOW!"

Thanks be to God, a Holy One came over and told me to start playing again. She said, "it is like the angels talking."

This sweet lady had kissed the new picture of the Sacred Heart over by the Tabernacle as she was leaving and stopped by to tell me that she follows Mass on tv every morning. "Mass is too early at St. Pat's," she says.

Then she comes over to visit the Blessed Sacrament for a while, where she prays for peace, especially peace for the sick and dying. Wow.

C.S. Lewis's Screwtape would say that this woman fairly reeks of holiness. I personally think she was an angel herself. Wonder if I'll ever see her again?

Honestly, you can't make stuff like this up!!!

If Rosemary were not so busy with the Miller Family Golf Tournament I would go over to her place and talk about all this. "Obi-wan," I would say...

Days to go: 971 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 29: One more line of Bach learned and it is only lunchtime. Woo hoo! AND the air conditioner was on in the church. Bonus! Maybe I will learn another line on the piano at home this afternoon.

Big night tonight: meeting with TPTB at St. Leo's. It has taken me a lifetime to learn that these ministries always end at the cross, and I am filled with trepidation. Great word, that.

It is not that I don't have a lot to offer; I do. I guess it is -- and it shames me to admit this -- that I wish to make sure the work is worth the inevitable suffering, as if that were possible (to "make sure", that is). Hugh Timmons taught me a great thing: to go for the best, highest quality music. Better to suffer for that, rather than its opposite, I suppose -- since the suffering is inevitable.

Ah, church music: the triumph of hope over experience...

Jerusalem, my destiny!

Days to go: 972 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 28:

AUGURIES OF INNOCENCE

Man was made for Joys and Woe
And when this we rightly know
Thro the World we safely go
Joy and Woe are woven fine
A clothing for the Soul divine
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.

(William Blake)