You Can't Go Home Again

One of my favorite things in high school was being a part of the choir. I have wonderful memories of singing, retreats and even a tour to Victoria, BC. Our choir teacher, Mr. Baker, was one of my favorite teachers. He taught us all so much and solidified my life-long love of music that was begun in the womb (thanks Mom!).

A few months back Mr. Baker announced that after 31 years of teaching he was retiring after the 2011 class graduated. A group of alumni got together to put together a big celebration and alumni concert. That all happened this weekend.

I haven't gone to my 10 or 20 year high school reunions mostly because I didn't want to see most of the people I went to school with (that and I didn't want everyone to see I'd gained so much weight). This was totally different, I actually LIKED the people I was in choir with so I was excited to go. And I really respected Mr. Baker and wanted to be a part of his celebration.

There were representatives from every year he taught at Rex Putnam except for 1994. It was really cool. We gathered in the new auditorium that was built after I graduated and sat in the old familiar semi-circle...sopranos on the left, bases and tenors in the middle and altos on the right. He got the rehearsal going with a rhythm game we always played in school with him clapping out a beat that we all echoed. It was the perfect way to get all us back in the groove since every one of us remembered it.

After a quick vocal warm up (played by his youngest daughter who wasn't even born when I graduated and is now a sophomore in college), we launched into the A-Choir trademark - The Lord Bless You and Keep You. I sung that song a million times during the 4 years I was at RPHS and it remains one of my favorite songs to this day. I didn't even bother to pull the music out for it.

We had a 3 hour rehearsal that just took me back 23 years to his classes at school. It was almost like I'd never left. We ran through a couple of pieces we did every year and then started learning a couple of new songs. Boy, was I out of practice sight reading. I was never great at it, but I could at least keep track of where I was!

After a break and then another practice on the risers we had a dinner over in the school. Boy, has that changed! They've done so much remodeling that it didn't even look like the school I remembered. The cafeteria is in a new place, there is a new gym, a whole new wing of administrative offices. I guess it's true what they say "you can't go home again." It was a really weird feeling to be back in that building I spent four years in and not really recognize it.

I spent a lot of Saturday alternating between feeling really old (those kids that are graduating this year look so young and are so full of life!) and being really glad I wasn't in high school any more.

It was a great day and although my voice is sore today I'm so glad I participated to the fullest.

One of the alumnus's daughter caught this video of the closing of the concert last night when we all sang The Lord Bless You and Keep You, our signature closing. You'll catch a quick glimpse of me if you look. My grateful thanks to the person whose daughter took this footage and I hope you don't mind that I linked to it!