Tag: music

Today is a great freaking day!

Today is a great freaking day. This is my third day home and I feel like my whole life has changed for the miraculous and better. I am literally bubbling over with happiness and gratitude.

I look out my window now and no longer see alleyways and bricks. I no longer see the hospital. I see sunshine. I see flowers. I see nature. I see the trees. I see my pets. I get to look at my husband and kids every day.

Last night my husband and I went for a ride in his car. His beautiful used 50th anniversary Camaro convertible. The car is gorgeous. He saved and paid full price for it. He finally did something for himself for the first time in I can’t remember when. It is amazing. The look I get to see on his face every time he gets to drive it makes my heart swell. We just get to drive just because with the top down, my hair stubble blowing in the wind and the breeze and the sunshine on our faces. Fantastic music of all genres, completely our choice, is playing on the radio.

Our choice. Those are the key words. Now is the time to begin concentrating on what we want and what we want to do. Now is the time. Now is the time to live and make the most of everything.

Dr. Katz

The Monroe Community Players have turned 75 years old

The Monroe Community Players, started by Marie and Bill Smith 75 years ago. It’s hard to believe isn’t it? They are still going strong after all these years. There have been pandemics, pauses, and economic crises. And yet, they are still viable. I can remember my first players experience. My father-in-law invited me in during Fiddler on the Roof to play in the pit orchestra. I thought sure what the heck? Why not? The music was fun. The people were very interesting. I was hooked immediately. A couple of years later when they ran out of funds to pay conductors, I ended up musically directing Guys and Dolls and later South Pacific. I did both of these without any paid musicians and a mix of adults and high school students. I also did these with little babies swaddled on my chest, breastfeeding!

I can remember that we really caused a stir with that because we weren’t paying anyone. I can remember telling students that they were being paid in experience which was way more valuable in the long run. I remember telling them that show experience was not common but very valuable. Several of my students ended up going into careers with music. We were all very dedicated. We rehearsed constantly. I always brought lots of baked goods and gave them out as rewards for good answers to questions like ” who knows what this cue is for?” Everybody got very good at homing in on the details and we would end up passing out baked goods like crazy. I can even remember when I started getting febrile with strep in the middle of a performance. I kept waving my arms until I just couldn’t anymore and had to be carried off the podium! That’s how badly i wanted to see it through!. I just kind of lilted off the podium at the last of the applause.

Even after those dramatic incidences, I continued to either play in the pit or direct the orchestra. I loved it. As I got busier and my practice grew, I had less time to do it though. I have missed those times.

Tonight we gather together to celebrate the last 75 years with word, vignettes, and songs. There will be a vast array of humans at all different ages, each with a different story to tell. I can’t wait to here what they have to say.

Dr. Katz