I had two unique and wonderful opportunities to sing this weekend. Friday night Tom and attended a dinner in the home of an Amish family. This family provides a a traditional “Amish Wedding Feast” for tour groups that come through the area, and as a friend of ours helps with the tours he invited us a long. It was neat to get to know several people in the Amish community and see up close their way of life. Tom and I were very impressed by their unity, their work ethic, and their general kindness. The food was delicious, and we’d wished we had skipped lunch so we could have eaten more! It consisted of mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed peas, seven layer salad- which was delicious but entirely unhealthy, a bowl of fruit, caramel date bread pudding, homemade bread, stuffing, fried chicken, and three kinds of pies! After the dinner we all exchanged a little music. The “yankees” as the Amish called us, sang “God be with you til we meet again” as a group, and then the Amish sang a few songs in Pennsylvania dutch. Then I was asked to sing a number. I sang an arrangement of “Be Still my Soul” that I wrote. I wasn’t feeling really great that night, and was stuffed from the high-carb meal, but I sang anyway and was happy to do so.

Yesterday, two other singer friends and a pianist and I sang a gig in Little Italy- a historically Italian neighborhood in Cleveland. They were having a neighborhood event and had invited us to sing. It was a hot day and when we arrived there was no one in the park but the people that were running the various booths and activities. We had arrived early to set up and had a little time before we were supposed to begin so we walked around and talked to some of the people in the park. I visited the associated community garden and talked with the “Master Gardener” who had been brought in to answer questions, as well as to a younger guy who was growing his first garden there this year. Then we gathered together and began our program. At first we had only four audience members- but as we continued to sing a few more, than a few more, than a few more people came around to listen. Despite the constant passage of trains, the hot weather, and the wind we sang on- acting and performing as we have been taught. As we finished I expressed by sincere appreciation for the audience, telling them that it was a beautiful reminder to me that this music that we spend hours and hours practicing does have the power to bring people together, to bring joy, and to inspire. I told them that we were, like most artist, dependent on our audiences and admirers for our livelihood. That we have pursued music not because there is any money in it, but because it is our passion. I then encouraged them that if they enjoyed what they saw and heard to chip in whatever they had to help us continue our passion. They all smiled and nodded understandingly, appreciatively and then each came up to pitch in, some a few dollars, some much more. They thanked us, and expressed their delight. My dear “Master Gardener” who had smiled throughout the performance said “I had a $40 ticket!” I’ll assume the two twenties came from her. None of us made enough money to make it “worth it,” financially. The rewards came in the smiles, the thank yous, and the sense of community.

We all left that day, performers and audience members alike, with smiles on our faces. That’s what makes it all worth it!