Put the tea on, I have stories!

I don't know why now, but I've decided to go back to college. It's been gnawing at me for a year or so, and I've ignored it with some success. I came to the point where I felt stagnant again, and I didn't know what to do about it.

Really, what it was is, I've doubted my intelligence and felt that I was essentially letting my brain atrophy with useless knowledge. All of the things I'd been pretentious about since out of college seemed silly. And while I know that's not true, (I have a great deal of things to be pretentious about ie: political affiliation, morality and sense of humor, etc) I couldn't shake the feeling of uselessness and purpose of being on this planet.

After a few months of battle with Clark College (thanks for the tenacity check Universe AND the financial aid department at Clark), I was able to walk in Monday morning the first day of class and register for the math class that I really needed. There was another class that I really wanted to take too. I don't need it, but I wanted it.

Choir.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to sing. It started when I was young. My father has an amazing voice. He always had a song for any situation, and was unashamed to break out in song anywhere, much to my embarrassment occasionally.

I don't have an operatic voice. It's more of a clear tone without any vibrato. Ripe for the picking of refinement with the right person, or group.

For the most part, I've been satisfied with it. Recently it has betrayed me. My voice would hurt when I'd sing, or I couldn't hit the pitch to match the song. It has made me furious and self-conscious of using it outside of a punch line for a joke, in the car (I have no shame there), or with the children I work with. My voice was something I could count on. Singing is one thing that without fail can always bring me true joy. I secretly prided myself on being able to stay on pitch without any formal training, and now, it was slipping away.

So instead of continuing to be angry (rest assured, I did go through the anger cycle with this one), I found as much information that I could online about vocal training, counting rhythm and printable sheet music. A while back, I had vocal lessons through Parks and Recreation at the Lupeke Center in Vancouver. I liked the teacher well enough, but I felt that I wasn't really going to do anything with my voice, so I discontinued taking lessons.

But now, I have an opportunity to train for a purpose. Clark College is now offering a evening choir class. It's as if the heavens opened up, and offered me this on a silver platter. I work a 9-5, then add a 5-8 on top of that Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I don't begrudge it, it pays the bills and allows me to live the life I've become accustomed to. But you can see where the scheduling conflicts come into play.

Anyways, I called today and talked to the director. She asked me my experience, and really, it's been about two years since I've sung in an organized group. Perhaps it's been three years. She invited me to join the first half of class, and audition during the break. She's looking for a second soprano or alto. I told her that I was willing to do either.

So, it's time to pile on the crazy. 8 credits of school and two jobs. I'll be loving my weekend time. I'm excited. Whoo! Do you know who else is excited?

MY MOM!

Seriously, though. She is.

This morning when I was leaving my 7AM math class, I was feeling a little nostalgic of the days when I took classes with Josh at the crack of dawn.

Miss you Josh!

Mahalo for reading!

-Laura Borelious

Places or things mentioned in post:

Rhythm counter: http://www.philtulga.com/counter.html
Music theory: www.musictheory.net
Voice lessons thru parks and rec:
https://recconnect.cityofvancouver.us/econnect/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp