A little bit of everything

Today was a concert I gave at a library in Waynesboro, VA. I love that on the poster they made for it (above), they described the music as, "A little bit of everything."  And....it was just that.

I'd say that today's group was one of the liveliest I've had in a long time. There was a big group of people with special needs there who were quite animated and their laughter was contagious. I enjoyed watching the audience's response to them who clearly got a big kick out of their enthusiasm. One young man was great at sound affects.  Each time a song mentioned an animal or train or car or something that had a sound, he would make it very loudly, causing everyone to laugh. I told him he would have been a great sound effects maker in one of those old radio shows that told stories.

I was glad that everyone in the room went along for the ride and got into the fun and silliness. We sang, "On top of Spaghetti", "Be Kind to your Web Footed Friends," "Old McDonald," "Bingo, "If You're Happy and you Know It" as well as many other songs everyone knows. We all had such a good time together and that is what singing with others is about!

I will end with a quote by the late movie critic Roger Ebert that I so agree with:

"I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out."

I feel this happened today but I do not take the credit for it. Everyone contributed in some way--whether the one laughing or the one making us laugh or one who sat in silence taking it all in.