Solo encouragement

Ok. Here is my story.

I got married into Covenant by virtue of uniting myself to a Presbyterian man, i.e. Derek. At first it was kind of weird and strange and I did not feel much at home, kind of walking on egg shells, trying really hard not to make a serious faux pas, like talking in funny accents and pulling a Ukrainian Miss Tonda. However, I knew Shonda, who I am now realizing is the person to know, and consequently was introduced to the Kickasola family.

I don't remember exactly how we were introduced, but I think after we have been at the church for some time on some Wednesday night I just showed up for choir. Since I knew Shonda, who is the piano player for the choir, it was easier to feel a little bit more at home. In any case, both Erin and Matt were there and I ended up sitting next to Erin, not that there were many other options. On a bad night I think the Soprano section consisted of Erin, Helen Hunt and myself. So either way I was going to end up next to Erin. However I had selfish motivations as I decided to situate myself next to her because I was terrified Timothy was going to discover that I could not read music and subsequently could no longer boast about the superiority of the Russian musical heritage. Moreover sitting next to Erin made me more comfortable, because her voice could cover up any grievous mistakes made on my part, which occurred on quite a few occasions.

So with time, as I became more comfortable singing, imagine my surprise when Erin decided to quit choir and enjoy the worship service from the comfort of the church pew. Personally I think that her excuse about being tired from singing in two services was a lie. I think she was tired of being a crutch for the soprano section, i.e. me. I was confident now that Timothy would discover that I really couldn’t sing at all and all those times when he went over our part saying someone was flat he would now realize that it was me. So with fear and trepidation I came to the choir by myself and it was lonesome.

But surprises have a way of creeping up, Timothy asked me to sing a solo during one of the choir pieces!! I practiced really hard and I think that the whole night before the service I kept repeating the song in my sleep lest I should forget the melody, which has happened on a previous occasion so it was not a silly preoccupation on my part.

The Sunday, as soon as I finished the song, I found both Matt and Erin in the congregation grinning from ear to ear. Erin actually gave me a salute, a fist up in the air, which I found really hilarious in the midst of a Covenant service. (Notice that I found a way to bring in "hilarious" into the story). And then Matt left me a great voice mail saying that I sang well and they were extremely proud of me. So anytime you want me to sing with you some gut wrenching song, i.e. a melody with Russian heritage, all you have to do is ask, as I would be honored to sing next to you.

Thank you guys for being great friends to both Derek and me, we love hanging out with both of you. I look forward to Sundays more than any other day of the week as they are incomplete without a gathering at Shonda’s with all of our friends.

Luda.