When you are a SOUL singer, one of the first things people who know about SOUL tell you when they meet you is- never reject an invitation- doesn’t matter if it’s a dinner, party, concert, trip, hanging out, or whatever. Basically, what we do is… whenever people ask us to do something, we pretty much do it. (So, if you want me to do something, now’s the time to ask me.) We assume that it would make this an unforgettable experience and, when you implement that way of thinking into everyday life, it can result in some amazing experiences.
Today was a bit like that, too. Yesterday, just before the recording started, Marcus, SOUL coordinator, asked us if we would like to play in the handbell choir today, because some of the players couldn’t come to the today’s performance. So, normally, although I really love new experiences and challenges, I would probably hesitate with my answer, but yesterday, I was the first person yelling- yes, of course!! (Very soon Gabe and Shih-Hao joined me) It might have been embarrassing! I never played that and I know nothing about it, so that’s what could probably stop me from doing it in a different situation. Not today, though. I had so much fun! I played F5, F#5 and G5 handbells and chimes.
Sandy, who conducted the handbell choir (and promised to find me a tall American man) made it all very simple. Yes, sure, the first two and a half times we played this song I was as awkward as a cow on roller skates, but by the time we performed the song (which was the third time I played it), it was great (and yes, I know what I just wrote)! I really loved the sound of it. Also, we had a violinist playing a beautiful solo, so it was very nice.
In the afternoon, I went to Ann Arbor (it took me a while to figure it’s not Pearl nor Ann Harbor. Welcome to USA, Croatian girl!) with Andy and his funny super positive host mom Judy. I know that whenever I talk to Croatian people, we laugh about how in USA everyone >loves< everything and everyone, and everything is super, wonderful, fabulous and amazing (OMG!), but I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t describe this as a wonderful trip. We met Judy’s friends from Ann Arbor, Betty and Allan, who are both very interesting and powerful personalities. They would make a great sitcom couple (and I don’t mean that in a negative way or whatsoever), so they showed us the city. It’s a very charismatic place, seems to be the intellectual center of Michigan, since it’s very campus- oriented. We saw the huge Michigan Stadium (Capacity: 109,901, you can fit there the whole Osijek, which is one of the largest Croatian cities).
We visited Hill Auditorium, where the nice lady let us in to see that beautiful beautiful hall, while the orchestra was rehearsing, oh my… the acoustics are amazing. Betty told us that one time, during a concert, one conductor threw a coin on the floor of the stage from a very very short distance, maybe a couple of cm, just to let the audience experience and get the idea of how great the acoustics are, and people could hear it in the second balcony.
We’ve been to Museum of Art, where I saw Steinway & Sons piano from 1926 and the beautiful Monet painting (of course, by the time I got to Monet’s Ice Floes on the Seine at Bougival, my battery died so I don’t have a selfie with Claude. Thanks a lot, iPhone), as well as a bunch of wonderful paintings and objects by wonderful artists, whose names I didn’t remember… I’m wonderful, I know.
In the end, we had dinner at Zingerman’s, which is supposedly, one of the most famous restaurants in Ann Arbor (those of you who know me, know that food was probably highlight of the day, of course. And I had salmon, so… it was).
Also, thanks to Judy, while we were trying to find the way back to Dearborn, I learned a new phrase- close, but no cigar!
And when I got back home, my host mom Martie, who’s a sweetheart, already has boiled the water, since it was our tea time! And she got me cookies. How can I not love this day?!
So, I definitely keep on saying ‘yes’ to everything. Or at least, the things that don’t endanger my physical/ moral/ intellectual etc. state. You get the point. Sometimes I’m willing to take the risk, though… therefore, it’s a ‘yes’ to ALL the salmon and cookies. Born to be wild.
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