Omigod. I was one of those mothers tonight. The mothers who invariably make me snicker and roll my eyes at every school function. Yes, I went there: I sat in one of the front rows AND I took pictures at Tanner’s winter orchestra concert. In my defense, I didn’t have a video camera and I wasn’t perched at the edge of my seat to make sure that my child was appropriately documented at every conceivable angle. I had a digital camera, but I never could frame up my child in the viewfinder — and the only reason I sat up front is because my dad wanted a better view. Wow. So now I know what the view is like up close…and I liked it. Oh, that sucks. Next thing you know I’ll be going to the parents’ coffee events. How dreadful. Anyway, the concert (Tanner’s group) and symphonic orchestras performed — and both were beautiful. Tanner had a solo* with another violin**, so that was neat. I was so proud of him.*** The Symphonic Orchestra is ridiculously good. They are currently fundraising to pay for a trip to play at Carnegie Hall in March, if that tells you anything. It was so amazing. I watched as this group of braces-wearing, acne-prone, somewhat awkward teenagers filed on stage, whispering silliness and giggling among themselves. Then they sat down, the conductor snapped them to attention, their bows went up and…magic happened. Where does anyone go inside themselves to produce something that extraordinary, let alone a teenager? It’s stunning.

* came as a surprise to me
** guess that makes it a duet?
*** too incompetent to get a photo of him, but proud