Sunday, December 19, 2010

Susie-the-forward-planner didn’t plan ahead to have pistachio ice cream in the freezer for tonight. I planned ahead to prepare and photocopy 200 program inserts with hymn lyrics (and kept them dry in the pouring rain yesterday), and Janet and I coordinated potluck details, but I only got as far as anticipating a long nap after today’s ward Christmas program. Now that I’m up, I’m realizing, “Drat! No pistachio ice cream in the house!”

If you’re wondering what in the heck I’m talking about, I’ve explained in my November 16^th and 21^st posts why pistachio ice cream is my celebratory treat to myself, and looked ahead to expect that the December 19^th choir performance would merit some. And surely the choir today delivered in a way worthy of Häagen-Dazs: joyfully, confidently, and with the Christmas spirit.

But it’s honestly not about what I think. To me it’s about the choir members having fun and feeling good about committing volunteer time and effort in bringing their voices together to enhance our spiritual community. It’s about the ward members feeling uplifted by the choir, no matter what the occasion.

And how can we all not but feel elevated by Janet at the organ? There is simply nothing like Janet playing “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Many years ago, before Akemi started school, Bing and I had to seriously consider whether to move to a better school district. We weighed commutes, real estate realities, demographics of nearby wards and stakes. . .and whether Sundays could be the same without Janet majestically at the organ. Clearly the Leungs voted with our feet, as here we still are, and are still thrilled with what Janet comes up with each week and for the special musical occasions. Just wait until we get back to the Stake Center and “our” organ.

As I said the choir at Tuesday night’s rehearsal, in October when I had the prospect of chemo through January before me, I really didn’t see how it would have been possible to have prepared with the choir and conducted today. It was truly a gift and an answer to prayers that, for a number of reasons, I was able to do so. And for Janet, too, also recovering from her own chemo and also coping with surgeries this fall. Yes, we’ve been quite a pair. Standing there today in front of the congregation seeing smiles on so many faces, I was grateful for the countless tender mercies these past months.

Really, I don’t need the pistachio ice cream. The good feelings from the congregation and of the choir members at the potluck are sweet reward enough.