There's that feeling again

About two years ago I decided it was time to become passionate about things. You know that ever driving desire to be passionate. I think people strive for two things in life; passion and connection. But that's another post altogether.

So in order to find my passion I thought long and hard about what had elicited really powerful positive emotions over the course of my life. And, sappy as this may sound, what struck me was the experience of playing in bands. That breathless, envigorated, proud moment of playing a song through from start to finish, and doing a great job at that, is a feeling that really gets me. The bum stuck to your chair heart pumping eyes watering kind of feeling. Maybe you know it. Maybe not.

So I picked up my dusty trumpet after three years of assuming I wasn't good enough to get into the university band. I took private lessons for a few months and then this year auditioned for the University Concert Band. And I got in! Success! It never felt so sweet to see my name printed on a list.

The feeling I recall does not occur as often as I might have hoped. I have the part of one of three third trumpets so I don't exactly get to 'sing out' the way I remember doing in the good ol' days of being the only trumpet player in my class. (Ahh, grade nine music class playing That Thing You Do... the memories). But every once in a while it strikes me.

Tonight we played our second concert of the year and we were great. You should have heard the dead air that hung for eternity (slight exaggeration) when we finished in unison an energetic, loud piece. Our instruments suspended in the air waiting for the conductor to drop his arms. That is why I love it.

Cornell University's wind ensemble played with us tonight and they were really amazing, too.

So, that's delicious food, crowds singing together, and a perfect finish that make me happy to be alive.