But it was his job!

I happened to be in NYC on the subway with my brother when the US Airways plane went into the Hudson. What a freaky accident! And while I agree that while it might have seemed an amazing thing the pilot did, it was no "miracle on the Hudson." It was his job. He was excellent at his job that day. He deserves large kudos and congratulations, slaps on the back, all that, but I don't feel it was an incredible miracle sent from God. If you want to look at it that way, then who sent the poor geese? 

My husband is a pilot, and a good one, and I know that they are trained diligently and extensively for just this sort of situation. Pilots are trained to be level-headed and clear-thinking in just such an emergency. The US Airways pilot definitely deserves credit for remaining just that way, and being able to do his job.

Don't you wish the people running the drive-through window at McDonald's were so dedicated to their jobs?! Sorry, poor customer service and rude people running those windows are my pet peeve.

Kudos, Captain.

Have you ever...

Saw this on a friend's blog and thought it seemed like fun, so I borrowed it. (Thanks, Liz!) I marked the ones I have done with an asterisk. 

Have you ever...

1. Started your own blog *

2. Slept under the stars*

3. Played in a band*

4. Visited Hawaii *

5. Watched a meteor shower*

6. Given more than you can afford to charity **

7. Been to Disneyland *

8. Climbed a mountain *

9. Held a praying mantis 

10. Sang a solo* (ya think? lol)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm *

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch*

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning*

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables *

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight *

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping*

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse*

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset*

31. Hit a home run*

32. Been on a cruise*

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors *

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language*

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing*

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke (I know, can you believe it?)

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant*

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight*

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling*

52. Kissed in the rain*

53. Played in the mud*

54. Gone to a drive-in theater*

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business 

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies*

62. Gone whale watching*

63. Got flowers for no reason*

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma*

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check*

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy*

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial*

71. Eaten caviar*

72. Pieced a quilt*

73. Stood in Times Square*

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person*

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car*

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper*

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House*

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating *(does fishing count?)

88. Had chickenpox*

89. Saved someone’s life*

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous*

92. Joined a book club*

93. Lost a loved one*

94. Had a baby*

95. Seen the Alamo in person*

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a mobile phone*

99. Been stung by a bee*

100. Read an entire book in one day*

not sure I have the drive

So, for those who don't already know, I used to sing professionally. In my B.C. years, otherwise known as Before Children. Opera. Yep, opera. It was never the most important thing in my life, but it was something I loved and I was pretty good. Very young, so I had room to improve. 

Then, you know, life happened. We didn't plan to have children, but I am so grateful that we did. I started back to singing on the operatic stage when Matthew was about three. Then, found out I was pregnant again...with twins. That put singing right back to the bottom of the list!

Fast forward to now. I have been fortunate to find local outlets for my desire to sing and perform, and even get paid to do it. That said, I live in a small city, where there isn't that much call for opera. So, I don't really get to "do that thing I do" very often. However, in the last year I have really decided to focus on doing it again, and I have been working on getting back into 'classical' vocal shape. Hard work, but mostly satisfying. My plan is to make an audition CD, send around to symphonies and such and see about getting concert work. Opera requires too much travel, and my boys are still young, and still need me at home. And, frankly, I need to be at home with them.

But there are days when I really wonder if it is that important to me. Do I have the drive that I will need to do this? Have I gotten too complacent and accustomed to not doing it? I did a performance recently in PA that I really loved doing, but now that is over, I am not pining for another performance. 

And then there is the flip side to that. I do really love singing, and getting to do something that is so special. And when it is good, it can be amazing! And glorious, and uplifting, and invigorating, and energizing, and an incredible way to connect with others. 

But do I want it badly enough? I think, for me, that is the question. And maybe the answer. Yes, I could have the drive, and I have the gift - sorry, don't mean that to sound snooty, but it is true. I have been given a gift and I do want to use it, but not sure how. I have been told that, with a voice like mine, I have a responsibility to sing. But I can do that on the street corner, or in a church, or the local dinner theater, or community theater, for that matter. But to do what I have been trained to do means singing somewhere else, or coming into a lot of money so I can rent a hall and hold concerts! 

Where, oh, where is my Magic 8 Ball when I need it??! Or maybe a crystal ball would be better...should have stopped by that fortune teller's booth in New Orleans, after all.

Ah well, just needed to vent a bit. Thanks for tagging along.