Postlude

Hard to believe that the Tosca is already over, much less the whole season. You just get in the "habit" of seeing everybody every couple of months during the year, and then at the end, bam! Gone for the whole summer. Of course, some we won't see again. Graduations, new jobs--either a new one here that will require a greater amount of time or one in another city far away--marriages, and other of what my tax preparation software calls "life events" will contribute to the attrition.

Of course, Jennifer and Aaron, long-time (long-suffering?) members of the KO chorus, who have paid no attention to that snotty "You'll never get anywhere if you sing in the chorus" attitude that a few nameless students at UT have, are graduating and moving on to the University of Wisconsin to pursue higher degrees of learning... that is, after they get married up in Buffalo. I didn't hear honeymoon plans, but, then again, I'm a guy, and we guys don't ask those kinds of "touchy-feely" questions very often. Of course, it's common nowadays for college kids who get married to put off the honeymoon for awhile, either due to financial or time constraints, so that might be the case with J&A. And they'll certainly have lots of places to explore once they get up to Madison. We wish them the best. A quick check of the web tells me that Madison has a city opera company. They're doing Butterfly, Così, and Faust next year, so it sounds like a fun season if the happy couple decides to pursue continued opera chorus (or better!) membership. And the university opera program presents two major works and many one-acts and opera nights.

Every year at this time we say, "We ought to get together and do something this summer," but we rarely do. It's rather ironic that summers, historically looked upon as a season of relaxation and leisure, have become one of the busiest times of the year. We try to cram everything that we've been missing out on throughout the year into three months of nonstop action. Apparently, there is a congratulatory party for Jennifer and Aaron's wedding scheduled sometime in July, so that will be one opportunity. Another, and one I certainly hope can happen (Oh, Lawsy! I hope can happen!) is that my brother and I are planning on throwing a grand bash to celebrate the completion of the renovation of our house. One hopes we have enough money left over to do so! Stay tuned, either for that announcement or for news of my commitment to Lakeshore Mental Health Facility. ("I don't know, doctor. He just wigged out and starting yelling something about cabinets not coming in on time or something.") One or the other will happen, I fear.

Well, I was planning on doing some kind of synopsis of the year, but that will have to wait for another day. I have a very large, furry, black kitty at my feet currently that is demanding her Fancy Feast Grilled Chicken Feast ASAP. TTYL!