Sometimes You Gotta Just Laugh

Life whispers encouraging words in the briefest, sometimes hard to catch moments. Like today in my piano lesson with Johnny X (if that is his real name)... We are preparing for his grade three piano exam and his practicing has been unfocused and rather sloppy, for the past couple MONTHS, in my opinion. I watch with cringing insides as his fingers floppily hop along the keys, paying no attention to the smooth legato lines in the music, habitually ignoring helpful fingering indications, playing in Johnny X style to a tee. I've been rather open with him that his lack of focus is frustrating to me! I guess our relationship is such that I can get that out in the open and he can handle it. So much so that he bursts into giggles at least twice during our lesson, the last lesson before his exam, which is in three days... His giggles are especially poignant at one point when I say with great sighs, "WELL, I guess you'll get whatever mark you get with this piece! I've tried the best I can and I can't do anymore!" Ah Johnny X... you remind me that spontaneous laughter is a great bit to throw into the mixture of life's sometimes confusing mass of gumballs. Mmmm, bubble gum ice cream makes me smile too. I gotta find me some good bubble gum ice cream...

I like to steal quotes from my church's newsletter... Here's the latest:

"It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful; and to have courage when things go wrong."
– Laura Ingalls Wilder