A Carnegie Hall Update

Last little over a week ago I reported that my son Will was in New York with his high school band, preparing to play Carnegie Hall- the opportunity of a lifetime!  They returned to Tampa feeling like they had accomplished exactly what they set out to do- giving the performance of a lifetime in the venue of their dreams!  Will had been told for months that his crash cymbol solo in their final piece would make or break it, and by all accounts he nailed it.  His director was thrilled! As Will said upon his return, "We may not have played the best of any band at the festival (they actually didn't get to see the other bands perform) but we played the best we have ever played."  What else can you ask for? Other than the really cool official certificate you see at the top, that is!


They also got to see many of the sights of the city, although they didn't get to really see very many of them.  The stopped by Liberty Island for a brief visit before spending time on Ellis Island.  They walked through Chinatown and had some pizza in Little Italy.  They walked past the Empire State Building and St. Patrick's Cathedral.  They saw Times Square.  They spent an afternoon at the Museum of Natural History.  They stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel near Grand Central Station and they rode the subway on several occasions. They ate lots of pizza and hot dogs, and he had a gyro from a street vendor.  People tried to sell them fake Oakley's and bogus watches.  And Will loved every minute of it!


Aside from being on stage at Carnegie Hall, there were a couple of other things that my son has been unable to quite talking about.  Part of the group saw Phantom of the Opera, and Will just fell in love with that show.  He had been to national touring company performances of shows like Spamalot and Beauty and the Beast, but there is just something special about Broadway.  He was also thrilled to visit Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon in Central Park near the spot where he was killed.  Will knows his rock music and pop culture history, and understand the significance of the Beatles.  He also told me a funny story.  One of his classmates, upon hearing that they were going to Strawberry Fields, was a bit perplexed.  It seems he had already seem some strawberry fields in Florida...


Will loved his experience in NYC, and he loved the city itself.  He cannot wait to go back.  Which is good news for me! You may recall that I was worried he would see everything without me. It turns out nothing could be further from the truth..  We still have lots to see, do and eat when my time to go back rolls around.  How much is left to do?  My son just spent 4 days in New York and never had a piece of cheesecake.  The Padawan still has much to learn.  But I am so thankful he was able to have such an amazing trip with so many of his best friends.  Thank you all for your prayers.  God is good all the time...


Because of Jesus,