I think all that I can expect to do some days is just find a way to get through them. Today was one of those days.

It started out easily enough, I woke up early, even though I could have probably gone back to sleep, because I had to meet my family at church. That was kind of fun, as my niece and nephew were standing in the parking lot waving me down as I pulled into the lot.

I don’t usually go to Mass with them, as it’s at 10:30 and I prefer a later one or one in the afternoon. There’s something about getting dressed and out the door in a rush on a Sunday that I object to these days.

In any case, it was fun to go to church with them. Matilda can’t sing to save her life, but gives it the old college try. On the other hand Keith has perfect pitch and loves to sing, so I enjoy listening to him. Someday I’ll be able to talk about what he was like at my father’s funeral.

After Mass we were meeting my mother and my other brother at a restaurant for brunch. This was my mother’s idea, and we all agreed to it. We are all trying really hard to be sure that we are there for her and are doing things as a family.

When we got to the restaurant, an old friend of mine was there with a bunch of teachers that she works with. It was her birthday. I hadn’t seen her in quite a while, and several of the teachers had worked with Matilda when she was in preschool, so we stopped to chat. Carol (my friend) asked what I was doing that afternoon as her daughter’s graduation party was at four. I had gotten a call from her daughter about the graduation party (Boston University, valedictorian), but I think it came right around the time that my father died so I never returned the call.

I apologized to Carol for not having returned the call, and explained about my father. This sent her into a spin. That’s always hard for me. Anyway, we chatted a bit longer then I went to join the rest of my family.

When they were leaving, Carol absolutely blindsided my mother (who hasn’t seen her in years) and started hugging her and telling her how sorry she was about my dad, My poor mother lost it and started crying. She’d been doing so well, and Carol just didn’t show any common sense. She was acting like a person from the old country, one of those professional mourners who comes to wail and moan.

I wanted to clout her.

We finished brunch and I had to go home to get changed into my costume, as the chorus was singing at a Tercentenary celebration in town. While I was home, Dee called and was all wound up about something that the director had said to someone else in the chorus. It was a semi-hurtful comment, and that sent me into an even deeper funk. I was in no mood to perform.

But I had made a commitment so I got my act together and went to the fair grounds. It was a good thing I showed up. There were only four leads, and we had to hold the melody against about twenty other people who were singing the other three parts. Thank goodness that the four leads were strong and accurate. It could have been awful if it had been some of the other leads who are "leaners". Those are the people who have to stand near another lead to stay on pitch and hear the right notes when we are singing.

My family was in the front row for the performance, and Matilda gets the biggest kick out of being there. It was fun for me in that way.

As far as the chorus itself was concerned I didn’t want to be anywhere near them. I just wanted to sing and leave. I didn’t want to go to dinner and I didn’t want to spend time with any of them. Having my family there was a good thing as I was immediately shanghaied to go with the kids so they could go on the rides. I took off like a shot.

The thing is that I was in a low mood, and at least the kids act as a distraction. I love them so much and so enjoy being with them that they helped keep me from sinking into the lowest funk.

I was glad to get home and just watch my Tony awards.

Of course now I have the need to go to New York and catch some shows. I really want to see the revival of "The Music Man" the guy who was playing the lead sounded just like Robert Preston.

I was just happy to get through the day and to be able to put it behind me. Not that my mood has improved in the least.