I wondered how I would do yesterday. Tuesday in Easter week found me and Eileen sitting in our living room chatting with old friends, Dave Barber and Paul Wizyinajtys (wizz ah night us). Paul is the one with the beard. They have been given a honeymoon trip for their recent marriage in the 39th year of their relationship by friends.

They are staying down in South Haven about 30 minutes away. It was no surprise that the four of us picked up our friendship and conversation with ease despite not seeing each other that much.  I hope Eileen and I convinced them to avail themselves of our guest bedroom and come for an extended visit here. They seemed interested. And they are both retired, but still actively pursuing a life-long artisan/artist venture.

We went out for a nice Laotian lunch then visited my Mom and came home and chatted until it was time for Eileen and me to leave for Grand Haven. I had a 7 PM rehearsal for Sunday’s Messiah Sing Along. Eileen had arranged to have coffee with a new friend who lives in Grand haven.

The rehearsal ran for two and a half hours. I was surprised at how relaxing I found it. It’s kind of a treat to work with  my buddy Nick Palmer and also to play continuo, something I love doing. Baroque continuo is, to my mind, sort of like playing rhythm guitar. The bass line and the pluck of the harpsichord give a subtle punch to the music when it’s lively. It comes a bit more to the fore in the recitatives. The strummed chords again are like strumming a guitar while the singer sings in free fashion.

Anyway, it was a nice quiet surprise that at the end of the evening I wasn’t as exhausted as I am after leading a rehearsal or a service.