I grew up in a sweet little house on a dirt road in Oklahoma.  The only live music I ever heard was the high school marching band.

One weekend when I was about twelve, we were taken to Oklahoma City on a big yellow school bus for a “cultural” field trip.  I heard an orchestra for the first time.  Tears rolled down my face.  I didn’t move.  I didn’t want my classmates to think I was a complete idiot.  I was already viewed as a very odd child.

Last night, my dear friend Marion decided to stay home and gave me her symphony ticket.  I was delighted!  It was a program I really wanted to hear, but symphony tickets aren’t really in my budget.

Politics aside, I am blown away when, with no announcement, the orchestra begins to play “The Star Spangled Banner” and everyone stands up and sings.  It is mostly an old audience here in Salem when the Oregon Symphony performs here so we all know the words.  The big auditorium at Willamette is always sold out.

And when the orchestra began to play their opening number there were those same awed, girlish tears.

I’m glad that’s still who I am.