Anything can happen at a wedding....

I know, I never really post wedding stories, because well, it's obvious. But I just could not help it.

Get ready, this will blow your MIND!!!

So my music director told me we had a wedding that weekend, which is fine, no biggie. This one was going to be a shorty, because there would be no communion. Just a ceremony. Which in musician land is awesome because we get paid the same either way!

So before  the day of the wedding, I show up a little early before I had to sing a regular service to see what I have to sing for the wedding.  Carl, my music director said, "Well all you have to sing is the psalm and the amen" So I am thinking Awesome - nice easy wedding!

Soooo, I arrive on  the day of the wedding and Carl says to me, "Well, there has been a bit of a change."
  I respond, "ok, no biggie"  Carl continues to say, "You don't have to sing Ave Maria - ",
"Ok, " I said.. "Well," Carl said, "there is a reason - the bride's grandmother is singing it and she has passed" (insert pregnant pause) "Alrighty then." I responded - Inside my head I am thinking - :Seriously, dead grandma singing Ave Maria.. ok, now I think I have heard it all- so the service goes on, and its all about love and is going lovely,  then they finally start playing the Ave Maria. I pause, and listen, and tried not to be a bitchy soprano - and it never happened because she was  pretty darn  good... Crazy... I am sitting there saying to myself. way to go Grandma! Everyone in the congregation was tearing up.. I even was.. which just goes to show ya' .... ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT A WEDDING.


True story.

And... we're back...

I know, I know.. where the hell have I been - I have been very busy as a singer, writer, mom, wife and all around Goddess..and to be honest, the funeral life has been very sporadic. But yesterday, we had the old crew together - and man, did we put on a good show -uh - I mean funeral.

I get a call from the Pastor and he said.. "The family has requested some Italian hymns, you know like the ones Ted used to do"  (What he meant by used to do is that we have a new director of music. So since he has been there, Ted has not been around for funerals because the new guy (who is amazing!) has been playing them.) Soooo I say " ok, that is fine, my Italian is good" but then Father decides to call Ted anyway to see if he is free to do the funeral.. and he was (of course). I have not seen Ted in forever.. I think I needed time to prepare. ;)

Imagine if you will, I walk into the back of the church and there are the altar servers, now you are thinking, oh how sweet, high school kids - uh NO. The average age of the altar servers for a funeral is about 80. oh yeah.. these guys are the A team. They have been serving since Moses was alive!

So I walk in and there he is in all his splendor, talking a mile a minute about ... HIM... good to know that some things never change.  We exchange pleasantries with the air kiss and hug - then he went off to get a coffee.  (essential thing to have)  Then Father comes in and is getting ready for mass- asking the altar servers if they have everything ready while he is holding something for the mass. (I totally started to laugh out loud) Father rolled his eyes and laughed - and said.. "yep, my A team."

Anywho, I think the highlight of my morning was listening to Ted - and as we know, he loves to talk about himself, sooo he was talking to Father about a mile a minute (they have been friends for years) both catching up on who was where, how different friends were doing and how Ted's mother was -(ok boys let's move this along.)   Let's get  back to the fact that Ted knew the Italian hymns (ok, he had the Italian Hymn book, I really need to get one of those!) - he was thrilled because, say it with me, it was all about HIM. So he got to sing them - so that meant I just got to sit there.. (this does not suck) But I love to watch him sing at the piano - I feel that there should be a big brandy snifter so we can put tips in.. seriously. 

So, we are up to the homily - and so Ted goes into the back room and finds someone else to talk too - I think it was our Deacon.  He just does not stop!  At one point I had to tell him to quiet down, he was getting too loud, you know like really old people who don't have their hearing aides in!   He said.. "ooh I didn't realize, and I don't want to hear it from Father! " I quietly laughed to myself.

The rest of the funeral went on as usual - we sang.. the three of us.. with our harmonies.. we really do rock. I mean .. sing a good funeral.

 

(no this is not Ted, I just love this pic!)

 

Until I see you again Ted, until I see you again...