The Key is....

Relax.
I started piano lessons again for the first time in about 20 years.  I play the piano every day and have been doing so for as long as I can remember.  I am a full time choral accompanist for 2 high schools.  I teach private piano lessons two days per week and play for church every Sunday.  I have been playing for a LONG time. 
And yet...
I have much still to learn.  It's true in probably all areas of life.  There's always something to learn. 
After playing for my new teacher (and I thought I did pretty well!) she said she could hear a lot of tension in my playing.  She showed me some exercises to help my arms relax.  It's the key.  If I could relax more when I play (as she told me)... my playing would improve 100%.  So, it seems contradictory, but I have to "try" to relax.  I'm learning.  It is helping.  As I watch her play it just seems to effortless!  That's what I want to be able to do!
It seems to me that the same thing is true in most every area of life... relax.  It helps in singing, in other instrumental music, in sports (sports people will have to verify this for me but I know that when I do sports it's much easier if I'm relaxed), in public speaking, etc, 
Why is this so hard for me?  I've been pondering this for a few weeks now...
RELAX.

Proud Mom

Ta-Da!!!  I am proud of all of my children, but I can't help but tell everyone how proud I am of Joseph!!  He is "Salutatorian" of his graduating class... #2! 
My eyes welled up when he texted me with the news.  I couldn't help but think how proud and pleased his grandparents would be.  This June when my boys graduate (twins) will be 70 years after my Dad graduated from the same school. 
It's such an odd and wonderful feeling all at once.

Off They Go

Jim and the boys are off to Ohio for a few days to check out a college.  I can't believe these past 18 years has gone by so quickly!  It's true what "they" said when the boys were born... "take lots of pictures, before you know it they'll be off to college".