The Messiah Sing-Along

Now that I live in a big city, as defined by the fact that I live on the 8th floor of a building that still has floors above me, one thing I wanted to do this Christmastime was attend a sing-along of Handel's Messiah. Two weeks ago, I googled and found one at the Kennedy Center. I immediately ordered a copy of the score and invited some friends to go with us. I love concerts, and I love the Messiah. What could be better?!

Well-laid plans rarely turn out the way you envision them, and tonight was no exception. Our friends had to cancel coming with us, and I had an impossible time trying to find a babysitter. I called some girls in our ward, and they told me there was a stake-wide YM/YW Temple Trip that evening. Well, there goes the entire babysitting demographic. When I called the people I already know (and I've lived here just over a month-- there aren't too many in this category), everyone (EVERYONE) was either out of town or had family plans. Not surprising, just disappointing.

But Kevin and I decided that, despite the dismal odds of Penny lasting through a concert starting at her bedtime, we'd just take the girl. We dressed her up really cute. This way, if she was screaming, fewer people would sneer and think she was a nasty child.

The concert started at 8, but the free tickets were available starting at 6:00. We arrived at 5:50, after a couple thousand other Handel enthusiasts. The line snaked back and forth through the Hall of Nations a couple times, outside, around the corner, down one end of the Kennedy Center, and back again. As we chatted with the people in line with us, we found that we weren't the only ones who had planned to stop by, pick up a ticket, and then go grab a bite to eat before the concert started. Ha ha ha!!! After an hour in line, that sure wasn't going to happen. But there's a friendly camaraderie between folks hugging their Messiah scores to themselves in an effort to stay warm in a line reminiscent of Disneyland but without anything interesting to look at while you wait.

We eventually did get to the concert. And despite the fact we had to leave at intermission so no one would see our baby turn into a pumpkin, I am VERY glad we brought our little girl!

We got amazing seats 2 tiers above the right side of the stage, and when the music began, Penny threw her arms into the air and waved them around while staring up into the lights. She sang along with all the songs-- especially the tenor solo at the beginning. When anyone clapped, Penny stood up, beamed, and clapped enthusiastically. She danced and swayed, the whole time taking in the spectacle with her wide brown eyes.

The witching hour did finally arrive, and she did squawk and cry a little bit. No one seemed to mind, though, and I don't think it was just because I had dressed her cute.