MAYBE FEELING A LITTLE RUSTY

I sang Friday night. In front of a crowd of nearly 90 people. I had two guys playing instruments and singing with me. They weren't as good. Let me explain.

It all started in 5th grade when I tried out for and made the Field School chorus. I thought I was a good singer. I tried and I liked to sing. But that didn't make me a good singer. Only after 6 other boys in my class were asked to sing in the school operetta did I get it. I wasn't one of the select.

In high school ( I'm skipping a choral singing at a junior high tumbling event) I took it up again. A friend and I practiced in his basement for about a week before we got our first gig at a high school party. No one ever told us we were good. No one ever asked us to entertain again.

In Korea in 1995 or so, I was selected by a tour guide to sing some karaoke for our governor. I panicked a little, unable to come up with a song. I settled on Sinatra and sang a bar. Not at a bar--this was on the bus. Kind applause followed but that was about it.

I continued to sing around the house and at church. I once sang in the choir at church. No one asked me to come back. But I wasn't discouraged. I could make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Friday night at our home owners' association party, they were in need of volunteers for entertainment. My wife turned us down telling the hostess that we didn't sing. Well, I would have, I thought.

After about 5 other singers, I volunteered. It was some song about Jamaica and I actually had people tell me I did well. Even the lead band guy complimented me in front of all those there. As we were leaving, he called me up and told me to practice because I'd get my own song next year. Whoa. And he was much younger than most of the crowd whom I suspected had fallen asleep by my number or their hearing aid batteries had gone on the fritz.

There are singers and then there are those who think they can sing. I used to be one of the latter. But now I know I'm just a late singing bloomer.