Saturday Treat!

I was gone for 12 hours today, away to Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood for a wonderful day with my son W and daughter W, above  and in the extra photo -- time out from their busy work schedules and a treat for us all.

We started with brunch at the Oddfellows Cafe, which I highly recommend for the diverse menu choices, excellent food, urban buzz, and location. Having some hours to fill before our 3 p.m. choral concert, we next went to the splendid Elliott Bay Book Company, a wonderful independent bookstore in which I could easily spend a day. 

Walking toward our concert venue, but still a bit early, we stopped in at the Capitol Hill Rachel's Ginger Beer location for libations, and then on to the beautiful First Baptist Church for an amazing concert by Seattle Pro Musica, an award-winning mixed choir that has received international acclaim for its CD recordings and live performances.

Karen P. Thomas, the choir's artistic conductor and conductor, is also a prize-winning composer. In addition, she is music director at University Unitarian Church (UUC) in Seattle, which Phil and I attended before moving to Bellingham. I sang in the church choir under Karen's splendid conducting and was chair of the music committee.

It was such a treat to see her again and hear her amazing choral group, 80-strong! One work in particular, Morton Lauridsen's O magnum mysterium, which I sang in the UUC choir, brought me to tears for its ethereal beauty in both melody and words. (Take a few minutes to enjoy it sung perfectly by a Swedish choir.)

Sharing music that touches our hearts is, for me, the essence of this season, and to share it with these two dear ones was the best gift of all.

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