Nostalgia...the memories flood back

To say that I was overwhelmed with emotions during this concert was an understatement. That's what the holidays always bring for most of us. It was fond memories of holiday cookies at Grandma's or searching the Higdem acreage for just the right tree for my attic bedroom to put all the throw away ornaments that didn't make the cut for the tree downstairs...

If I must admit this...I still put some of those ornaments on my current trees...and they remain so special.

I got to the end of the concert and could feel those emotions washing and flooding over me. The traditions that sadly are long gone...The people who have since passed away and left us behind...
Christmas is about creating not only moments...remembering the times long ago, but also creating traditions that are new and special to us all.

But if I am really going to be honest...

The one I miss the most at Christmas is my Mom. 

She loved Christmas so much...

Christmas filled her house and heart.

All year round!

Her Santas grace my home and tree.

Her spirit lives on in each of us.

Her passion and zest for life is instilled in me.

And her Christmas is my Christmas and always will be...

And I just could not stop thinking about her as I ended this concert...

"Someday soon we all will be together,

if the Fates allow...

Until then...

We'll have to muddle through somehow"

And the emotions continue well into the future...

Just one more Christmas without her is still difficult...sometimes overwhelming...

and I just let the emotions come as they may...

honor them...

in my heart and soul. 

And continue to honor her legacy and all she has taught me.

This guy right here...

This guy right here...

The real trooper...

He had to take over the drive up because the roads just plain frightened me...

He has always been able to take over when the going got rough it seems...

It is an ongoing theme through our lives together...

I am grateful, thankful, and blessed to have an amazing father in my life. He brought and encouraged music to be in my life...even from a very young, early age. We would sing duets in church. We would play trumpet duets at family reunions.
We have always had that special blend that still gives me chills.

 It has not always been wine and roses...but whose relationships are? Am I right?

Jump back a few months...

Dad was always going to go with Justin and I to Bemidji. I just wanted Dad at this concert.
But then I was like...why am I not asking him to sing with me?

So I reached out...

And called him...

"Hey, Dad!! You wouldn't happen to have a tuxedo, would you?"

His response..."Umm I do"

"How would you like to sing with me on the Bemidji concert?"

"Oh my goodness, Brandon, that has always been a bucket list of mine...to sing with a symphony orchestra."

MERRY CHRISTMAS

So he got his chance and oh the memories that we created.
 Just chills and goosebumps...

I am so honored and grateful he said yes...

Enjoy!!!

Tapping into my holiday roots...

And I bet you thought I was talking about my BLONDE hair and the roots that are sure to be coming....
NOPE!!!!
When I was growing up, we always loved to put the classic vinyl records on the record player and listen to the Christmas favorites...

Bing Crosby

Burl Ives

Perry Como

Rosemary Clooney

Judy Garland

Frank Sinatra

The Carpenters

We would put the records on and decorate the tree in the living room, with cider on the stove, and the lights would catch me up in the spirit. Bringing out the ornaments that had been packed so delicately to hang once again on the boughs. Good food, fond memories, holiday spirit, opening presents...so many memories that bring lightness to the ole heart and a smile across my face.

Jump ahead and today we consider others to be classic Christmas...we have more performers who have dominated today's holiday music tracks...

Mariah Carey

Harry Connick, Jr.

David Koz

Michael Buble

Whitney Houston

Amy Grant

To select just 8 songs for this Symphony concert was quite a challenge. I wanted ones that were traditional like:

Winter Wonderland

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Or one of my faves:

Jingle Bells...with an Andrew Sister's style of arrangement.

What was so much fun this time around was getting the opportunity to sing with dear friends I had never gotten the chance to sing with but had always followed? adored/ admired them from afar.

One of them is the daughter of one of my dad's life long high school friends!!!!

Music brought us together for one evening of creating music together and it was such a cool gift!

Crossing more off that bucket list...

I was given the opportunity of a lifetime last week.
About a year ago, I was asked by the conductor of the Bismarck/Mandan  and Bemidji Symphony, Dr. Beverly Everett to guest solo at the Bemidji Symphony's Christmas concert. I jumped at the opportunity and went to work searching for just the right numbers I would like to sing on the evening's music.
Well, December 3rd...it happened and it was the most...
Goosebumpy.
Glorious.
Nervewracking.
Amazing.
Moving.
Cool experiences of my life.

We drove over 1000 miles to get to northern Minnesota, braving the bad icy and snowy roads...mostly my Dad, who went with...because he could navigate so much more smoothly through these types of roads as he felt much more comfortable driving on them...

The turn around was quick. We have one rehearsal Monday evening, a quick recap on Tuesday prior to performance and BOOM.

We were on.

And I loved every moment of it.

I was born 27 miles west of Bemidji in  small town named Bagley. My parents were high school sweethearts there. Both sets of grandparents lived, farmed, raised families, created amazing memories, died and are buried in the area. I still have many relatives that live in the area. My mom is buried in the area...
Of course I would leap at this opportunity.

And of course...there is no place like being home for the holidays...

The memories just washed over me.

Of Christmases long past...

I had not been back for the Christmas season since my grandparents had still been alive and that was a long time...

And I am so grateful for this opportunity...

Sharing more soon!