2 1/2 miles out from Tanglewood, our caravan slowed to a creep as the traffic maneuvered through the 2 lane road in the woods. While the first 126 miles took us about 2 hours, the last 2 1/2 miles took us 40 minutes.
It began to rain as we finally made our way into the grassy parking lot, directed by orange vest-clad high schoolers, earning their summer wage as make-shift traffic cops and parking directors. Some parts of the grass were turning to mud, and I was hoping the yellow summer dress I had chosen to wear wouldn't become a mistake later on.
We had just about come to a stop, mere feet from our place in the line of parked cars when someone, we will never remember who, said "I hope we don't get stuck". Nanoseconds later Mike hit the gas to pull 10 feet into our parking spot, when we heard the noise no one wants to hear: Tires, spinning in the mud, going nowhere. Graham and I, being the supportive friends we are, burst out laughing uncontrollably at the hilarity of the situation. I'm sure Mike appreciated it. 15 minutes, 3 muddy high schoolers, plus Graham, and finally 4 grown men later, the 2-wheel-drive Explorer was freed from the grimy clutches of the mud patch.
We finally found seats on the lawn, spread our fare, and while we couldn't see Garrison Keillor unless would stood up and walked 12 feet forward, it was worth it. It rained the first 15 minutes or so, and Garrison wandered into the crowd of people singing "Singing in the Rain". Graham got a picture of the entertainer as he walked by:
The show was awesome. It was a combination of the best concert you've ever been to with the laid-back charm of a family reunion. Guy Noir did not disappoint as he solved the case of the missing oboe reed (eventually found in the throat of the oboist's pet boa constrictor), The Guy's All Star Shoe Band was fantastic, and we heard all about Lake Wobegon's preparation for the 4th of July. The current U.S. Poet Laureate, Donald Hall, was also a featured guest and read many poems. My favorite was one in which he describes waking up on his 200th birthday, blowing out 200 candles, one at a time, and taking a nap between intervals of 25 candles.
Even the most staunch northeasterners in the crowd couldn't help but tap their foot to the great bluegrass sounds of The Del McCoury Band. It had been a long time since I had heard some good bluegrass live, and it was a beautiful scene to sit back and listen on the lawns of Tanglewood as they played, with Garrison Keillor singing back up.
The other artist featured on the show was a musician with a sweet voice named Inga Swearingen
She was a fantastic addition to the show and my limited adjective list can't do her justice.
Finally, after the radio program was off the air, Garrison Keillor, Inga, and the Shoe Band proceeded to give a one hour encore. A sing-a-long of sorts that included everything from all 4 verses of "Amazing Grace" to "Great Balls of Fire" to "Summertime" by Ira Gershwin. (you know that one, "summertime, and the living is easy. Fish are jumping and the cotton is high...")
The dry humor via Garrison, per usual, did not disappoint. During the encore, he sang a song with many verses that he made up as he went. One such verse went something like this: "down in Arkansas, there was a man who started buying 2 1/2 dozen packs of condoms on a weekly basis. Finally the store clerk worked up the nerve to ask this man what he was doing with all these condoms. The man answered, "I feed them to my poodle and now she poops in plastic bags".... :) so great.
Graham rated Saturday Night with Garrison as his number one favorite night in Massachusetts so far. In a state filled with "Massholes", that's a pretty big compliment coming from Graham.
So, this is already a long post, but I have to say a word about the recurrent theme in my posts relating to my frustrations of singledom. First, thank you to all my family, and friends, new and old, who are praying for me and thinking of me daily. I am so blessed, and the love is felt. Second, I know I get frustrated, and apparently my last post had my mom worried. (she's a mom, she's good at that). Here's the thing: I know in my heart that I will get through this. I may come out married, or I may come out in complete peace in being single. I don't know the outcome. What I do know, and I was reminded of this at church this morning, is that "even though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil". There's no "when" or "if" in that passage. David had already faced great challenges and he knew more were ahead. However, his confidence was not based on himself or his circumstances. They were based on verse 1: The Lord is MY shepherd; I SHALL NOT want."
Biblical contentment does not mean settling. So, I will continue to struggle through this time with Holy Discontenment and continue to pursue the Lord's will for my life.
As always, much love from the far Northeast.
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