Once Upon a Song

[Chalco]

On a recent Sunday, a rare event happened. I witnessed my teenage daughter in a state of euphoria over something I'd done. Anyone who has had or who currently has a teenager knows how rare this phenomenon is. For the most part, they'd rather not be seen with their parents.

So when I set up the surprise, I did it with fear and trepidation. How would she react? My friend Phyllis said that my daughter would be totally embarrassed. "Good Luck!" she said.

My husband agreed. He said, "If you want to do it, go ahead, but just know that I want nothing to do with it." So I pondered and obsessed about whether to do it or not.

But, I kept remembering how delighted she was upon coming across the acapella contest on TV a couple of months ago. We watched it together which was a rare event in itself. The only program we ever watched together was Jon Stewart or perhaps an episode of Bones. Something about acapella captured her. We were glued to the TV together. "I want to be in an acapella group when I go to college," she said at the end of the contest.

I opened my email a couple of weeks ago and saw one from a member of my book group. Marilyn's email informed us that the acapella group she belonged to had a Valentine's Day offer. They would sing songs to the loved one of our choice for $50.00.

I immediately envisioned them singing a love song from me to my daughter. She's going to college in the fall and I've been having what I call preparatory grief. I go from extreme sadness to jubilation whenever I think of her: loss, then, pride, then, back to loss again and finally I realize that I must have done a good enough job at raising her if she has the wherewithal to go to college.

I called up the Capitol Accord Chorus to schedule a Valentine.

"Hi, this is Sandy. I'd like to schedule a Valentine song for my daughter."

"Ok, well, we usually do it for love relationships, but ok," she replied.

"What song do you recommend?" I asked.

"Hmmm, let's see, this is hard."

"Can you do 'Just the Way You Are' by Bruno Mars?"

"No, but that's a good one." Pause. "How about 'You've Got a Friend in Me?'"

"Perfect. Let's do it."

"Sunday at 5, right?"

"Right. Thanks, see you then."

As Sunday approached I nervously asked Nora to make sure she had no plans for Sunday. Her puzzled look was not comforting.

Sunday morning I reminded her that I had scheduled a surprise for 5 o'clock.

"So, what do I have to do?"

"Nothing. Just be here."

"What should I wear?"

"I don't want to answer any questions or you'll guess what's going on."

"Then, I'm not coming downstairs!"

"Ok, yes. Get dressed."

"Fine!"

I thought 5 o'clock would never come. Every doubt and every possible scenario passed through my mind. Either she wouldn't come down, or she would come down and see how old the women were and look at me bored, or she would come down and the singing would be awful and we'd all feel uncomfortable.

The die was cast. There was no going back.

The dog started barking. They must be here. I ran to the front door. I heard my husband and daughter walking down the stairs. Marilyn, my friend from the book group, looked through the window in the door. I opened the door and gave Marilyn a hug. She and the other women trickled in. They were all over 50. I was not comforted.

I turned and saw Nora at the bottom of the stairs. The shy smile on her face gave me some hope. Four women in coats stood in our living room.

"Marilyn warned us about your house. She said there was so much to look at."

The women's eyes were darting about taking it all in. It was a little awkward.

Apprehensive, I led them into the dining room and toward the great room.

Marilyn said, "Where shall we put our coats?"

"Here...on the dining room table."

"Great." I headed for the great room.

"Where's Nora?" I couldn't see her. "Did she escape?" I wondered to myself.

"She's already in the room," Marilyn said.

I walked into the great room. The ladies quickly removed their coats and followed me.

"OK. We'll sit here and you guys stand here." I turned around to see 4 gorgeous women, in purple sequined flowing tops and rhinestone earrings and necklaces.

"Wow! You guys look like professionals!" exclaimed Paul.

"We are professionals," said Marilyn.

I sat down on the couch with Nora but avoided looking at her, my fear still palpable.

Linda said, "This song's for you, Nora, from your Mom."

They started to sing in acapella fashion with a beat and 4 different voices and it was Glee and the acapella contest right there in our great room. I finally had the nerve to turn and look at Nora. She was sitting tall on the couch with her arms moving with the beat and a smile to end all smiles on her face. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She turned and smiled as she moved with the music.

"You've got troubles, well, I've got 'em, too. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." A tear slid down my face. I quickly brushed it aside but then another one came. I looked over at Nora. She looked as if she was in a beatific trance. I do not think I've ever seen her so happy. "But no one will ever love you the way I do. It's me and you and as the years go by, girl, our friendship will never die."

The women moved their arms, their hips and their heads bobbed and weaved. Tenor, bass, and soprano in harmony and my daughter smiling her ass off and as I wiped away tears on our last Valentine's day before she heads off to college in the Fall.

The song ended. Even before I had time to wonder what Nora would do she leapt from the couch. "Oh, my God! Thank you, so much! Oh, my God. This only happens in the movies!" She threw her arms around me "Thank you, Mommy, you're the best. I can't believe what just happened."

And so the Capitol Accord Chorus left and we resumed our lives with a memory that will bind us together forever.

[elleng]

1. And I'm in tears.

Thank you, 'Mommy!'