Tuesday, Oct.26, 2004
8:40 a.m.

Still in my pyjamas, just back from dropping Emil and Everett off at their bus stop.

Mom's been having pain in the kidney for several days, and it's barely being handled by Tylenol and morphine. So this morning -- as soon as I finish my coffee, get dressed and eat some toast -- I am taking my sheet music and cassette tape and going over to sing with her. She needs to have some fun. She loves to sing and as long as we don't have an audience I'll be able to enjoy it too.

I noticed a grand piano (can you see it?) in the window of the upper floor of the house next door. Where oh where is the neighbour who plays that thing? I will be watching for him or her and scooting over to introduce myself at the earliest opportunity. Whoever it is, they are serious about their piano, as the place appears to be rented out (there is a For Sale sign out front, and the house was empty when I first moved in, I think) and you don't haul something like that around for the hell of it.

Karen's part-time job is as companion to a sweet, quiet, elderly lady in a wheelchair. On Friday the boys had the day off school, so we joined Karen and Muriel at the local theatre and saw Shark Tales in the afternoon.

***

I was driving home through the downtown the other day when I spotted a van advertising delivery of organic produce. Woo hoo! I've put in my order and will get it next Wednesday and every week thereafter.

Isn't my life exciting? Actually it isn't and that's fine with me right now.

The Ugly Sisters went out for supper on Friday to an Italian restaurant and wine bar. The draw was a jazz singer, who is also one of the restaurant owners. Twice she pulled waiters from the floor to come up and sing with her, and twice there was an obvious difference between their abilities and hers. They could carry a tune (okay, one of them could) and had pleasant voices, but hers was ... well, she made it seem so effortless and easy, and Perfect, while theirs did not compare. I am not sure why that is, whether it's training or natural ability that makes one person's voice stand out and those of others pale.

Humbling, is that.

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