Day 216 in 2023

Day six, final performance, and thilled to be sleeping in my own bed tonight! Also eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to share this experience with Calvin—to see him in his element as a student, as a band member, as a drum major. And he even acknowledged my presence. On a regular basis. I'm pretty lucky.

Day 215 in 365

Day five, utterly exhausted; Senior theme day "white t-shirts for signing"

Day 197 in 2023

We picked Calvin up from Blue Lake today for (probably) the last time, and yes! That's a photo of my camper standing to receive recognition for his solo in the Firebird! A rarity for a bassoonist and he knocked it out of the park. My heart is so full at these events. I know I'm biased, but he is a movingly talented musician, and I love getting to see him thrive in that environment. Today we heard him first as the solo bassoon in a chamber woodwind performance, then as principal bassoon in the Masterworks Orchestra, and I couldn't be prouder. Five years (six but for the Covid year) of Blue Lake and we loved every one.

Then we stopped for ice cream on the way home to celebrate National Ice Cream Day, of course.

Day 212 in 2022

Band camp begins (photo from Calvin—we're still in quarantine at home, alas)

Day 198 in 2022

Celebrating National Ice Cream Day, and a phenomenal end-of-camp performance by this amazing bassoonist (and an orchestra I guess, too, but mostly this guy, of course)