It Takes a Village To Raise A Rock Star

We rocked it tonight people. Well, I didn't, because I was only the roadie (and the groupie, considering my husband played, too), but Joe-Henry and his dad did their first open-mike together in quite a while. It was something new for us, since he hasn't done one since he started school last year, and now he's got all this strange social stuff going on. Feeling shy? Nervous? Something that never, ever happened to him before he went to school.

But he had a reason to be bold. The reason was, as is so often the case, a girl.

He invited his first grade teacher, Ms. G. He's been nursing quite the crush this year, and as soon as he found out that this was an open mike he could do, he wrote her a note and invited her.

He and his dad rehearsed for a couple weeks, the same songs, which was a new thing for him. He used to just pop up on stage with his little guitar and make up the most mind-blowing songs on the spot, and it used to make me so nervous I wanted to poop my pants. But he always, ALWAYS pulled it off.

Now I was wondering if this whole rehearsal thing was going to pay off. And he played the drums this time, too, which is also new, having not touched a guitar or mandolin in a while. Plus he went back to school today after being out for two days sick, so I wondered if he might be a little tired.

But nope. At five p.m., he took me into his room, pointed at his new sport jacket, (navy blue, brass buttons), blue dress shirt and blue tie with the pirate map on it. He wore it with jeans and black shoes, and looked like a million, bazillion dollars. In the car, he seemed quiet, but when I asked him if he was nervous, he said "No. I was just wondering if Ms. G was going to wear something fancy."

I had invited a few friends from work, as well as my brother and his girl, my niece and her husband, but when we pulled up at 5:30, there was one of the other first grade teachers from his school. Joe-Henry said "Hey! That's Mrs. S!", and we all introduced ourselves. A few minutes later, the reading specialist from his school and her daughter walked in the door. Pretty soon, my work mates arrived, then our family, then in walked Ms. G, with the ANOTHER first grade teacher! She was, according to Joe-Henry, looking "fancy enough", and to top it off, was wearing the earrings he had given her for Christmas. She said "I hope it's okay - I let a few other people at school know about it. I hope it won't make him nervous." I was so blown away at the support - his very own cheering section.

It made me feel so good about living here, where all these people show up to cheer on a seven year old. And it didn't make him a bit nervous to have them all there - it made him feel great. Happy and confident, and definitely rockin'.

Well, here! See for yourself. There's two songs, and the second one is worth sticking around for. If I do say so myself.
But I'm just the roadie.

sunday morning concert

Took these this morning. The light was amazing, streaming in through our little window, and the song he was singing was "Who Will Be The Love Again?" It was a masterpiece, and I made him promise to remember it so he could play it again when the recorder is charged. I promise to post it when I do. It was a very sad, serious song, and after the last few days, I'm forever grateful that he has an outlet. I'm even more grateful that he'll sing to me.