Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
June what?
Last December I attended the best holiday concert I’ve ever been to. It’s called “Holiday Brass” and it’s put on by Susan Slaughter, former prinicipal trumpet of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She started the series in 1992 as a way to raise money for scholarships and other promotions for women brass players. It is such a popular concert that four performances sell out pretty quickly. It happens at Manchester United Methodist Church, in a huge sanctuary packed to the rafters with musicians and audience members. The church choir accompanies brass players. There is a jazz combo and singer, who put a different spin on traditional carols.
Rose and I were determined to attend in 2024 and soon put together a list of people who might appreciate the occasion. There is quite a little ordeal attached to obtaining tickets but we were determined to get the 53 tickets that our list of friends would need. I collected money from the future attendees and called the “box office” to get the tickets. As it turns out there is quite a procedure for obtaining tickets and I learned that they don’t even go on sale until June 1, and then they are dispensed on a first-come first-served basis. I learned this from a couple of emails from Susan Slaughter herself. I assured her that I would be at her mailbox early in the morning on June 1, 2024, the first day tickets go on sale. I think she thought I was kidding.
Tickets can only be gotten by filling out an order form that isn’t available for six months after the last concert. So, I tucked away my list of potential ticket holders and told myself that June was a long time away from December 2023. I hoped I would remember that I was the holder of people’s money…Sure enough, on May 30, I got an email from Ms. Slaughter with the precious ticket order form. Somehow the first six months of 2024 had elapsed and it was time to put in my request. The mailing address is in Kirkwood in a neighborhood that is familiar to me. So, on June 1 at 0830 I was at a cute Kirkwood house, presumably Ms. Slaughter’s place, placing the envelope with a big ole check for 53 tickets into the mail slot on her door. Hopefully we will all gather at MUMC on December 2 at 2:00 PM.
Then I met my friend Vicki for breakfast a couple of blocks from my first destination. Vicki and I go way back to the 1980’s when we worked together at St. Mary’s Health Center and beyond for a number of years. She and I were the new kids on the psychiatric block, charged with making changes to modernize the programs. We had a lot in common, including having to deal with staff members who did not want to change their ways. We were not too popular at the time. But we had a job to do, we each believed in what we know, and we had a strong commitment to doing the best job possible. A couple of people complained about the changes and went straight to Sister Betty, the CEO of St. Mary’s at the time. Vicki and I had to go to the “principal’s office” on several occasions to explain ourselves. That kind of pressure builds bonds, and 37 years later we are still nurturing our friendship.
June, however it got here so fast, promises to be quite a time. In just two days, Ted will defend his dissertation and will hopefully become, “my son, the Doctor”. Prayers on the morning of June 4 are greatly appreciated. Several of my clients will become citizens and one lady will get a hard-earned Green Card. On June 16, I will drive to Unity Village near Kansas City for four days of convention. One of those days includes a day-long spiritual retreat. I’m more than ready for that. I will get to see my friend, Reverend Diane, who was our minister at Unity of Naples, and who taught me all about Unity principles during her time there. She remains a friend and I look forward to seeing her.
And, plans are underway for celebrating Jan and a few of her long-time friends who are becoming “Eighties Ladies” this year. Eighty is a big deal, so we’re going to rent a room at Favazza’s, have a luncheon, and offer a microphone to people who want to tell stories about these spunky gals. These ladies go back, some to the 1960’s when they were a community of gay men and women living their lives in times that did not feel welcoming. Each one of them can tell stories of overcoming adversity and discrimination. But at Favazza’s I think the gist will be to celebrate how rewarding their lives have been.
Welcome, June, however you got here!