Ok so Thursday and Saturday of last week, I had the privilege of being involved with one of (if not the) best recitals in Maranatha's history. I consider myself somewhat of an expert of MBBC Recitals because I am the unofficial-official "Fine Arts Recital Usher." Hayley's was top notch. This summer she traveled as part of an MBBC ensemble team with Nick Peterson, Ann Marie Fredricks (Poorman), Nathan Sutherland, Liz Stertz (Fain), and Jill Brewer (Canada) on piano. They even made a CD, nothing professional, but I have it and listen to it a ton. For the recital, they sang "By The Gentle Waters" (minus Mrs. Fain......That whole newlywed thing makes it tricky). Hayley sand a bunch of other songs too. The one she sang with her Father from "Beatuy and the Beast" was probable my favorite. But I really liked that "Diva" song she sang too (which is also the one she did for an encore). All in all, a very virtuoso perfuming and she did an excellent job. It easily ranks as probable my favorite performance to date (with Ann's and Yaffah's being a very close 2nd. Not that there's was bad. They were great. But I used in Hayley's (unlike Ann's because she was set already) and Yaffah's I didn't quite have the funny story quite like the one I'm about to share.)

Ok so here is the funny story: Hayley has this one song in German.....Or Latin........ Or French or something that was Un-American. The song was about how much she missed her proverbial lover (presumably he has died). She wants to hold him and kiss him and all that stuff because she misses him so much and stuff. So I asked Julie Kerr if I could suggest something to dear Hayley ( I told Julie what I was going to say). Julie laughed and told me it would be funny (then suggested something else that has nothing to do with this post).

So the night of the big performance came and Hayley was awesomely amazing. After her encore, I was backstage waiting for her to come back so I could give her the flowers I got for her. So I was told her to come back back stage (like on the steps before you would enter the gym). I was worried that she was going to laugh heartily and loudly that would disrupt Dr. J's prayer......Or smack me with something causing me to yelp loudly.

So we are backstage and Hayley says:

"So what did you need?"

Me: "Well, you know that whole German, or Latin or French or whatever foregin language song that wasn't American about losing your lover and wanting to hold him and kiss him and stuff?"

Hayley: Yeah (fill in the blank with a foreign song name here)?"

Me: Yeah I guess. Well, I just wanted to let you know that from now on, if you need someone to make out with, you don't have to sing a passionate song in public. Just give me a call and I'll be there.

Hayley paused for like a half a second before she burst out with laughter, knowing how stupid I was being (I think it was a funny story, no matter what). That half second though was somewhat perplexing. She had this look on her face that said 1 of 2 things. Either:

A.) I'm horrified that YOU would even suggest such a thing that included me. The thought that you think that you are in my league is comical to me.

OR

B.) I'm completely shocked that you of all people just suggested that. You have trouble talking to women in the general sense suggestion is comical to me.

I'm thinking it was (B.) knowing Hayley and by the fact that she said (after laughing):


"Ok. Thanks. Now I know who to call from now on."

Ok, maybe this story wasn't that funny to you. But I thought it was really funny because Hayley laughed too. She is really cool and did a great job. Great singer, awesome girl; thanks for the laugh Hayley.