So, I was never blessed with any sort of musical ability. All of my dad’s musical talent skipped over me and landed on my sister. And I mean ALL of it. If you spend even two minutes watching me try to do the stupid “rabbit dance” game on the wii, you would probably end up falling out on the floor laughing at the serious lack of rhythm I have. (Ask my sister, she’s witnessed it. It is NOT pretty. If you are not familiar with the game – you have to have a little rhythm and make the bunnies drop into these little holes on the beat. I am “dance bunny-challenged”.)

You laugh…but really, I have none, zero, zip, zilch. Well, now that I think about it, I guess that is not true. I really can and do appreciate music. All kinds of music. And thankfully J. has enough musical ability in his little finger for the both of us, and he is also extremely good about making sure I am “hip” to the new music. We listen to a lot of music, and try to see a lot of live music. And I think between the two of us, we have quite an eclectic musical repertoire. I truly hope the girls will have some musical ability, or at least a good appreciation like I do.

I fantasize someday of being able to play something other than “Chopsticks” on the piano and have always really been attracted to the cello. I like the sound of it and it seems like such a romantic instrument to play. This was what was so random and crazy when I met my friend, Michelle. When she told me she was a professional cellist, I almost fell off of the elliptical. (We met at our gym!) How weird is fate?

So, I’ve told you all about her and her new album and how you should go listen to it on iTunes. (And download it!) I can honestly say that I listen to it almost always while I am working at Starbucks, my little office away from home. And I know as I listen to it, that it is Michelle, but I guess I have been strangely disconnected to it.

Until Sunday evening.

Michelle played in a concert celebrating her town’s centennial birthday. First of all, it was a fantastic concert. Really interesting grouping of musical talent. Very varied and all wonderfully played. But as I was sitting anxiously waiting for Michelle to take the stage, I realized that this was the first time I had actually heard her play. Live. In person. She has had her cello over to the house and played a little here and there, but not like totally focused, in the moment. Really playing.

And I was quite literally blown away. It was such a beautiful display of her talent. So much more moving than listening to her on my little iPod. And even more spectacularly, I saw an incredible side of my friend that I had never seen before. She wasn’t just my friend, or a mommy, but an amazing, accomplished, beautiful musician. I was really, really moved. I could have listened to her play all night.

After the concert we went for a celebration (both for her concert and her Birthday!) at a very fun little Italian cafe/bar. And it just happened to be Opera Night. So just picture the scene, intimate little restaurant, little stage up front and the pianist would just start to play a piece of music and all of a sudden someone would just stand up and belt out a song. And they all had stunningly beautiful voices. I felt like I was in a dream. And when the opera folks were done, they convinced Michelle and Mary to go up and play another piece. They played a Bach piece – both of them from memory. Really, really astounding. Good food, drinks, friends and on top of all of that surrounded by amazing music.

It was a very special little gift, and it wasn’t even my birthday!