Can you see us? Saoirse and I are on the right hand side. Behind the piano. She’s the short one in the pinkish-red vest sweater. I’m beside her. Oh. You can’t make us out? Oh well.

 

When I was little, I started singing in choirs. Then, typical over-achiever that I am, I figured I wasn’t any good at choir singing if I never got any of the solo numbers. I quit singing in choirs and got into jazz band.

 

In college, when I couldn’t afford a muscial instrument, I went back to singing in choirs. I did it to keep music in my life, although I was definitely not solo material. I wasn’t quite sure why I liked it so much.

 

And this year, finally, after being out of college for 18 years, I joined the community Christmas choir. Saoirse came with me. We performed Handel’s Messiah last night. I loved every second of it.

 

I am finally grown up enough to understand that magnificence of singing in a choir. For so much of life, it feels like we are supposed to be exceptional. ..To stand out in some way. But singing in the choir is not about standing out. It is about making your voice blend. It is about coming together with a whole lot of individuals to create something that is so much bigger than yourself. It is a magical feeling. The only other time I’ve felt this is when I was one tiny voice in the crowds down at Occupy Wall Street a few years back.

 

So you can’t pick out Saoirse and me? It doesn’t matter. Just appreciate the choir. Imagine all those voices from one community raising the roof off that beautiful church to celebrate the holidays with neighbors. That’s what this photo’s about. But here’s a close-up of us afterwards, at the cookies-and-punch party in the church basement….Saoirse is still singing the pieces to herself.