We spent our Thanksgiving in El Paso, visiting Jim's parents, who are known as Nana and Grandpa to Natalie and Connor. Yesterday evening, after all the turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing muffins had been eaten, Connor corralled us all into his grandparents' living room for a concert.
He had been preparing for such an event: Before we left home for the 10-hour drive to his grandparents' house, Connor made sure that I had laundered and packed his "concert shirt."He spent Thanksgiving afternoon drawing a seating chart for the concert:
And he recruited his 13-year-old cousin Brittany to play her French horn.
This was The Big Time—and his biggest audience yet.
Come concert time, Connor turned off all the lights and propped some flashlights on the piano, illuminating the stars of the evening.
El Paso Connection
Connor and Natalie sat on the piano bench, banging out tunes—more "banging out" than "tunes"—while Connor regaled us with his vocals. He started with some Jack Johnson songs and then moved on to Bob Schneider.
And then it was audience-participation time. Connor announced that he would shine a flashlight on someone who would then have to play a tune on the piano. First up was his Aunt Kristal, who played Mary Had a Little Lamb. I played Song From the Wigwam, the only song I really ever liked from my beginner's piano book of songs. Connor's Uncle Tom played a jaunty little tune that I couldn't quite place, and then Brittany did some French horn solos.
After a brief intermission—prompted by the main act's stepping off the stage inexplicably—Connor returned to his seat at the piano and belted out, "I hate the world today!"
Such a pronouncement from such a young man, I thought, startled. And then realization crept in, holding horror's hand.
Connor was singing Meredith Brooks' Bitch.
Curses.
I'm thinking that it just might be high time to isolate some Connor- and Natalie-safe songs on my iPod. Just a thought.
