Seasonal spectacles put kids on world tour

Because I Said So column for The Commercial Appeal

Dec. 23, 2010

Last week began the home stretch into Christmas. The light of a red nose is visible at the end of the tunnel for kids who have been staring into the darkness of the school year with very little patience and much, much hope.

‘Tis the season of joy. ‘Tis the season of the off-key, of missed cues and flubbed lyrics.

I spent last week on the circuit, touring the many musical performances of my kids’ schools, their harmonies through the holidays.

The oldest, Calvin, on saxophone, and some of his bandmates from White Station Middle School serenaded shoppers at the Wolfchase Barnes & Noble. In addition to holiday standards “Jingle Bell Rock” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” they played the Chinese melody “Kangding Love Song.”

A portion of the sales that night went to benefit the middle school, while a majority of my kids asked me not to sing along with Johnny Mathis on the drive home … (read more)