New Friends...and missing treasured ones

There is nothing that can ever replace the best friends that I've made in my life. There are so many of you that I miss so much. To Andy and Jenifer, Brent and Christy, is kills me that I can't be more involved in the lives of Aubrey and Brooks and to watch you guys develop as parents. I miss hanging out with Brandon, Watkins, Fern, Schmiddy, and Skate. You know I love you guys like family, you are family and I miss our time together too. I miss going to FBC A and seeing the smiling faces of Mother Bike and Janie, Cheryl Kilpatrick, Diane Schmidtke, and Mrs. Brantley; the warm greeting I always received from all my choir "mommas" like Mrs. Mullins, Donna Smelcer, and Debbie Kennedy. And I often think while walking into church here in Eugene, "Man I wish Sharon Joiner was singing 'I Know My Redeemer Lives' ..... 'and I know that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know..ho...ho...ho....my redeemer lives' (Nicole C. Mullin ain't got nothing on Sharon Joiner!)." I miss my "other moms," Marion Lynn Stewart, Debbie Newman, Diane Schmidtke, and Janie Byars...And polish mistakes, you just can't get those up here in Eugene! And there are so many others who've helped to influence and shape the person I am today. If i tried to mention you all, this post would go on for days. I guess moving 3000 miles aways really reveals to you what true friendship is. Thank you to all of you for the calls, emails, and facebook messages wanting to know what I'm up to and how I'm doing they mean the world to me!
You should all know that I talk about you all the time to my friends here in Eugene, so I thought it only appropreiate to tell you treasured friends about the new friends that i'm making here. I must say that this transition has been made so easy by the wonderful people I've met here in Eugene. I haven't felt alone or isolated at all. First you should know about Becky Hunter. She is the reason that my transition went so well. One of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, Becky bent over backwards to introduce me to new friends and to include me in social gathering when I first got here. Becky and I met when I came here to audition back in January and she's been wonderful ever since. She is an AMAZING violin player studying for her doctorate in violin performance and she's helping me out by playing violin at my church in a few months. Becky introduced me to Clark and Holland (among others) and the three of them are my "string" friends. (This is unusual in the music world because normally singers and instrumentalist don't hang out with each other -- but you know me, i'll make friend with anyone!) Clark is an awesome guy who loves Jesus and plays Viola. He's a graduate of Boston University and is completing his doctorate in viola performance here at UO. Holland is another violinist and is from Mississippi; Starkville (home of MS State) to be exact! She and I speak Southern to one another sometimes! Through these folk I met Jeremy. He's a PhD in composition student finishing up his degree. Jeremy is a very gifted composer and has been around the OU school of music a while so he knows the ends and outs. I'm conducting on his graduate recital and very excited about it. I'll be conducting the premiere of two awesome choral works he's just finished on the poetry of Langston Hughes.
My music ed./vocal friends (i'm working on uniting the school of music) are a blast and we spend at least a portion of almost everyday together. Julie, Amy, John, Gene, and I pretty much pal around and cause as much ruckus and havoc as we can. We set aside every Tuesday night, deemed "Taco Tuesday," to go to this great Mexican restaurant that has $.99 tacos on Tuesday nights. (Being in grad school, cheap is always good) Taco Tuesday is our incentive to get through the rest of the week. Julie is from Oakland, California and is a scream! Very out going, Julie says exactly what she is thinking with no filter and I love it! Amy (Julie and Amy are roommates and are BFF) is from all over and even lived in Georgia for a while. Amy is a fantastic teacher and came back to do her masters after being offered a teaching fellowship. She has an awesome beagle named Abby. John is from Montana and has the lowest bass voice you've ever heard; sort of "Barry White-esque" but packed in a small 160 lb body. John and I play racquetball two days a week and he kicks my tail every time cause he's so dang quick! Gene is from Malaysia and has a fantastic voice. He is working on his doctorate in vocal performance. Gene and I give each other "the look" in choir when people mess up or say really dumb things! The five of us bring riotous laughter and tons of fun where ever we go.
There, of course, are many others that I've met along the way, and many more to meet, but for now I thought I might introduce you to these few. To those of you from Alabaster, Samford, UA, or Huntsville that may read this, know that I miss you all! Keep checking back and I'll try to keep things updated on here as to how things are going!
(the pictures are of myself and Amy, and Amy, Jules, and I at a party for music grad. students.)
And PS. Before you even ask Becky, Holland, Amy, and Julie ALL have very serious boyfriends.