Subbing @ St. Augustine's Church, Oakland

I'm writing this post well after the events It chronicles. My life is unhealthily busy these days and at times things feel out of control. I'm working on it.

My abiding recollection of the mass I subbed for on the evening of Saturday 11/19 was performing a rousing gospel tune called "Ride On, King Jesus". The arrangement required me to play a forte two-hand octave descending line as a four-bar introduction. If the congregation was roused, they sure didn't show it.

I am always inspired by Jim's seeming lack of concern that the church attendees rarely seem moved by his daring musical programming. It seemed that tonight no person in the pews was moved, but I was on board. At the close of the service I said to Jim, "That was fun!"

The Wednesday, 11/23 evening choir rehearsal was the worst type of rehearsal an accompanist will encounter: a tedious hour and a half of plunking out parts for the choir. I could have left one hand at home. Since this rehearsal fell on the night before Thanksgiving there were several notable absentees. The choir evidenced gaping holes in a couple of its sections (i.e. only 1 tenor and 2 basses).

Several women from the chorus had attended the Rita Moreno show at the Berkeley Rep. They had some warm remarks for me. It's a cool thing to have been part of a show that literally thousands of people from the local community attended. I have never been part of a musical project that everyone so openly enjoyed. It's a sad statement, that.

Jim always conducts good-natured banter with Rose, an elderly soprano in the choir. Tonight he joked with her, asking, "Do you even know how to pray the rosary?" Here's the thing: even I know that Rose is all about the rosary -- she's always trying to get regular rosary services started up at the church. She's one of the most faithful Catholics I have encountered.

Every time I sub at a chorus rehearsal, Rose asks Jim, "Who is this?" (pointing at me). Jim replies, "That's Jesse; he's been here before". Then Rose thinks for a few moments before saying, "I have a son named Jesse." He's a lawyer.

Jesse