Recently, I stepped outside to sing to the birds. I started with “America” and the next day, I sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. The birds were unimpressed. There was no audience. I have only one distant neighbor who could see me only if she had been outside on her deck. She wasn’t. Then I tried singing to my new kitty, Gracie. She walked into the next room. Now I was reduced to trying to whistle the bird song I heard as I walked down the road. That was more successful. At least some of the birds repeated their songs after I finished, but they may have been only doing their spring vocalizing and I was lucky in my timing. I can’t really claim that I’m much of a bird whisperer.
So much for trying to find an audience. I realized, though, how very much I miss using my voice to sing, and how much I miss my friends. So stay well, ladies and gentlemen, until we are next able to joyfully come together again. The photo shows Gracie learning to bird watch. She’s a natural.
By Lisbeth Wiley Chapman, Second Soprano