Tomorrow morning I’m one of twenty-five cellists playing in a concert at St. Michael’s Church in Gent.  Six pieces, four cello parts.

I’ve had the thought that I’m the worst player of us all.  Yesterday at my cello lesson, Lieven told me that all of us are struggling.  After all, we’re students.  We’re learning.

But let’s suppose that I am the worst player right now.  In my better moments, I respond with “So what?”  What’s important is that I’m there, participating.  I’m moving closer to playing freely, with passion, flowing into the music.

***

I also love to watch cycling on TV.  Today Tadej Pogačar from Slovenia is way ahead in the Giro d’Italia.  The 144th and last rider is Alan Riou from France.  He’s five hours, three minutes and thirty-nine seconds behind Tadej.

Some minds see being last as “bad”.  Some might even add another layer: “That’s a bad human being.”

What nonsense!

Alan will be at the start line today and I hope he makes it to the end of the race on Sunday in Rome.

The last rider in the race is honoured as the “Lanterne Rouge”, named for the red lantern that used to hang off the last car of a train.

If it’s you on Sunday, Alan – waydago!  You grunted through the mountains and the rain.  You got the job done.  Congratulations.

And I have a rendezvous with St. Michael’s tomorrow