I sang last night at an open mic session in the café of the Minard concert hall.  I used to invite friends to these evenings but now there’s no guarantee that I’d be stepping onto the stage. 

After the performances of a few scheduled singers, instrumentalists or poetry reciters, there’s a break.  That’s when we prospective open-mikers line up to register.  Only the first eight get to perform … and I’m not as fast as the 20-year-olds.

But last night I was speedy quick – Number four!

I hadn’t sung at Minard since June.  I was surprised about how nervous I was.  But not critical.  It’s part of being me, you and everybody.

I’ve been working on memorizing a song called “The City of New Orleans” for another open mic this Friday.  But I could feel in my gut that my level of memorization wasn’t high enough for the tension I expected to feel last night.  So … I bowed to myself and chose an old favourite of mine – Enya’s “Paint The Sky With Stars”.

And I could breathe again.  I knew the words would come easily.  I knew I could be with the audience.  I knew that my attention would be on them, not me.

And so it was.  I do believe I “filled the room” with my love for the listeners, for Enya, for her words …

Place a name upon the night
One to set your heart alight
One to make the darkness bright
Paint the sky with stars

***

I’m at peace

I needed to express last night

And I did