The focus (for Maddie)

Just in the process of writing an 'Inspiration Grant' for the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City...

For those who know me, I've regularly been one to do about 19 things simultaneously. This stems back from my high school days. See, when upon being a lowly Sophomore and going into the counselor's office, we would take stock of my grades, which were very disappointing... D's and F's a few C's and A's in art and Choir and Speech/Forensics, kept my grades at a solid 2.7.

Not every successful person got good grades, but they had a talent to rely on, or encouraging instructors, or, Dun-Dah-Dunnn -  Activities!


I read in a number of "how to get into college" books that to get into good colleges there were other ways to get in when your grades were average. Doing something extraordinary, or participating in lots of activities.

I didn't choose 'something extraordinary' until later,  instead I chose to make my mantra about doing a lot of stuff. And in that I was successful. really, really successful.

Indeed, I joined the literary magazine, the yearbook, student council, stayed on with football, even though I'd gotten into... theater, church choir, church youth council, bible study, NJROTC and working at Hy-Vee as a singing sacker. It doesn't look like much on the page here, but it was a heckuvalot.

In the end, it wasn't the activities that got me accepted into Oberlin, Indiana, Iowa and my ultimate alma mater, UMKC Conservatory, it was the application of talent.

I have been involved with lots of things. true. And it HAS meant that I have been able to do more things. I've been granted entrance to an impressive amount of gate-kept activities and events and people because of who I have known and what I have done.

But there came a time when I thought, you know, it wasn't the fact that I was involved in an activity, it was the fact that I was known as an opera singer, doing an activity. And it would be the same with any person who avows a profession, I guess. i.e. Amanda is an Archer. Amanda the archer works at the bank. Amanda the archer is a world class fiction writer. Hm. Interesting thought. Simple elegant. I am an (fill in the blank here).

Finding a focus has been a Billy in 'Family Circus' twenty year path. And it is almost like winning the lottery.

Now instead of obsessing about a dozen things, I can pick a passion under the aegis of being an opera singer and work toward that end.

This is why I can do a one man performance of A Christmas Carol  next Friday Dec. 4 without getting out of my focus.

It's a fundraiser for the new opera Gospel of Judas.

Wee Small Hours? Well, an operatic tenor needs to push the boundaries of what his voice can do.

But deep down.

Way below the fold.

Beyond what any normal reader or fan would get to.

Just look at all of the things I do and pile them on top of one another... a seeming jumble. Not so, my friends. Not so. There is a function and a form in the projects and the ideas...

I am a sculptor.

Maddie, over the next few years, strive to find your focus. Love you.