It's Perfectly Normal

West Lafayette had multiple choices to offer us when Leslye and I set out to walk. The trail by the river? Purdue University campus? Paved bike trails are few and far between, so we opted to cross the river and head north, away from the airport. It was a little chillier than usual; I was wishing I’d taken my gloves off the bus.

On our right, commuters waited for a train; on our left, there were glimpses of the meandering river through the trees. Passing athletic fields, we could hear the train in the distance. We crossed the bridge back over the river and headed for Purdue. Students raced by us on bicycles, backpacks filled. Others wore sweatshirts against the chill, drinking coffee as they scuffed along in their flip-flops. I love university Tour stops – interesting boutiques, coffee houses, and unusual shops line most campuses, and Purdue is no exception.

After loading the bus early, I walked back towards campus to find lunch before departure. I called Jenna to wish her a Happy Birthday – she’s twenty-one now. It seems only yesterday she turned six during my first Tour. Thirteen birthdays I’ve missed, and so much more. Hopefully she remembers the birthdays and Life Before Tour. Poor Jamey turned two on my first Tour (yes, I miss both birthdays); he has no memory of Life Before Tour. I’ve been lucky that most years John was able to bring them out to visit on or near Jamey’s birthday.

Normal, Illinois is another university town. We have a long standing relationship with Illinois State University – every five years they ask us to present masterclasses to all the studios. This year 19 of us drove over as soon as we arrived in Normal.

Ellen and I shared the flute masterclass – she has a wonderful knowledge of the flute solo repertoire, and I was able to give the students the viewpoint from behind the audition curtain. The flute studio has over twenty students, including graduate students; a nice size studio.

The music department treated us to a wonderful buffet dinner before the concert. As if highlighting the small world musicians inhabit, the trombone teacher walked up to me and asked if I was once Cindy Dary who went to KU. Steve Parsons was a graduate student while I was at KU, overlapping by a year or two. After eight years in the Army Field Band, he is now teaching trombone here. What a surprise to find someone who knew me “way back when”. He asked after my husband and Max, fellow KU graduates. I shouldn’t be surprised anymore – I frequently run into people from my pre-Band days when we’re on the road.

The hall held 3,500 people, and I think there were only 100 or so empty seats dotted throughout the hall. It was a great place to play, and the audience was one of our best yet. The school of music made sure every music student that wanted a ticket had a ticket; I enjoy seeing so many young, enthusiastic people at our concerts. They are the audience of the future.

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