By Marilyn Kush
Two months into membership in Sunset A’Capella, I looked forward to the retreat on the Oregon coast with some trepidation and more than a few questions swirling in my head. Okay. So we’re going there and practice TWO songs for THREE days? Why not just do that at the CHURCH? I wonder how my roommates are going to take to my snoring? How are they going to take to ME? Would there be any divas I have to deal with? How are my boys going to cope without me? I’ve never been away this long before. Hmm. They would ENJOY it. Heck, I would enjoy it! With that final thought I expectantly sailed onward to the coast!!
Not exactly. First I have to hook-up with Evelyn at the Church and haul three risers (very important, those risers) up her truck to bear witness to the trials and tribulations of the three days of intensive practice. I tell you, hauling those risers just a couple of times is worth a full week of weight training! Aside from the traffic jam at Dundee, the drive was pleasant and so was the company. Evelyn proved to be very gracious and an utterly generous resource about what to do and what to expect during the retreat. And so, humming in my brain through most of the drive was, gee, I’m glad I’m riding with her …
Wow! Our room had a great view! Vast ocean, crashing waves and endless beach just outside the window. And a balcony to drink it all in! I later learned that everyone else had the same accommodations.
Dinner and a short time later, practice began. Ah, Sylvia. This is going to be intense and entertaining. And it was. Sylvia and Linda collaborated to bring perfection to every nuance and movement of the songs. We got into the groove, sold our stories, conquered space, hit every flat and sharp, felt the heat and splashed all the colors of the rainbow into our singing. We were GOOD! But not yet perfect …
I was exhausted and slept like a log. Anne and Evelyn didn’t even complain much about the noises I made through the night. Morning brought us to a glorious walk at the beach. What a beautiful morning.
Nine o’clock and it’s practice time. What’s this? Mardi Gras? No, we’re all DIVAS, and we’re wearing sequins and feathers, a crown of blue stars with trailing multi-colored ribbons on our hair, and blue necklaces around our neck! Of course, Pat and Debbie had everything to do with this! A mélange of sparklies to remind us singer ladies that we are gorgeous, perfect in every way, and can hit those blue notes with absolute clarity every time! Barbara’s contribution was a reminder pinned on our chest that “Leads Rock & Rule.” Attired thus, and with a lot of adjusting, giggling and kidding around later, practice began.
In my mind, Sylvia is a genius and a consummate entertainer. She ran and owned the retreat, made us learn and remember, and made us laugh till we were in stitches. She made us enjoy the whole furious weekend. Fifi L’Phew’s rendition of her face was not very flattering, but it was accurate in portraying her spirit--Sylvia is brilliant and sunny, she could part Oregon clouds and transform us into bright and cheerful, confident and passionate singers.
Speaking of Fifi…how about Ellie Mae Doowitt, or Ma Hot Momma Gandhi New Delhi? The guffaws that we three roommates generated from two hours of brainstorming the bios of these characters for the Diva Fashion Show must have blasted through all the rooms and out toward the Pacific Ocean! The show was hysterical! We met bejeweled, albeit taller, Elizabeth Taylor, bulimic and slender (note: not anorexic) Mary Kate Olsen, and how to describe her—(dare I put this on paper?) Jenna Thalia! Although I didn’t understand a word of the songs Emily sang, I was filled with wonder—I wonder if I would ever sing that well! “We Three” and that Viagra song were worth the ticket! Debbie was meant to be an emcee (among other things)! Could these women be any more talented?
I get it that we had to be at the coast. Focus. Passion. Commitment. SISTERHOOD. And for me, Initiation. Practicing at the church as we do once a week and occasional Saturdays AIN'T GONNA DO IT! The retreat is a must have. I GET IT!! And to my surprise, I met a diva whom I never expected to encounter—me! Just wait till world sees how we strut our stuff!