Band rehearsal lights up the night

 And it was all thanks to Harry, our biggest fan.

I was so excited for our first rehearsal on Tuesday night. Getting to hear the band play the music I've chosen and arranged for our concerts for the first time brings everything alive for me. In college, I remember asking a composer/arranger speaking to our theory class if the music he composed sounded in performance the way he heard it in his head. He said no, it sounds better, so much better in performance. I didn't really believe him at the time. But now I know exactly what he means.

The harps were tuned and ready.

The music was waiting to be played.

The candles were lit to warm up the chilly night.

And then, minutes before the band arrived, Harry decided to jump onto the coffee table, swish his tail through the candles and...

SET HIMSELF ON FIRE.

His hair is so long that he didn't feel a thing. He'd already jumped down from the coffee table by the time I smelled the burning hair, panicked, bolted up from behind the harp, patted out his tail and rushed him to the kitchen sink. 

Oh, the indignity, of having your tail squirted with water when you have no idea you're on fire. 

Oh, the drama of getting the burned hair trimmed from your tail when you have no idea you'd set it on fire.

Oh, Harry.

Sam, Martha and Marti all wrinkled their noses when they walked into the house, but when I explained, we had a good laugh. They know all about Harry's antics. And we all love him anyway.

Onward, and here's to driving the cold winter away without setting ourselves on fire.