Making sweet music

Before I ever became a journalist, I was a singer.

Not a great one, but one who could definitely hold my own, usually in choral settings, and sometimes in solos as well.

I first joined a choir when I was in the second grade, I think; though when I was in first grade, I remember singing a duet with a kid: a rendition of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." My mom remembers it better than I do. I remember the kid's name I sang with: a kid named Jason Weeks.

I joined a choir for good in the fourth grade. And I sang in choral groups in school until I graduated from college. The only year I didn't sing in choir was my senior year in high school. Had I sang then, I certainly would have tried for a scholarship to a four year institution to study voice of music instruction.

Singing is absolutely the greatest thing I can think of as a way to spend the time. There is nothing on earth that compares to it as a vocation. I'm not talking about being a husband and father; those things were taken from me and I would love to get them back. But singing is the most euphoric thing I've ever done in my life. You can have your BASE jumping, your hiking, your skydiving or cooking. I've got my voice.

Now, mind you, I'm not great. I joined a barbershop group yesterday, and I was as rusty as The Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. When my voice is at its best, it won't blow your hubcaps off, but I sure can work hard at it.

I was at the rehearsal yesterday with about 30 other men, and these guys are good. I'd never sung any of the music before, and so I had to sight read. Not very good at that, since I can't play any instruments. It was a three-hour rehearsal. The voice is rusty and needs work, and it needs some coaching. Karaoke has got NOTHING on choral or any other kind of singing.

A long time ago, I was in a barbershop group in the wine country where I lived. I didn't stick with it. I will say this. Barbershop singing, especially in quartets or doing "tags," which are impromptu four-part harmony "jam sessions" is pure heaven. It's something I think I will be doing for the rest of my life. I'm sold.

This time, I'm in this group, and there's one guy I recognize. A friend of my family's, whom I've actually sung at one of his daughter's weddings. He's been in barbershop for years. I had no idea. I knew he liked to sing, but I didn't know he was any good or much less had that much of an interest. Guess I was wrong.

I loved singing with these guys, singing the tight harmonies, even doing the vocal calisthenics that we seemed to do for like a half-hour. All of it was great. I just wish I knew the music better.

The music gives me goosebumps. I can't help it.

You know the feeling you get when you hold your firstborn in the hospital for the first time? Or that first kiss you give the woman you love? It feels just like that. And the great thing is, you are making people feel good. They smile, they cheer, and they can't help but feel wonderful.

Is there anything on Earth that does that well as the power of a song?