Lucky, lucky, I’m so lucky
Girl Scouts’ 95th Anniversary Sing-Along
That’s right - I’m back from another Girl Scout Anniversary - and I’m still riding high from the elation of being a part of such a wonderful, monumental (excuse the pun) event. To read about my first experience, scroll down to Entry #2.
I had the distinct pleasure of sharing the stage with some amazing performers, like The Chantels, Michelle Shocked, Julia Nixon, Katy Benko, Melinda Caroll, Sunny Sumter & Teresa.
I had the even greater honor of singing with The Washington Mystics WNBA team, Patricia Shih, Harolyn Blackwell & Kathleen Herles, the voice of Dora the Explorer!! We sang together on the National Mall in front of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC with over 200,000 Girl Scouts!! Thanks to all who made this unprecedented event come together!
I cannot tell you how moving it is to feel your soul as it is enveloped by voices. I’ve been struck with how BIG this really is! Not only that, but I realized how important Girl Scouts are. They’re not just a service organization or a social club. They are a way to raise strong, courageous girls that turn into powerful, intelligent, courageous women. If I hadn’t had Scouting as a kid, maybe I wouldn’t be on the path that I’m on right now. With that, I really want to provide more of my time and energy to the cause of Girl Scouts.
I also realized that these songs are the roots of my musical career. Seriously, when I was 3 years old, my Mom took me with her to Girl Scout Camp in Chippewa, Wisconsin, and I was leading songs even then! (She’s got pictures….I gotta get those from her and post them!) She would teach me the harmony part, or the 2nd part, or we would just sing in a round……this is where it all began. Before I even began taking piano lessons (age 5) I was singing with Mom & Girl Scouts.
I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience…how LUCKY I am to say I got to do it again - and I hope to be invited to the 100th Anniversary in 2012 - can we hit 300,000?!? I can’t wait to find out…
After a luxury stay, limo shuttles to and from our location, and being whisked back to the airport in the black town car, I’m back to reality: 5-7 nights a week STILL SINGING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS….and many years to come.
PS - Some of you know that for the first Sing-Along I attended back in 2002, I was SO NERVOUS!!! It was the biggest crowd I’d ever played for! I knew we had projections of about 150,000 this year but I’ll tell ya, I just never really felt that nervous. It’s the same way with National Anthems…the first time I sang for 40,000 I was so nervous my leg shook the entire time! But now, I just get excited. I’m a lucky girl. NO, I’m a strong, courageous, independent girl who goes and gets what she wants…thanks in no small part to Girl Scouts & my Mom.