This is my husband Tom, duh, right? Ok, so
we Tom started the Master's Seminary this last fall and
we oops, Tom has made it through
our his first year (more like our first semester). We are on what we call the Long Plan, like about 5 years, now maybe stretched to 6. Tom, unlike most of the men there, is not single, or newly married where said newly wife is working full time to support his efforts, nor are we what we call a "young" sem family. We are mid lifers with kids who are teenagers whom needing the husband to work full time so mom can be full time are paying for bills already accumulated through many years of foolish living, sports programs, college, medical allergies, full time ministry and oh you get my drift. So, just a little back round.
Last night was our first "Graduation Night" as a sem student, so one of the requirements is for the students not graduating to show up in all their finery (which being in seminary our finery required borrowing a suit from my father) and sing in the talented men's choir.
So, we arrived at Grace Community at 4:30 p.m. for practice with the commencement not starting untl 6 p.m. There he was my
middle aged fine looking husband amidst a sea of young, serious choir men. So, I am just watching him from my seat and thinking he is doing a fine job. I see him talking and laughing with the man next to him. Oh, he is enjoying himself I think, finally so happy to be on that side and not just sitting in the audience this year. I have to admit that they all sounded great, manly, strong and with all their different ranges pretty darn professional, but I expect nothing less from Clayton Erb, master Minister of Music! About an hour after practice he was able to come down for a minute and sit with us where he informed us that he found out from the man next to him that he is actually a second tenor. Wow! He had no idea he even "fit" into a range. We were quite impressed he was doing so well. So we started to see the men file back up to the choir loft and Tom decided to go take his position on his side as newly founded second tenor. Only I notice that he was by himself for quite a long time ,and then the men trickled up. They filled in and sang a wonderful couple of songs and were done. So, after wards Tom told us that the said nice sem man who told him what range he was never came back to his spot next to Tom, lol! He changed spots because of Tom's singing lol! I tried to make him feel better and tell him maybe it was just his breath. That didn't seem to make it better. Sorry hon, maybe next year since we have many years to practice that second tenor voice of yours. Thankfully that won't be a requirement for graduation!
So, Tom shared that as he watched these men walk across stage as Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude that he would like to be announced as "Tom Happy To Graduate". I kind of thought a cane, or a walker with tennis balls going with him across the stage would be cute.
