His son’s first vocal try-out was a bust, but this dad did not want to give up hope. Then he got the phone call.
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Sitting at work Friday morning I heard the familiar sound of my son’s incoming text message. We just dropped him off for his second semester of college the previous weekend and hadn’t yet a chance to get caught up on things. I grabbed my cell and his text read “Hey Mom & Dad I got amazing news if you guys are available for a call anytime soon let me know.”
In seconds, I was on the phone with my wife and hooked our son into the conversation.
“Hi Dad”
He sounded very tired, like he hadn’t slept, and this was unusual. Jeanne quipped “Hey Darin, you amaze me every day. I don’t think you could amaze me any more than you already do”
This was true. He is a genuine deep soul with accomplishments too sickening to brag about. So I won’t, although that’s what he deserves.
“Yer not going to believe this!” he said in a slow drawl unfamiliar to us, his parents.
He explained how the previous evening, less than 24 hours ago, he had finished auditioning for his university’s top a Capella group, the one seen on reality TV talent shows. A reach, at best, I thought. His previous tryout during Freshman week yielded a brick wall and some hard feelings. Thank god he made the volleyball team.
“Oh well, maybe next time” was the appropriate mantra last September.
We were unaware that “next time” had arrived in February, and a second trip at bat was in the offing. The audition went well, a call-back was made, and unbeknownst to him, good things can suddenly happen to those who wait.
Hours later, at 1:30 am, a knock on his dormitory door was met by a bewildered roommate confronting a coed mob of unfamiliar faces. Immediately they broke into song, a Capella, and serenaded Darin from his perch atop a state –issued bunk into a most unusual fraternal indoctrination.
I imagined their sound to be beautiful, gradually awakening inquisitive floormates and calming the suspicious roomy into an all-American collegiate spectacle. Darin smiled from ear to ear. He received a 3-part harmony invitation by the team, to join the team. How cool! This, of course, is what college should be about.
Yes, the formal induction of the three (wow, only 3) newest members of this nationally-known group would occur immediately. Right there, off campus, downtown, at Waffle House, during an all-nighter of pecan waffles and show tunes. I laughed over and over at this description. The joy on the phone was palpable between the three of us.
Could anything be better than that?
Darin had paid his dues to see this day (actually night). The yellow sign at Waffle House matched his high school colors, where long days and nights of musical practice had gone down. Driving him, picking him up, committing to the trips, and absorbing the beauty of the performances were all part of the ritual. Looking back, it made this day, this conversation, this elation, alas this family moment, all worth it.
Expressing love can come in many forms. That morning it arrived in the form of a groggy 19 year old achieving a dream.
And making a hero of himself to me, his Dad.
Photo: Flickr/Thornton Krell
Good job, people!