Saint-Saens and eclairs

Last evening, Peiming had her first of three recitals for the semester. I'd have to say my favorite was Camille Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 103. Peiming was accompanied by a 35-piece orchestra, which was brilliant on the ears and eyes. The music was by turns lyrical and rousing and my heart certainly rose in line with the ascending notes on the piano and violins. A few of our friends were among the players; Noella was lead cello and Lim Jia played in the trumpet section. No tuba for this work, so Jake was part of the audience this time. He'd just returned from a conference in D.C. where he purchased a new tuba which he let me try playing after the performance. Needless to say my diaphragm was too weak to produce a nice brassy sound on the tuba. I barely managed two toots and that was it.

A nice spread of food courtesy of Peiming's aunt and uncle, who drove down with their children from Buffalo, New York that day and were driving back after the recital. Her uncle was in computer science before picking up theology and is now a pastor at a Chinese Christian church. Very nice people. I picked up the sushi from Saica which was slow in the making and then worked on putting little eclairs and cream puffs on silver trays. A few pieces disappeared, of course.

Although I hadn't planned to stay long, I was one of the last to leave, having indulged in conversation with old friends I haven't seen in a month. Noella, Leslie and I talked wedding, even deciding to make a trip to Chicago during spring break for Noella to find her dress. I've also promised to find a sea-themed poem for their wedding card. Yew Hoe related how he wouldn't be headed to Shanghai after all. And Boon and Isabel had to witness my painful stint with the tuba.

A delightful evening with music and friends, and now I'm back to work. I hope I can manage. Too many eclairs.