Choosing Fun
Perhaps it was the approaching thunderstorm, or maybe it was the stifling heat and humidity. Whatever it was, drum circle struggled Friday. The drummers waited under the crabapple trees and cheered when I pulled up, 15 minutes early. Teen youth workers looked exhausted. I started class immediately. At 1 pm the shift change meant a whole new set of youth workers. And some drummers took advantage of this to ask for a bathroom escort. For some reason, there were three bathroom breaks – there are supposed to be none. Apparently, all youth workers had their lunch breaks scheduled in rotation while we were drumming. Delivery cars with loud music pulled up beside the drum circle over and over.
At one point, only half the class and I were present, and many of them were too distracted to function. It was hard enough for me to focus, let alone the drummers. But some of them did. And some of them wanted to drum so much that we pushed through, letting the others come and go. Those who stayed with me were challenged, playing without so many other drummers.
The most difficult piece has three rhythms, but I can only support two at a time– singing one and playing the other. One group was having such a good time and was so focused that they came in with their part on their own every time. I had no idea they were so good at the rhythm. That left me free to support the other group, and the single person still participating in the third group.
If you have been reading along, you might be amazed to know the single drummer was Shiloh, who surprised us with participation on the second day. With support, Shiloh held together a drum part with only my vocal support – grinning the whole time!
After the circle, I talked with supervisors in the building about how we could restructure lunches and communicate with Youth Staff to prevent this from happening again; to find positive ways to help those young people succeed also.
When I came out, Shiloh was waiting for me. “Thanks for not stopping until we had to – I was having a really good time”
I smiled “You did so well, for most of the three-part piece, you were the only one on the part with the connecting beat!”
“I really don’t understand why other people weren’t doing it too. Don’t they realize this was their last chance?” asked Shiloh.
I tilted my head, “Their last chance?”
“Yes, their last chance to have a good time drumming today!”
“You know we have another class and a performance next week, right?”
“Yes, but those are next week. Their stupid messing around cost them a really good time today. I know next week is real, but in another way, it’s kind of imaginary. They could get covid or have to move away. They lost fun today and got trouble instead.”
This was the most Shiloh had spoken all summer.
“I am so glad you went for the fun!”
“Me too.”
For two of my best friends, this is a year to choose fun over trouble. One went on the trip of a lifetime to Iceland and Paris with her husband. The other is planning a trip to the west coast to visit elderly relatives and other old friends, and also booked a solo adventure – an extravagant return to Massachusetts by railroad! In big ways, they are choosing fun over trouble. Choosing to feed their souls now will ensure strength, purpose, and energy in fall responsibilities.
Someday I will do something similar, go and put my feet back in the Pacific on the Oregon coast with some of my people. But for now, I am taking the fun I can today. I bought blueberries on the way home and stopped at the reservoir. After I ate them, I took a long walk and left the drum circle stress in the water.
When was the last time you chose fun over trouble? When you walked away from something you couldn’t change now and found something to enjoy?
At sunset, the skies finally shook with thunder. I made it back to the car just before the rain came down hard, washing away the rest of the stress. Performances all next week, I will miss these summer drummers.
