Tapestry Tour '03 Update #2
6/23/03
Written by Crystal Good
Wednesday the 18th of June was a big day for Tapestry. Late morning we
boarded our bus and pulled out.......ready for tour. All twenty-four
singers (including our three famous, self-confident Russian basses), our
fantastic conductor, our dear what-would-we-look-like-without-her tour mom (she
does our ironing!), two-year-old Carver, Rosie's husband Phil, and of course the
bus driver himself.
Tapestry's three Russian basses -- Dmitri, Vladimir, and Sergei. One of our songs is Russian and the bass line is super-duper low, so we're the Russian basses.
One important thing to picture is that at that point each person occupied only one seat. We were all facing forward. All the luggage was neatly stowed. Etc. After six days of traveling, the bus no longer looks this way. A number of people are sprawled across a pair of seats; people are facing the aisle or turned around in their seats trying to solve minute mysteries; CDs, headphones, water bottles, index cards, books, and bits-n-pieces of luggage are scattered here and there. Carver is roaming the aisles or sitting on his uncle Josh's lap singing "Deep and Wide" and then "uuummm" wanting to sing some more. Anyway, you get the picture. Things have loosened up!
Okay, back to Wednesday. We drove to Catlett, VA, that day. On the way we stopped for a nice meal at Golden Corral. One table discussion was about the correct spelling of the contraction for "you all." ("y'all"? or "ya'll"?) If any of you readers have input for us about that, we'd love to hear your viewpoint. Please remember that your opinions have to be backed up with reasons for your beliefs.
Finally we made it to the Choice Books building where our evening program was held. This was an extra special program for Merry since it was not only her home community, but her place of work. The program went very well that night, and the food and fellowship afterward were a treat.
Jewel and Norvan Yoder.
Thursday we got a later start than we intended to, but as we weren't very pushed that day it didn't really matter. Once again we stopped for some great food -- this time at Old Country Buffet in Lancaster, PA. Then we headed to Weavertown, Lamar's home church, for another program. We had some time to blow once we got there, so six of the guys had a Pig Championship on the basketball court. Byran won. Then some of the girls had a Pig Championship. Suzanne won that one.
The rest of us sat in the grass watching and chatting, took walks, rested, etc. We had some interesting competition during the program that night -- it rained cats and dogs part of the time while we were singing -- but we had a good program anyway, and all enjoyed seeing a lot of people we knew.
Conrad and Naomi Gingerich.
Friday morning it was gently raining as our faithful luggage crew, Konrad and David, packed the bus. Perhaps it was so Kon and David wouldn't be the only ones who had to get wet, or perhaps it was merely for the joy of having raindrops splashing off one's nose that quite a few other choir members seemed to enjoy hanging out in the rain before the bus left that morning.
That day as we traveled to Faith Builders in Guys Mills, PA, we spent a
little time singing: Tom has been dying to sing Moses Hogan's "Joshua Fit
the Battle of Jericho," so we humored him by giving it our best shot just for
the fun of it. Then AHQ sang us some new stuff they're learning.
Then my siblings and I sang my arrangement of "I Could Never Promise You" that
we had done for Josh and Kim's wedding in January.
Josh and Kim Good.
Oh, yes, I should mention another key activity that has been happening on the bus. Choice Books was very generous in sending with Merry a whole box of books to use for "door prizes" on the bus each day. So each morning as we start out, a name is drawn, and that person gets to dig through the box of books and choose one. Very cool idea. Thanks, Choice Books of Northern VA! (Editor's note: Today I won!)
From the cockpit of our bus, our friend Leroy at the helm.
Saturday we left FB around noon and headed to Sugarcreek, OH. This was Bessie's 16th birthday, so we tried to treat her special. Dave Gingerich (Editor's note: Dave was the original tenor of the Voice of Praise quartet. I know my quartets! Incidentally, Taptenor Josh Good is the current tenor for VOP.) was very helpful in getting the bus littered with balloons that morning, and Bessie got a free sundae with two balloons attached when we stopped at Applebee's for lunch. Oh, yes, and at Sharon Mennonite where we sang that night they even had a birthday cake for her!
Bessie with her birthday cake.
Another cool thing about that day was that there was a couple in our audience who got engaged after our program! We were pretty impressed that we got the privilege of helping to set the mood for their evening!
Strawberries and ice cream. We've been eating really well.
Speaking of engagements, you must know what the most frequently asked question on this tour is. Q: "Guess what?" (Kon speaking.) A: "I'm still in love!" (Kon still speaking.) Well actually, sometimes we answer for him. We know the answer by now. How we wish to meet you, Shannon!
Sunday morning we sang at Gospel Haven. The Lord was really with us and gave us a good program even though it was morning......... We had a great lunch afterwards and then were treated to some special music by Norvan's little nephew Seth. He sang "God Has a Plan for My Life" while his dad strummed along on the guitar. Very precious. And a good reminder for all of us...that God really does have our lives planned out, and it will be good.
Norv and Jewel's two-year-old Carver.
Then it was naptime. We all picked a bench and conked out. Well, I don't know how many really, really conked out, but it sure was different with all that new breathing in the church! After we partially revived we headed for Martinsburg to give our evening program at Mt. Zion where AHQ had been for Bible School this winter. Of course they had to sing a few songs after the program.
And so it goes............We are all having the time of our lives and are very grateful for the opportunity to experience not only the music, but the friendships. Thank You, God!
Questions and Answers. How well do you know Tapestry?
Q: Why are Amy and Bessie on tour with us? A: Every Tapestry needs a few Weavers. (Another of Kon's jokes.)
Q: What is the all-time #1 greatest a cappella song ever? A: Take 6's "Get Away, Jordan" (In Tom's humble opinion.) (Editor's note: Informed opinion!)
Q: Why does Kon like French dressing? A: Because he's a fiancé!
Q: What is the most requested encore on this tour? A: Mary's Little Boy Chile