Sad Songs and Châteaux

A large part of the eleventh grade was gone on a geography class field trip today, so school was a bit more chill. In music class, we kind of played "rock band" and people got to try out new instruments, like drums, guitar, bass, etc. Somehow I wound up on vocals and our teacher chose the song 500 Miles Away From Home, which I got to sing like twenty times. They say it's good to identify with your art, but this one hit a little close to home.

Singing the blues with my sista' Evelyn.

If you aren't familiar with the classic, American folk song, it's basically just some dude drawling over and over again, "Oh Lord, I'm five hundred miles, five hundred miles, five hundred miles away from home." Click here for a good, soulful version by Bobby Bare. I just found it a little excessive that our teacher insisted on singing it so many times. Our song books have some pretty happy songs, too, like Bella Ciao, Jingle Bells, and Rote lippen soll man küssen. 

The book even has What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor-- Croatia sing-a-long Summer 2012 anyone?

But it hasn't been all sad songs. Yesterday I practiced with my soccer team in a new location. I didn't know the facility, so I hitched a ride with one of our coaches and a few other players. We drove a little ways then turned off onto this private drive. The driveway was lined with these fancy, minimalistic poles lighting the way. After snaking along a little ways, we turned the corner and-- BAM-- we're at a castle! Okay, not exactly a castle, more like a manor house, but still that's pretty awesome, right?

And I thought Gilmore Field was pretty.

To add to the random awesomeness, the building turned out to be home to a law firm. One of our coaches works there so we can use the gym. It's an old building, though, and belonged to someone important (of the gentry or something) before the law firm moved in. 

Carla, our team mascot.

I may be 500 (+ 4,500) miles away from Salem, but I'm not crying to the Lord for help yet. I mean, after karaoke night at marching band camp circa 2013, I wasn't really asked to sing in South's band room again. But I am at Viktoriaschule! Speaking of singing at South, the Viktoriaschule music book seems to be missing a key song. I'll have to talk to the teacher about that. I mean, how can a music book not have Let's Go To the Mall?