The Amazing Race

Before I get to the main point, let me begin where the afternoon started:

Prior to "The show" beginning I attended a concert by the Fresno State choir: Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass.  Greg sang in the concert and it sure did make me miss performing.  Needless to say, this was an amazing concert and Fresno State just got taught the true gospel.  Robert Ray has been a composer for the past 30 years and he came and directed the choir performing his work; the Gospel Mass.  This mass is originally in Latin and there are works done by Beethoven, Schubert, and Haydn with this set.  Ray has taken this set and translated it to English (as many places perform it now) and added an African American rhythm and feeling.  It was incredible.  In this concert, I simultaneously spent 2 hours at a gospel church.  I don’t think I have ever seen a director teach the audience a song, teach them to stand, sway, and clap on the syncopated beat during a concert before.  WONDERFUL!  I wish every concert was so educational and inspiring. 

*As for "THE SHOW," I meant to make this post last Sunday, but this is the first chance I have gotten, so better late than never.

I would like to say that I am not addicted to T.V. shows, but I must be honest and admit that I am addicted to THE AMAZING RACE.  Before college began I watched this with show with my mother and sister at home after dad went to bed, next when I lived in the dorm and my first apartment with Stefani Ortiz, now since I have lived in the condo, I have watched the show with Makenna, Katie (before she moved to Seattle) and whoever seems to visit to watch it with us.  There are currently 8 people at my house watching the show.  SMILE (P.S. I love that there are people here, I do not mean this to diss the people that are here)

Throughout my experience watching this show, I have enjoyed the laughs at  the racers' expense because of their lack of attention to details.  After my recent trip to Europe backpacking with Makenna and Katie for nearly 4 weeks, I have a much greater understanding and appreciation for their blunders.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures, without displaying our blunders to the world.  Although we did have our fair share of them, but they are what make some of the best memories of the adventure: 

*My favorite door: this is what I hope to have at the enterance of my house when I am all grown up.

*even girls in Europe dream of being Cinderella

*Gelato: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

*Yes, we were allowed in...but some were not. 

*The blunder: my original purse strap ripped.  The bonus: an excuse to buy a new one.  

I apologize to those of you who do not know about the show, but this is how this applies to us: while watching, Makenna and I make a game out of deciding if we were on the show, who would do which challenge.  If you watched last week, I would have done the scuba diving with the sharks.  Meanwhile this week I would have relied completely on Makenna to understand the periodic table.  Someday, I think Makenna and I should try-out for the race together.  Personally, I think they should make a race for 3 people that way Makenna, Katie, and I can race together. 

So, life is an amazing race.  This is my conclusion.  Although I do not run a race to win a million dollars, and my race is, thankfully, slightly slower-paced with a little less pressure, I do have my own race to run.  My race at the moment consists of school, work, church, friends, food, and sleep.  The race of life is inconsistent, twisting, nerve-wracking, heartwarming, and a ride on the edge of your seat (thank you Matt and Makenna for the adjectives).  I am always excited to see where the next leg of the race will take me.  May I never take the race for granted and never be the last team to arrive to be eliminated from the race. 

By the way, by the end of the episode there were 11 people here. 

I will leave you with the lyrics of the song that Robert Ray taught us today, as they are very appropriate.  As you read, picture a concert hall packed full of about 500 people swaying, clapping, and singing, to the best of their abilities in a true gospel style; although not all are musicians singing in-tune.  This is in no way a reference to the people I was sitting with, just simply an observation to help you get the full vision of the room. 

Lord hold my hand while I run this race,

Lord hold my hand while I run this race,

Lord hold my hand while I run this race,

‘cause I don’t want to run this race in vain.

Lord guide my feel while I run this race,

Lord guide my feel while I run this race,

Lord guide my feel while I run this race,

I don’t want to run this race in vain.

Lord guide my tongue while I run this race,

Lord guide my tongue while I run this race,

Lord guide my tongue while I run this race,

‘cause I don’t want to run this race in vain.