Take the A Train

I experienced another first today. Another random, so-not-my-former-life experience, due to my dating a dad ... who obviously has friends with kids. Obviously. We're in our forties. The only people without kids are the psychotically selfish, the barren, and the socially inept guy who still lives at home and will only ever truly love "Mother". Even meth addicts, gay couples in their fifties and amputees have kids. But I digress. I went to a jazz recital today. Two of my boyfriend's friend's kids were performing. One sang and one played piano. It was held at a piano store and a local music teacher sets her students up to perform in a nice little room off to the side. We were a little late, and dressed for a beach party, so we sat in the last row. The 13 year old played piano first ... jumped right up there on stage in her darling black ensemble, took a confident bow, and played 2 songs like it was nothing. Then her sister took the stage. She's almost 15 and sang a song from Pocahontas ... "Colors of the Wind", I think it's called. I knew she was nervous ... she's new to performing, but she breathed and was in key and most importantly DID IT! I got teary eyed. I was nervous like a parent ... it was ridiculous. I've only known them for about a year, or so, but I was enthralled by her. I had to remind myself she wasn't my kid, then pondered what it would be like if she was. To see your own child up there ... so proud of them pursuing a musical endeavor. To practice, and then have the balls to get up in front of peers and strangers to perform. I think my chest would burst open. Then again, maybe it's no big deal. Or maybe that feeling wears off the more they perform. Dunno. We sat through what felt like a hundred more performances and then did the congratulations, beaming parents, and eat cupcakes thing. This is where I embarrassed myself. I was standing and talking with the 15 year old ... her parents nearby ... when the music teacher approached with her camera and said she wanted to get another snap, and pointed it at the two of us. I thought it was odd to want a picture of me with one of her students, since she knows I'm not her mother ... and quite honestly, looked homeless. But, I thought, "Oh well", put my arm around 15 year old and started to "cheese". That's when my 15 year old buddy left my side, walked in front of me, and put her arm around her mom to pose with her parents. I was clearly out of the shot. As the music teacher snapped a shot of the three of them, I pretended to be intensely fascinated with sheet music from The Phantom of the Opera. God, I'm such a dick. As if watching 2 hours of other people's children sing and play piano, while sitting next to a bus load of nursing home patients boistrously questioning their Saturday "outing" wasn't enough ... I actually thought I was part of the group for a second. Yeah, it was an innocent incident ... seemingly inconsequential to an observer ... but only because they have no idea how much I want to be in the picture.