Enjoying the Symphony

A recent afternoon will remain in our good memories. We invited our seven-year-old granddaughter to a symphony concert. She loved the experience, both the symphony and the new methods of transportation. Besides, she is doing well with her piano and Highland dancing lessons.

The symphony concert is called Tea and Crumpets because tea with a cookie is served during the hour before the program begins. Since it starts at three in the afternoon, and we live in White Rock, about three-quarters of an hour from Vancouver, we picked up our granddaughter at her school, at noon, then left the car near the bus stop. Shortly, we were on the bus headed for Vancouver. Julia felt very special to have been given permission to be absent from  school that afternoon.

We transferred to the skytrain for an exciting ride to the inner city. With plenty of time before the concert, we had lunch in Sears. A short walk took us to the old, but beautifully designed and ornate Orpheum Theatre. We enjoyed our cookie and cup of tea. Julia was quite sophisticated, sipping her tea, with her little finger curved in the way stylish English ladies do it when they have afternoon tea.

Julia had the privileged seat beside her grandmother, while I sat twenty seats to the right. There, I could casually observe how our little granddaughter was enjoying the symphony. Afterwards, she told us that she had not realized there would be so many instruments playing together, and that she liked watching the busy conductor. Of course, Pierre Simard is an extraordinarily animated conductor and it was for everyone, entertaining to watch him conduct first one section and than another. When the music required more power, he supplied it. He used more and more energy, even working up a storm  which compelled the music and built it to a crescendo…for more than one selection. Julia would have much to tell her teacher and fellow students the next day at school. She took the program to show them.

Before boarding the skytrain back to the where we would transfer to a bus, we stopped again at Sears, to enjoy a hot chocolate and biscuit. Our return on the crowded skytrain and bus was an eye-opening experience as well for Julia, because she realized there are many people who rely upon this way of getting to work or school. By car, we took Julia home. She would tell her parents and brothers about her great day. Of course, her two brothers were confident that they can anticipate a special day too, with their grandparents; possibly an afternoon of geocaching, one of their favorite pastimes. Grandparents have a special roll familiarizing their grandchildren with things out and around, to build their confidence in being able to do the same eventually, alone.