There's a beanie in here. I knew there was a beanie someplace, but I thought it was a Carthage College beanie. I remember wearing the Carthage College beanie. But it has a big M on it. MacArthur High School? I don't remember a high school beanie, much less wearing one, much, much less keeping one, but once again, the girl I used to be surfaces, and it appears I don't remember much about her either. If it is a MacArthur High School beanie, it is now 47 years old. Can a beanie be an antique? What a road show that would be. But hell, it doesn't even fit. Did my hair get bigger? My head didn't swell, did it? If it did, it should shrink a bit now, remembering that I was once a girl who wore a silly high school freshman beanie.

And here is the program for said oratorio - Elijah, by Felix Mendelssohn. I recognize some of the singers. The ushers are courtesy of Beta Phi Epsilon (my fiancee's fraternity). William Pieper was on the tympani. I just liked the name. I wish I remembered more about this. I wish it conjured up a meaningful memory. It does do something - more like nostalgia. Nostalgia for a more innocent, peaceful time. I had never heard of born-again Christians. I was an atheist. But I could listen to the music, and not think of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (and, therefore, Mormons). All of this has a flavor of Thanksgiving about it, of trees without leaves, of early snow, of simple beauty. It's as far away as Hobbiton now.

Must be 1962. "On Sunday, November 11, at 8:00 P.M., the music department of Carthage College will present the oratorio Elijah, by Felix Mendelssohn." I'm writing for the college paper. I do reviews, and other artsy stuff. I'm nearly always late. This is not a review. It is a press release. On the back is a schedule of Deadlines. "...a dramatics review to be written at a Wednesday dress rehearsal would be deadlined for 8 AM Thursday."

I remember being at those dress rehearsals. I don't remember their names. I can't imagine I ever panned anything. I wish now that I had. Just for the sake of it.l