Soundtrack to my life movie

There are moments when my life has a soundtrack. The first time my two young kids and I rode bicycles down a cobble stone street in the town of Hilversum in the Netherlands, I thought I was imagining the accordion music that accompanied us. We had the oddest sensation of being in a movie of our life. It was a magical feeling. When we spotted the bearded man on the corner providing our serenade, I swear he had a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been planted there by the great movie maker in the sky. 
There have been other musical moments in our life movie and on our recent trip to New Orleans music filled the very air we breathed. It floated around corners, tickled our ears, teased us and made our toes tap. 
Far more unexpected though, was the soundtrack playing in a seemingly innocuous scene today: a long layover in Newark airport. As far as movie scenes go, it is one that is usually cut, the boring lead-up to a really juicy scene. I was on my way to meet up with my daughter, one of my very dearest friends and her teenaged daughter in Paris. Newark was a 4 hour pause before the fun could start. My friend and I live 3000 miles apart now, so any chance to see each other is something to look forward to.  A few months ago we decided to actually do something that is easily just daydreamed about: go to Paris together. My friend had never been before, though deep in her heart I suspect she has always wanted to. I had lived in Paris and can’t imagine anything better than to share it with her. The time seemed right, our daughters – practically sisters – were ecstatic to be invited, and so, the next thing I knew I was in Newark airport.
 
I had walked off the plane into the huge bustling terminal, preparing myself for a four hour wait in limbo. Wandering towards the food court my ears twitched at an unfamiliar sound amongst the din of gate announcements, rolling suitcases and conversations: an angelic swell of music. 
“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when…”. 
There down the hall, gathered together, hanging on each others’ notes, was a lovely group of 16 women, their leader guiding their individual voices into perfect acappela harmony.
 I stopped, transfixed. How did they know I was on my way to meet an old friend? 
Busy travelers slowed their pace to listen. A little boy and his mom sat right down on the floor to take it all in. 
Next came Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable….” and I thought, “Yep, that’s what our trip will be..”
I chatted with these ladies for a bit as they waited for their next flight. They were there on a layover between Denver and Ireland. The High Country Chorus, a chapter of  the Sweet Adelines, they were on their way to tour and perform in Ireland,  a first trip for some of them, probably a dream come true just like ours. 
While I had planned to sit and block the world out during that long wait, they did everyone a favor and sang to us, their sweet notes lifting our spirits and providing the perfect soundtrack for my life movie. Thank you ladies and bon voyage!      
If you want to know more about the singers, check out their website www.highcountrychorus.org
And if you want to know more about our trip to Paris, stay tuned: first I have to live it, then I can write about it!