New inspirations, new explorations

Her arms are positioned, the musicians ready, the audience poised for the first nuance of sound.

She knew the piece well—every line, every dynamic, every expression—and brought it to life.

The thing was, though, that it was not her on the podium. It was another... her successor.

She sat motionless in her seat, her hands ready to express every move of the score—

the hands conditioned, preprogrammed to this piece that greeted her and her students

for early morning rehearsals and performances again and again throughout the years.

Throughout her 37 years as a music teacher.

She was amused as she forced herself to sit on her hands to contain them.

It was a nostalgic moment.

What was her purpose now, all these years past?

Her former students rise to new heights; they speak of her inspiration and where it all began.

She speaks of the longing and the emptiness at times—

although compensated for with many sleep-ins, trips to the cottage,

body workouts at civilized hours, business creation.

New inspirations.

New explorations...

And so the nostalgia passes as quickly as it came.

Her purpose is perhaps, in one way, complete—

and in another way, unfolding.

I wonder what is next?