Miller Update

Last Chorale Retreat

I have been on the Chorale retreat for the last three years with Amber (and many Singers retreats before that). This was our last one! So sad. This year it was in Big Bear. The original scheduled weekend ended up being the only week all winter that we have had tons of rain. Dr. Colunga didn't want buses of kids going up on the ice and snowy roads, so the trip was cancelled and set for a different date. The weekend that was selected ended up including the night of the Dance 3 show that Amber was performing in! She had to miss the first day of the retreat and then after the concert she and I got to drive up the mountain to the camp.

The drive was adventurous! We stopped in Redlands for a soda and snack. As we waited int he drive through line, there was a big earthquake. It was a rolling, long one. I think it ended up being counted as a 5.4. No one on the mountain felt it, but the OC sure did. Then Amber and I both got a bit carsick driving up the super windy mountain. The constant flash of lights in my rear view mirrors was reeking havok with my eyes and head, and Amber's tummy was a bit queazy, so we pulled over and just sat for a bit until the world stopped spinning. We did finally make it to the camp in time for everyone to head to bed.

I should say that a bit tongue and cheek since I ended up staying awake until 3 am! I started reading a book while some of the girls slept and some stayed up to talk. About 1 am some of the boys knocked on the door and came into the "living room" area and hung out with me for an hour. I snuck into the snack place and grabbed marshmallows for a treat. At 2 am I kicked them out and sent them back to the boys cabin. Then stupidly I stayed up one more hour and finished my book. Up at 7am the next morning, we had breakfast and then had a group back rub before the kids started their morning rehearsal and I headed back down the mountain! It was fun to hang out with the kids. I wish I could have stayed longer and played. Amber had a great time and enjoyed her final Chorale retreat.