Miles' 11th Birthday Letter

Miles' "Reflections" Entry

Miles has composed a piece of music he calls "Diverse Chords" for the National PTA Reflections Program.  The topic for this year's program is 'Diversity.'

Miles' artist statement:

"Diversity means that while we have some things in common, we also have some special differences.

In my piece, Diverse Chords, I tried to represent diversity in three different ways:  1) I used two main chords: the F major chord, and the Bb major chord. They are similar because they both utilize the note ‘F’.  But they are also unique because F major chords contain an ‘A’ and a ‘C’, while the Bb major chord uses a ‘Bb’ and a ‘D.’ 2) I began the piece with many lower notes, but I also used arpeggios to reach higher notes.  3) I also used dynamics (loud and soft) to represent diversity. 

The chords I chose, the range I played in, and the dynamics I used represent human beings. We have many things in common, but we all have special differences that make us unique."

To hear Miles' piece, go to:

http://www.box.net/shared/f4fri6dyy90n7s2hodox

House of the Rising Sun

Click here for video of Miles practicing "House of the Rising Sun" on September 11, 2011.

Vacation Bible School 2011

Miles and Emery have had a wonderful experience this week at FCCC's Vacation Bible School.  Thanks to everyone involved that made it a very special week!

Miles Voted To 'All-Star Game' By Teammates

Congratulations to Miles, who tonight learned he was voted (by his teammates) to the 2011 DGYB Single-A All-Star Team!  The game will be played on Saturday, June 18th.

Way to go Miles!!

"Remarkable" - CSO's Mahler Symphony No. 9

I'm going to title this post "Remarkable" for this reason:

My favorite book to read to Miles when he was a toddler was "The Remarkable Farkle McBride" by John Lithgow (Illustrated by C.F. Payne).  He was given a couple of different copies of this book from family and friends, and each is well-worn due to the repeated recitations.  I dare say that, in addition to mom and dad liking this book, it was arguably Miles' favorite book at that age.

The story of Farkle, if you don't know it, is about a young boy who becomes infatuated with musical instruments, and after giving many a try ultimately finds that what he likes best is conducting ... because the combination of sounds is so amazing.    

Due to the amazing generosity of a friend and business associate, I had the opportunity to take Miles to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's final concert of the 2010-11 season:  Haitink Conducts Mahler Symphony No. 9.

As Miles and I jumped in the car after lunch, I thought to grab the Farkle McBride book and toss it in the back seat.  As we drove into the city, Miles read it aloud.  That, by itself, was a cool moment today, because it had been years since we'd read this book to him.  He had never actually read it aloud on his own.

Our seats were unbelievable.  "Box M" ... which Miles quickly pointed out was to honor his attendance today.  Prior to this concert, Miles had only attended one other CSO performance: a 'Kraft Kids Concert' about three years ago, and we sat in the back of the highest gallery of Orchestra Hall.  The musicians were no bigger than specs on the stage at that concert, so the opportunity to sit in the front chairs of Box M was really exciting for both of us.

My brother asked me, after I bought an iPad2, if I thought the technology would 'transform' the way I do things in the same way the iPhone had when I purchased it several years ago.  When he asked me that question I told him that I doubted it.  But I must say that with each passing week, certain uses for the iPad jump out and surprise me.  For example, when we arrived in our seats we still had 30 minutes before the concert started.  To my pleasant surprise, Symphony Center had a free/public wi-fi signal, and he and I used the Wikipedia app to research Mahler, and his 9th Symphony.  (Miles loved discovering that Mahler's 9th is actually his tenth, and that he didn't name his ninth major symphonic work 'Symphony No. 9' because he was superstitious and didn't want to die soon after (like Beethoven and Bruckner before him).  Unfortunately for Mahler, as he put pen to paper for his 'No 9' he was diagnosed with the heart condition that then killed him soon after he started 'No. 10'.)  Then, as the musicians of the CSO gradually came out on stage, Miles would use the Wikipedia links to look up instruments and read about them.  For example he loved finding the written range of the contrabassoon, and seeing a diagram of the instrument.  I pointed out Chris Martin (principal trumpet) and Dale Clevenger (principal horn), and sure enough ... Miles was 'Googeling' them to learn more.  Reading Martin's bio on Trumpet World.com must have paid off, because at the end of the concert, when Haitink gestured to Martin and Clevenger to stand as soloists, Miles turned to me and said, "Dad!  That's Chris Martin and Dale Clevenger!" Anyway, this was a totally unexpected use of the iPad today ... but one of the best accidental uses so far.

I have to say, I don't know many nine-year-olds who could listen attentively to an 85 minute, four-movement symphony.  Miles was engaged throughout, and I was really proud of his concert etiquette.

To say the CSO was impressive today would be an understatement.  One of my Facebook friends, Mark Corey had sent me a message that he had seen the same concert this past Thursday, and that it was 'epic.'  I totally agree.  Maybe most impressive was the dynamic range exhibited by the orchestra.  I'm not sure I've ever heard such amazing pianissimo playing for sustained passages like I heard today.  To call it beautiful is actually disingenuous.  The orchestra was rewarded with an immediate standing ovation, and Haitink was summoned back to the stage no fewer than five times before the audience finally stopped clapping.

It was a very special day, and I'm very thankful for having had the opportunity to share this concert with Miles ... in such amazing seats.  I told Miles that they were the best seats I'd ever had ... for any concert ... anywhere.  I said, "Miles, you're a lucky young man.  You're only nine.  It took me forty-two years to sit here!"

Tango & Chopsticks

Congratulations to Miles and Emery for their great performances today at Ms. Hudson's Spring Piano Recital.

The video begins with Miles' DG Music Club Honors Recital performance last weekend, and then continues with today's performances at First United Methodist Church.

Click here for the video.

Hillcrest Vareity Show 2011

Congratulations to Miles & Emery for two terrific performances tonight at the Hillcrest Variety Show.

Emery performed "Firefly", and Miles performed "Got Those Boogie Blues."

Click here for the video.  It may take a moment to load fully.

Comments by kids that surprise parents

One of the things I love about being a parent is being suddenly caught off-guard by some random comment that one of my children makes.  This one - tonight - is a good example:

While watching TV as a family, a commercial comes on for the new Schick Hydro razor.  I make a somewhat sarcastic comment to Kristen that I am continually amazed how the shaving industry remakes itself year after year by claiming they have invented bigger-better-stronger-thinner razors.

Me:  "Obviously I'm missing out since I don't use the Schick Hydro."

Miles, who is just sitting in the corner of the couch, minding his own business, says very matter-of-fact: "Dad, the best razor is the Fusion Pro Glide Power Razor.  It uses the thinnest blades, and it has less tug and pull."

What?!  Are you kidding me?!  He's eight years old!  I don't let him watch THAT much television!  He's not going to shave for another five years ... but he's already planning what kind of razor to buy????

"Owlztanding" Game!

Miles had his best baseball game ever tonight, literally starting and ending the game with terrific plays.

Game Begins:  Miles was the lead-off hitter of the game tonight, connecting on the very first pitch with a single smashed down the 3rd base line.

Game Ends:  Miles was tapped as the closing pitcher for the final inning (6th inning).  He pitched another perfect inning (3 up ... 3 down), but the way it unfolded was really exciting.  He took the first batter to a full count, and then threw a strike over the left corner of the plate for a called strike out.  Identical scenario with the second batter; again, a called strike 3 with the batter left looking.  The final out was the best of the year.  Miles took the batter to a 2-2 count.  On the fifth pitch the batter connected, popping the ball straight up in the air.  If the ball had ever hit the ground, it would have landed four or five feet in front of home plate.  But Miles charged home plate, never taking his eye off the ball, and CAUGHT the pop fly to end the game.

Total joy for him as his teammates swarmed him to congratulate him.  Celebration at DQ followed.

Way to go Miles!

First Catch

Miles' first catch: a bass in northern Wisconsin. Reports are he has
caught seven so far ...

Blackhawks Parade - Stanley Cup Champs

Last Friday, Miles, Emery and I joined the Williams family, and we took the train into Chicago for the Blackhawks Stanley Cup Victory Celebration Parade. It was the first "ticker tape parade" for all of us ... and we had a blast!

It was an absolute sea of Red and Black coming out of the train station, and we worried we wouldn't get anywhere near the team or players. But by avoiding the throng of people walking down Wacker, and zig-zagging a few blocks at a time toward the middle point of the parade route, we got AMAZING spots for the parade.

We decided that, instead of going to the rally point (which we knew would already be a mass of humanity), we'd try to find a spot along the parade route on Washington. We got there 90 min. before the parade started, and found a spot (in the shade most of the time - and right in front of a 7-11!) where we were only 2-deep back from the barrier. By the time the parade started, the men in front of us let Miles and Emery sneak up next to them ... so they could see. (Thank goodness there are still nice people left in the world.) I reciprocated by letting a young woman who was behind me, come up and stand next to me, and use here very nice Nikon camera to shoot pictures over Miles' head. Turns out she works for the Indiana University student newspaper. She was so appreciative of me letting her move up that she took my email address, and told me she'd send me some pictures later. When the parade was over, she followed me and the kids into the streets and started doing - essentially - a family photo-shoot in the streets. The first two pictures in this post are from her.

We didn't plan it this way intentionally, but we were near an El track over-pass for the Loop. So as the double decker buses for the team came by they had to slow way down to make sure no one banged their head as the buses went under the tracks. The net result was that by the time the final bus with Kane (and the cup) came by, the bus STOPPED for about 30 seconds right in front of us. Kane put down his beer long enough to hoist the cup in the air, turned around, and looked right at us. The crowd roared. The picture of the cup in this post is one I took at that moment.

The estimated crowd along the route and at the rally was put at 2-million. (The city had expected 350,000.) I think by the time the parade started there must have been 10-15,000 crowded just in the one city block we were standing in. Really amazing.
Link to a video from our vantage point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbym-5t4M4k

Miles says good-bye to "The Gold Car"

So we sold "the gold car" (what we've always called it with Miles and Emery ... Kristen's van being "the silver car") to Car Max this afternoon.  We are now officially (for the next 6 weeks) a one car family.  I'm actually biking to my workshop at South High tomorrow ... which will be nice.

Miles was very sentimental about the sale.  More than I expected.  When we first talked about it a few days ago he got 'misty' but fought to hold back the tears.  This morning I invited him out to the garage, and we sat in the car together, and talked about his feelings.  It was really interesting.  I didn't expect an 8 year old to be as connected to "his past" as much as he seemed to be.  He talked a lot about how it was the first car he had ever been in, and that we had owned the car his "whole life."  I asked him (as he was wiping away tears) if he understood the car didn't actually have 'feelings' ... he quickly told me that the car made him remember his "own feelings" ... which I thought was pretty cool.  Of course I did my very best to validate his feelings as important.

When we all took the car to Car Max, Miles asked if he could ride by himself in the 'gold car' with me driving.  Emery - not feeling this same emotional connection - obliviously agreed to ride with Kristen.

Miles was really quiet on the ride there and during the paperwork transaction.  At one point I was asked to go move the car from the parking lot to a service bay ... and Miles ran after me so he could ride in it one more time.  We then went back inside together and finished signing the papers.

When we turned to leave the building he started to tear up again and asked, "Dad, can I go say good-bye to the car?"  So Kristen walked Emery back to 'the silver car', and I took Miles back to the service bay.  It was gone!  They had already moved the car to a back lot.  But I did catch, out of the corner of my eye, the back of the car sticking out from behind another one ... behind a chain-link fence, and I took him over to the fence.  He started crying pretty hard.  After a few moments he blurted out "Bye Gold Car ... I love you," waved to it, and turned to walk away.  I turned to follow him, started walking next to him, and put my arm around his shoulder.  We were a good 25 yards down the path when he asked, "Dad, can we please go back and you can take one more picture with me and the car?"  So ... we turned around and went back once more.  This time I snuck him into the back lot to snap the picture.

On the way home we all talked about the "good times" we had experienced with the 'gold car' in our lives.  I reminded the kids that the car was purchased right after Kristen and I were married ... so it's also 10 years old!  Kristen reminisced that there was a picture taken of Miles once - when he was little - pretending to drive the car.  That brought smiles from Miles, and we agreed we would uncover that picture this afternoon.

Owlz Award

Congrats to Miles for winning the "Owlz Award" after today's baseball game. Last night he "retired the side" as the starting pitcher (3 up - 3 down). Today he had a great fielding play at 1st base, and had two hits. Way to go Miles ... we're proud of you! And thanks to Coach Mike for the cool mini-Owlz-hat trophy. We are really fortunate to have such a supportive team of coaches working with the boys.

High Ropes Course

Miles and I attended a Spring Camp Out for Indian Guides this
weekend. Miles' favorite activity was the "Skyway" High Ropes
Course. I was really proud of him for challenging himself to do the
various obstacles 50' up, including the zip line as a pathway to
return to the ground. I have every confidence he'll be just fine on
the coasters this summer.

Hillcrest Open House

Hillcrest Variety Show 2010

Miles performing in tonight's Hillcrest Variety Show.  Click here.

Piano - and Perspective

Today Miles participated in the Downers Grove Music Club's local piano competition.  He prepared two pieces and performed them from memory for a judge.  Miles came out of the performance feeling like he did a great job, and he was very proud of his performance.  

Because he did well in this competition last year, I think he has high-hopes for doing well again this year.  As we were cleaning up the dishes tonight after dinner I asked him how he would feel if he was NOT picked for the honors recital this year.  I loved his response.  He said, "I would be okay with that because I'm proud of how well I did today."  Perfect.  I couldn't ask for a better perspective from an eight year old.

This is a performance of "Sonatina", one of the two pieces he played today.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Book

Miles was given the first "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book while we were in Columbia, and he read it ALL THE WAY HOME.  Then, with only 10 pages to go, he took it with him on the train to Chicago yesterday.  Really fun to see him reading so much.

First Time Skiing

We had a terrific time skiing at Cascade just north of Madison, WI today.  Miles and Emery did a great job, and we all enjoyed the opportunity to hang out today with Bill and Victoria Seliger.

A special thanks to both Bill and Victoria for helping Miles and Emery (and their father) today!

The following link takes you to a short iMovie of today's action ...