Hi, Mudlark:

I'm so glad that your maiden voyage went so well. Your posting stirred a couple of other thoughts. First of all, God bless you for giving so generously of your time. When I am asked to sing alone, our with my gospel quartet, I limit the time we sing to a maximum of 45 minutes. I've found over the years that even people in the prime of their life start to loose focus after 45 minutes. I know that I do. People on medication, or who are just plain uncomfortable sitting up have an even harder time. That's why many of them fall asleep.

You received your baptism into singing in nursing homes in a powerful way. You'll find that if you do this in other places, the "audience" varies as much as up and running audiences. My group sings regularly at two places. One is a residence, and most of the people can get to the program with walkers or canes. They are more alert, more talkative, sing along and even ask to lead songs on occasion (which I always welcome.) The other place that we play is part of the same complex, but is a health care center. Essentially everyone there is in a wheelchair, and very few of them sing along. There are also people who are more disoriented, and some who cry out or talk incoherently, and the nurses have to wheel them out. It sounds like the group you sang for was more like a health care audience.

Best of all, Mudlark, you DID it! Suggest to the people that you would like to cut down the length of your program. You'll find it less draining, emotionally and the people will most likely appreciate it better. You're a good woman. The first time that I sang for a health care center, I was so disturbed by it that it was many years before I did it again. I had to grow up.

The other area of singing that I've only done once but found even more challenging is singing for children. When I lived in New York City, someone asked me to sing for children in a cancer ward. I know enough children's songs and have done programs for children, but that was HARD! I'd do it again if asked, but I'd have to do some serious praying to give me the strength not to get upset.

This is a wonderful thread, and one that I've greatly appreciated. My gospel quartet has sung at festivals, large concert series, homeless shelters, funerals (there's another topic) and everything in between. I think that we like singing at nursing homes best.

Glad you liked the song..

Jerry