Concert nerves? Not now.

But earlier today -- never mind. It's possible to play with shaking knees - just smile when you're finished and no one will ever know!

Everything went well. Our flute quartet performed about midway through sampler this morning. My three fellow performers were over some of their jitters because their other group was the opening act, at 8:45 a.m. Only (!) 48 acts total, and everything finished by noon, right on time.

After that it was box lunch, then final rehearsals, then some of us took a walk into downtown Walla Walla, where the main street was blocked off for a YMCA basketball tournament that seemed to involve about 1,000 very tall teenagers who had all their friends and family there to cheer them on.

Just before the final concert began, our 11-member Medieval Women's group (aka "Mea Culpa Chorale") finally had time to do the two numbers we've practiced since Wednesday - substituting the two-story foyer of the concert hall for a cathedral (not many of those in this part of the world.) We resonated beautifully - and probably got more attention than if we had been able to perform elsewhere.

Best surprise for the band came when our dapper director (who led the U.S. Navy Band for many years) stepped on stage - in full naval commander's dress uniform. This after telling us he would probably wear "nice slacks and a dark shirt." For the audience, the other surprise was that the number listed in the program as "March for the Class of 1907" was actually a new arrangement of "Anchors Aweigh." We were sworn to secrecy all week, and in dress rehearsal played only the very first section so as not to give away the real name of the piece.

Final event tomorrow morning is a gathering down by this lovely stream that runs through the Whitman campus. Then I get to go home!