Exra - Finding the Band from the Park Again... - Grace

I saw the band I sang with last semester playing in the park a couple nights ago. My face lit up as I saw them strumming their guitars and I joined the crowd that was already formed around them. They were creating beautiful music once again and I couldn't help but stand there and smile. One of the guys saw me in the crowd and motioned me to come over. I gave them each a big hug and said how happy I was to see them again. The leader of the group asked me if I wanted to sing, and of course I said yes. We did another rendition of Georgia on My Mind and it was so much fun. I was on my way to a show and I couldn't stay for long, so I gave one of the band members my number and told him to call me up next time they were playing.

The next day, Nick, the main guitar player, told me he was having a little gathering of all the park musicians at his apartment that night. I felt a little wary about going because I hardly knew the guy, but I had a feeling the same sort of magic I felt in the park in the fall would be found at this gathering, and I knew I couldn't miss out. I went over to his house that night and as I opened the door to his apartment, I felt as though I was walking into a scene of a movie. The farely nice apartment was filled with these hippie musicians, all playing their instrument. When I walked in, the group was playing Judy Blue Eyes, complete with full harmonies and accompaniment. It was amazing and ridiculous and almost hilarious all at the same time. I saw all the guys from the band I sang with, plus ten other people, including one guy I was pretty sure was homeless. There was a guy in the corner with a long grey beard and hair playing the bongos, a bigger guy on the couch with earrings and tattoos playing the eukelele, and a couple flower child women sitting on the floor around the room. The group welcomed me in and invited me to sit down and relax. After singing along to amazing songs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's, they invited me to sing a solo. I sang You Don't Know Me by Ray Charles and Crazy by Patsy Cline. The musicians were so good and it was so fun to be there with them. We were all just in the moment and in the music and having the best time. I couldn't believe gatherings like this actually existed outside the movies. They called themselves "The Park Club" and I became an official member that night. I'll be returning to the Park Club soon.