What Keeps Us Going?
It’s The Friendship

Fourth in a series of articles about our continued participation in Sweet Adelines International

By Ozzi Mask, Region 14, Potomac Harmony Chorus

And so the notice did come down from above (i.e., Headquarters)
From Ye Editor of Ye Olde Pitch Pipe
And it did read thusly:
“Arise thou, and bestir thyself —
Yea, thou shalt indeed write this next article
In the series What Keeps Us Going?
And thou shalt call it It’s the Friendship!”
And the appointed writer did take notice and hearken
To the call from Tulsa, and did think to herself:
“Hmmmm … friendship …
One of our most important factors …
Easiest to name,
And most difficult to explain …”
And finally, this is what came to the Appointed Writer …
Once upon a time, a long time ago
As I did wander through the lands of jazz, folk and gospel,
Thinking myself serene and content,
A voice did cry out from the wilderness of the combo in which I was playing,
(Actually, it was the voice of the bass player),
And the voice said, “Do thee hie thyself with me
This Wednesday night, to my Sweet Adeline group!”

To which I did reply:
“Since thou hast made this plea a multitude of times,
I will just therefore make haste and accompany thee!”
And so I did, finding myself in a group of women
Singing in beautiful harmony
Which they were most eager to share with me.

Okay, so it was the sound that got my attention at first, but it wasn’t long after I became a member that I noticed that this group was different from any other choir or chorus I had ever seen. The women in this group not only sang together — they were always willing to help each other, both in chapter activities and in their outside lives. A few years later, after an accident, I was in a hospital sixty miles from home, for almost two weeks. During that time, there were so many phone calls, visits, cards and flowers (and not just from my own chorus) that one of the nurses said, “Just what is this Sweet Adeline thing? Is it a sorority, or a church, or what?” I said, “No … well, yes, it is.”

It is not always easy to explain Sweet Adelines to “civilians.” We certainly try, through the written and spoken word, but how can you make someone understand that she will not only enjoy the music and the sequins, but she will also gain a support group that is sometimes stronger than family? How can you tell her that, in addition to the applause and the false eyelashes and the ring of the chords, she will have people willing to “look after” her, both on and off the risers? How can you possibly explain that once you are in this organization, you will soon have friends not just in your chapter or region, but also all over the world? True, you may not see them for a year or so, but it is okay until you meet again. Time stands still for us.

Since we are so much a family, now and again things can come up that are not always sunshine and orange juice, and we can just plain get into a snit with even our long-time friends. We are human, and as in all families, we sometimes can misunderstand those whom we love dearly. But perhaps we can remember what someone said once: “Look — don’t ever say anything stupid or hurtful on purpose; you’re going to do enough of that anyway, when you don’t mean to.” We do not know what tomorrow may bring, or when we will meet again. The friendship and the music are worth far more than the misunderstanding. When you come right down to it, we are so lucky to have us.

It is true that some of our best Sweet Adeline friends are no longer here on earth with us, but our organization lets them stay. Through memory and music, we remember their laughter, their songs, and the supreme joy they brought to our world.

A lot has been said and sung about our friendship and our music. They go together, locked into one another in a special bond of happiness for us and for those in our audience. Our songs tell us:

And to those of you whom we leave behind
Here is something you must find
Learn to live each day as it were your last
Fill your heart with love, and then hold it fast
Learn to sing a song that is clear and true
That will last a lifetime through

And

For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forevermore
That’s what friends are for

And maybe that’s why it’s difficult to explain the strength of our group — because the friendship and the music are so closely tied together. They are indeed one. And so are we.

That’s what keeps us going.

Return to Pitch Pipe main page