Country Roads

The Christmas Spirit continued as Sunday found a friend and myself were seated in the balcony of a beautifully restored theater building preparing to complete another of my “bucket list” selections. I was prepared to witness a live production of The Nutcracker Ballet. From my childhood days in Stockton, Kan., my mother seemed to want me to experience all musical interests, to see what could become a good fit. My parents started me taking piano lessons at age 5 with Mrs. Pauley as my first piano teacher. At age 6, I was enrolled in a dance class and fitted into tap shoes. The following year, I...