If there is one thing I've come to expect from the Bugasch family it is beautiful and unexpected musical moments. That's what happens when music comes from your heart. That's what happens when the piano player isn't just doing what the teacher said--she is doing what her heart said the music called for. Those moments make it all worthwhile, they give you goosebumps and a lump in your throat. You remember them years later--like Scott's Moonlight Sonata and Stefanie's "The Prayer."
Kathryn's Gymnopedie was hypnotic. Very French layers of sound and profound consonance and dissonance. Kathryn gets it. And the tone.
I forgot that Kathryn has dyslexia. Years ago her mom told me. She got some help with that, but there isn't any method of reading music with dyslexia. But we did it. Slow and steady like everyone else with "count aloud" stamped at the top of every page. Multiple primer level books and all the books through level four. Just like everyone else, no excuses. I've haven't read a Mozart Sonata with all the sixteenth notes and finger numbers through the eyes of dyslexia, but Kathryn did. And over time I forgot. And the music took over.
Kathryn told me her favorite thing about piano was when she got to an advanced level and she could pick the repertoire.
With a heart like hers what did she pick? Chopin of course. Four Chopin pieces, ending with the famous D-flat Prelude, which Chopin did not call the Raindrop Prelude, but it still managed to storm at every lesson during that piece and even last night at the recital there was real thunder. And real music was made. Real musical moments.
Like all the high school kids Kathryn does a lot. She got the AAA award from her school--given to only one male and one female--for athletics, academics and arts. She did soccer until she tore her ACL. The theatrical musical. Mission trips. Choir. Piano. Time with family.
Speaking of her family. Her mother Mary has always been an inspiration to me. One of those moms who had the courage to not have a TV. And I know just how much 2% milk she likes in her coffee. She was the practicing parent until Kathryn's independence. Before Kathryn could drive, her faithful father would occasionally bring her and we knew just about how many songs before he would drift off to sleep on the back sofa with his book and his baseball cap. Kathryn and I would look at each other and smile.
And sometimes we would have a tear too. A lot goes on from childhood to graduation.
Often the best gift is the gift of words. Thank you Kathryn for your special note, which I will always keep.
If I had to pick another daughter it would certainly be Kathryn with her beautiful heart and her beautiful smile.
She closed with "A Thousand Years, " a pop song, and Stefanie sang. Yes, I loved you for a thousand years and I'll love you for a thousand more. Two sisters playing and singing.
Was it the last Bugasch musical moment?
No.
There will be many more, and I hope to witness a few of them on Facebook and at weddings and celebrations for years to come. I'm not going anywhere. And the three Bugasch kids will keep on playing and singing, for a thousand years.
Congratulations, Kathryn.
This was beautiful Sara, thank you. Your words were very touching!
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