This is the candy corner of my studio at Carthage, and most of what you see comes from the Barrows. It started with the colorful gel boxes which Kate gave me as sort of an office- warming gift, with the suggestion that I fill them with candy because she could envision me having the kind of office where students would stop by for chats and those treats would be a way for me to make them feel especially welcome. The colorful C-A-N-D-Y you see off to the right is a Barrow gift as well – and those are actually five candy dishes, and I’ve used them that way, although right now I’m using them as a sign instead. Anyway, I have quite the assortment on hand. The big purple container has Tootsie Rolls (a classic) – the blue container has Baby Ruth, Butterfinger and Crunch bars – the green container (almost completely hidden from view) has butterscotch buttons from Werthers – the yellow is giant-sized Lifesavers – the orange is for Sweet Tarts – and the red is for small Reese’s peanut butter cups. As for the Chicago mug, it’s filled to the brim with Jolly Rancher candies while the M&Ms cookie jar contains – imagine – M&Ms! That’s my stash – and it’s a sign of my deepening to resolve to maintain my weight loss that I almost never indulge in any of these treats – not even the Crunch bars, which I adore. No, this candy is for my students- and although most of them get something after almost every lesson, I especially like to give this out when someone does well in their lesson- and especially when I have the distinct impression that they have done some work outside of my office. (I like to say that the degree to which they will improve as singers is wrapped up entirely in what they do the other six days of the week with their singing – and if lavish treats will help some of them towards this understanding, so be it.)
Anyway, I was startled yesterday at the end of one of my afternoon lessons when the student in question – his first name is Matt – asked me very sweetly and politely if he could have a treat. And it suddenly dawned on me that in this whole week, I have maybe given out candy to one single student. Otherwise, I have been a cross between Scrooge and the Grinch when it comes to doling out my candy. Something has been holding me back from giving out candy- even my most prized students who work really hard have come up empty-handed this week.
And I am certain, upon further reflection, that the reason – without a doubt – is the bleak economic climate in which we are all trapped at the moment. It is holding most of us back from making unnecessary major purchases – and in my case it seems to be inspiring a rather ill- conceived predilection for hoarding candy. I don’t know what I’m thinking – am I hoarding it so I myself can eat it? I didn’t spend all these months sweating on a treadmill and losing over 65 pounds only to gain it back in fun-sized butterfingers and milk duds. Am I thinking that I can go on a street corner and sell the candy to make some extra money? (maybe if I pretend to be selling it as a fundraiser for the Future Opera Fans of America?) No, I don’t think so. The truth is that this candy is here so I can hand it out to my voice students as a little gesture of affection . . . and with final exams staring them in the face like an oncoming train, plus all the rigors of Christmas Festival rehearsals, now is not the time for me to be holding back on the butterfingers. If anything, my students need double treats- and if anything of them are reading this blog entry, I hope they will believe me when I say that the Candy Man is back in business . . . deep recession or no deep recession.