Rio,

I know I would be very afraid to be on the bus like you were that night. There are too many strange people like the drunk....I wouldn't want to take any chances that some stranger would start following me or something very scarry.

I used to go places all the time at night. Night classes at college, going to the store, ....but in my own car where I felt under control.....that is until one night on the way home from packing up my Mothers house to get it ready to sell....this wierd guy started to follow us (my husband was driving at the time). He was waving his hands & getting in front of us then in back.....he followed us for over 40 miles...all the way to the off ramp we take to get to our home. There was quite a distance at that time & my husband thought the guy had left us alone.....then as we were driving farther along the street, there he was following us again. I told my husband to go to the sherrif station but he went to the guard company he was working for at the time. We pulled into the parking lot & the guy followed....parked & got out of the car & walked up & down the sidewalk. My husband called the dispatch & they sent several guards to help us. When confronted, the guy said he thought I was a friend & wanted to make sure I got home ok. What didn't make sense was that when he saw I wasn't her, why didn't he just leave.....He still wouldn't leave & got into a fight with one of the guards & they sprayed him with pepper spray. Finally the sherriff came & found some drug stuff in his car....found out he had just gotten out of jail 2 days before & is listening to him, he sounded like he possibly was mentally ill. & probably on drugs too. Telling the sherriff that the Viet Nam war was because of him & all kinds of strange dilusional statements....bizzar.

After that, I wouldn't go out of the house at night for several years...until I finally started getting a bit braver....but I'm still don't feel safe out at night alone....don't think I ever will again.

Sounds like joining the orchestra at the university is the best idea....getting to know other musicians at your school would be a wonderful thing too. The university I went to had all kinds of music groups to join including chamber groups....that was were I first got involved in chamber music. Then later, I found a flute orchestra in the city where I lived in California . That was fun....we played at the local music center & then for Christmas tree lightings & at the mall. I am hoping to find a group to play my flute with in Kentucky. They have a wonderful music program at the college in the town next to where I live. I have already talked with them, but will get in touch seriously when I get settled. I have always played at churches & with choirs. I only got my AA in music....then I decided to major in something that I could earn a living with....but I continued music as my hoby for the rest of my life. Music is a wonderful way to express yourself....I find it very relaxing...more now that I'm not forcing myself to practice 8 hours a day.

Hope your audition goes well.
Debbie