Clara sat in an aisle seat at the performance hall of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance, smiling at us, holding her sheet music, because she would lead off the evening's program. Relaxed, she happily chatted with her mother, brother, sister-in-law, one niece and our adult children. Clara was about to walk onto a stage for the first time in decades and perform, but looked as if she had not a care in the world. I, on the other hand, was terrified.