It's that time of year again! School plays! I just love watching my son work through the ups and downs of rehearsals, wardrobe fittings, and the chaotic adventure of working with 30+ other middle schoolers to put out something they can be proud of...but they did it. They REALLY did it.
I had the priviledge to watch most of these beautiful children in last year's production of "The Phantom Tollbooth" and they blew me away then. This year, I decided I needed more. More time to chat with parents, to watch the audience, to marvel at the kids. And so I had the pleasure of selling tickets to excited friends and family on Thursday evening with Rory's gracious mother, Yvonne, and then going backstage Friday to watch over this "contained chaos" with Duggan's vigilant father, Sean. And he was the vigilant one because I wondered around shamelessly taking photos and desperately trying to stay out of the way.
But oh, did I enjoy it! These children of ours...are truly marvelous. Don't get me wrong - they are still the ever so annoying, curfew-pushing, chore avoiding, obnoxious loving crowd of teenagers we have found ourselves living with. But to see the glimpses of what is to come - compassionate, dedicated, responsible, perceptive, thoughtful...that is a real joy to watch. I already knew how proud I was of my son but I had no idea that, by the end of the evening, I would be proud of them all...and I haven't even seen it yet!
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And to our awe-inspiring, Mrs. Lovato...I don't know how you do it! Teacher, Counselor, Director, Herdswoman, Cheerleader...it made me tired just watching you. (Though I now know it is a family affair - let's hear it for Mom, Dad, and Hubby!)
So come and join me at tonight's final performance of Oliver Twist! Starts at 7:00pm.