An unpleasant event this week reminded me of an inherent truth I discovered growing up, but hadn’t consciously thought about for some time. People usually don’t take these truths out and examine them often, until some reinforcing insight brings it back to the foreground, as it did for me this week.

The memory still seems so strong when I think back to my tender, teen years when my mother didn’t drive, and my dad, as a salaried engineer, was always on call, often working extended, harried hours. Delegated to the esteemed responsibility of chauffeur, I headed to pick up my oldest brother and neighbor from football practice, when another car, leaning left of center, came toward us, hogging his share of a narrow, county bridge. Being relatively inexperienced as a driver, I, rather than coming to a complete stop before crossing the bridge and allowing him to go first, had the scary, split-second choice of hitting the concrete bridge abutment or the oncoming car – I chose the side of the creek bridge.

No one was hurt, except my car, thank goodness, but I can remember the moment of truth that dawned on me after a kind person living in the vicinity called the sheriff and my parents. I knew with certainty that even if I might have wrecked the car, and my dad might not be exactly pleased (understatement!), that he would automatically come to my aid no matter where I was or what had happened. One of those “aha” moments anchored itself in my brain at that point – no matter what occasional, silly things or illogical choices and mistakes I made, my parents (and family and true friends) would still love me.

It’s a wonderful feeling in this world to know that despite any imperfections (mine are very slight, of course!), there are people out there who will still love other people, despite their imperfections, for simply being themselves. I also think this is how God views us, and I certainly know this is how I feel about my own children, family, and friends. None of us are perfect, but acceptance is part of love.

What I wonder, however, is how many mishaps does it take to “blot your copybook”? Is there a certain number or limit? All I know is my parents must be saints!
 

fter five performances, the play is over and it's always a sad time for me. As Shakespeare said, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." The character lives inside you so long that you know what that particular character would say or do in almost any situation. During a show, it's very easy to flip in and out of character at the drop of a hat. It's kind of a weird thing, I suppose. I know there are always other shows that come along, but I still feel bereft when a show is finally finished and the character, who has been such a big part of me for weeks, finally dissipates into the faded memories of my mind.

The happy news, of course, is that it's the long Memorial Day Weekend, which means I only have one week left to work at school before the summer break shines before me! Hallelujah! Rejoice! Summer is almost upon us!

Summer is the most glorious time of year!!! I actually have time to indulge myself and read books! Yippee! Summer is also the time for day trips of all sorts, travelling, picnics, backyard croquet, swimming, summer evenings lying on a blanket and gazing at the stars, marvelling at the beauty of fireflies blinking, strawberries and raspberries, lemonade on a hot day, lots of sunshine, time to actually clean and organize, fishing on a lazy, summer evening, time to spend in the kitchen baking and cooking, the county fair, outdoor band concerts, bike rides, warm summer rain kissing my face, beautiful flowers everywhere, making love outside (not that I have anyone special with whom to indulge), napping in the hammock, taking the tent out with camp fires, friendship, and pie iron cooking, building sand castles at the beach, staying up now and then to watch Jay Leno's Monologue,walking in the early morning crispness, backyard barbecues, 4th of July fireworks, spitting watermelon seeds off the porch, .......ah, the list is almost endless....... Summertime.......the most beautiful time of the year!
 

t's all about the theatre tonight. Rehearsals for The Cemetery Club are going well and I have the first act lines and blocking down. I sometimes have trouble switching, however, from the older Jewish widow that I am at night at the theatre to the slightly off-the-wall English teacher I am by day -- LOL! Yes, things are heating up!

Signs You've Been in the Theatre Too Much --

Your weekend consists of Monday, and only Monday

You insist on spelling "theatre" with an "re" not an "er".

You can't remember what daylight looks like.

You start wondering what it feels like to be a prop.

You can only read from a light that is blue.

Instead of saying that you're leaving, you say you're "exiting."

At home, you "strike" your dishes to the kitchen.

-- from satheatre.com

Theatrical Terms:

Eternity - The time that passes between a dropped cue and the next line.

Prop - 1. A hand-carried object small enough to be lost by an actor shortly before it's needed on stage. 2. Anything that gets in the way of a scene change.
Director:

Leaps Short Buildings In A Single Bound

Is More Powerful Than A Switch Engine

Is Just As Fast As A Speeding Bullet

Walks On Water If The Sea Is Calm

Talks With God

Actor:

Makes High Marks On The Wall When Trying To Leap Buildings

Is Run Over By Locomotives

Can Sometimes Handle A Gun Without Inflicting Self-Injury

Dog Paddles

Talks To Animals

Stage Manager:

Lifts Buildings And Walks Under Them

Kicks Locomotives Off The Track

Catches Speeding Bullets In Teeth And Eats Them

Freezes Water With A Single Glance

Is GOD
Band:

Runs Into Buildings

Recognizes Locomotives Two Out Of Three Times

Is Not Issued Ammunition

Can Stay Afloat With A Life Preserver

Talks To Walls

-- from http://www.satheatre.com/otherstuff/quotes.htm

Great Theatre Quotes I Like:

"All the world's a stage and the men and women on it merely players." ~Shakespeare

Do not be full of yourself, but be full of your part." Boucicault

"Acting isn't really a creative profession. It's an interpretive one." ~Paul Newman

An actor is part illusionist, part artist, part ham." ~Oscar Wilde

"We live in what is, but we find a thousand ways not to face it. Great theatre strengthens our faculty to face it." ~Thornton Wilder, 1958

"You need three things in the theatre -- the play, the actors and the audience, and each must give something." ~Kenneth Haigh, 1958
 

Yippee!!!!! Auditions for The Cemetery Club were moved up as the theatre is getting a new furnace put in next week, and I'm playing the part of Doris. We had the read-through last night. I love the show. It's well-written, touching, humorous, delightful, and yet makes you think. I'm already working on lines. Let's hope the rehearsal schedule coupled with work and everything else doesn't drive me too insane :)

And, the other good news today -- I don't have to pay taxes -- I actually get a little money back!!!! Yea!!!! Paying at tax time bites and I was really worried. This is definitely a relief :)
 

Auditions for "The Cemetery Club" are coming up March 19 and 20 -- Yippee!!! Wish me luck in landing a role :)