An Explanation

Yesterday's post may have seemed out of the blue, though auditioning for our local theater production of Jesus Christ, Superstar is something I'd been considering for months.  What with everything that's been happening health-wise in this house, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to manage it. Yet despite frayed nerves and that darn, lingering head cold, I worked up my courage and gave it a shot.

It was definitely one of the most terrifying experiences of my life!  And that includes accumulated hours of hard pitocin- accelerated labor.

But after all these years of shuttling the Critters back & forth to auditions and play practices, I realized that I really miss being onstage myself.  Narcissistic, you say?  Or perhaps a midlife crisis?  Maybe both.  Or maybe girls just wanna have fun, even fifty year old ones.

The last time I auditioned for anything I was a confident young college student with a drama scholarship, young being the operative word in that statement.  I wouldn't exactly be auditioning for the same roles these days.  But that's the great thing about community theater.  If this were The Sound of Music you might see a cast with a fifty year old Maria to a seventeen year old Captain.  (Can't tell you how badly I wanted to trip the leading lady and belt out a verse of title song when the Critters performed it in children's theater this summer! Ah, for the glory days!  It would've worked that Third Child & Sweetie Petite-y were Von Trapp children, but since Only Son was cast as the Captain, I refrained.)

The only real role for a woman in this upcoming production is Mary Magdalene, so I went for it.  Me and every other woman who wasn't shootin' for Judas.  It's been even longer since I last saw this show than since I had no stretch marks...so I was a little fuzzy on the lyrics.  In fact, some of the music I would swear I've never heard before.  But there I was, up on that stage with all the other Mary wanna-bes not knowing how to love my little heart out.

And yes, it was scary, but it was also a blast.  No matter what happens, I'm glad I did it.

And in the meantime, I'm living the role of a lifetime.  My audience may not always be appreciative - yet.  But I'm hoping for a standing ovation by the time they have families of their own.



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This just in: before I'd even finished spell-checking I got a call from the director.  But.... I think I'll make you wait till next post.......

The Audition

*to be sung to the tune of "I Don't Know How to Love Him"




I don't know how to do this.
I don't know what I'm doing
On this stage, here on this stage
It's been thirty years, well - give or take,
Since I got up the nerve.

I don't know how to sing this.
What if I mess up the lyrics?
It's just a song, a pretty song,
And I've sung so many songs before
But always ones I knew.

Okay, here goes.

Oops, I started high-
Did I stop too soon?
Is my voice too soft?
Should I belt or croon?
I never knew I'd shake like this
Feeling like I'll swoon.

Don't you think it's rather awkward
All these other people waiting
For their turn to come on stage
And try their best, but do their worst
But I did my worst first
It scared me so.

I really thought I'd pee my pants
Right up on that stage!

But if they say they want me,
I'll be back here in a heartbeat
It's been so long, yes, much too long.
And I want the part... heck! Any part-
Please, I don't want to go.
I've missed it so.
I want it so.
I love it so.

Febluary

Nope, not  a misspelling.  Febluary just seemed more witty than February Blues.

I've been sitting here tossing around ideas for this post, but nothing seems to click.  Ever have times like that?  You want to share something meaningful, something that not only resonates with you, but will hopefully touch other hearts (or at least tickle funny bones), and you can't seem to settle on what that should be.

It's not due to an appalling lack of material --- on the contrary, everyday life is simply overflowing with it.  I usually spark on a title idea, and - BLAM!  The post practically writes itself.  But occasionally it is a struggle. 

Here we are more than halfway thru this month.  The groundhog has spoken - or at least, it's shadow has.  Throats were blessed and ashes have marked us.  Hearts have been wooed, won and/or broken.  Presidents past are soon to be honored.  And don't forget the Critters' winter break!  A lot happens in February considering how length of days-challenged it is. And, not to go there again, but throw in cold and flu season on top of everything else and this month is overwhelmingly full.



And more than a little boring....



Not that prognosticating rodents, rites of sacrifice, romance, and truthful politicians with wooden dentures aren't interesting.  (I'm not so thrilled about stuffy heads and body aches, and frankly think sandwiching in a winter break between Christmas Break and Spring Break is overkill.)  But the constant gray skies and muddied snowbanks of February...um....excuse me, Febluary sure make this month seem like the longest of the year.




Good thing you've got me to entertain you.....





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Yep.... it's a long, long month.