Friday night I spent some girl time with my Faith as we ventured out to Ellisville School's Variety Show, presented up at Lafayette High School, where over 100 students showed their stuff, painting on smiles and eagerly flaunting their talents. It's quite a professional event, and many people packed the audience, most waiting for loved ones to show their talent, but also those of us who were there for the fun of it. I was still battling this cold of mine, and for a brief moment I envisioned myself in a warm, cozy blanket, but I had promised Faith we would go. We parents do that, don't we? We want to make those memories, and tonight we did. She was so looking forward to watching her peers perform so off we went, my kleenexes and all. My boys and Marty had other commitments as Eric was transported from a Confirmation group activity to his band practice, getting ready for his jam session at a local eatery tomorrow night.
While I do enjoy precious portrayals of young talent; my body was more in the mood for a warm bed, sipping on a cup of hot tea versus listening to the childish screams supporting their friends in the school talent show. I heard the same popular songs resonating over and over again, until what used to be playful, enjoyable songs had become "not again!" (atleast for me) It made me smile, though, watching these young hearts up on stage while all of us cheered. It was impressive watching ones so young belting out tunes, playing their musical instruments or singing a favorite song. I was amazed by the undying enthusiasm and courage of all who went on stage, mistakes and all. I nudged Faith a few times and asked her if this was something that she would do, and her quick reply was, "No way!" Given her personality, I was surprised by her response. By the end of the evening, though, I think I had her thinking about the MC part. Once you're a 5th grader, you can try out for the MC part, and I could see the wheels spinning in her head. In fact, there were about 10 MC's speaking throughout the night, reading the cute jokes that were written for them. One of these young people happened to be an "IT" guy, athletic type, and he had his fan club there supporting him. Every time this MC stepped out, kids in the crowd yelled and chanted his name. The first few times were funny, but then it actually became annoying. It was so annyoying that my Faith yelled out, "He's just a BOY!" So much like her mother, it's scary.
As I found myself lost in the moment, Faith nuzzled up against me. I remember going on stage with my brother and sisters, usually performing on Mother's Day or Father's Day. Our relatives would gather for a BBQ, and Deni and Sue would create performances, and we would practice for our big debut. Of course, Deni, our future star, would play the guitar and sing like she was this cool and collected professional. There might have been a poem or two read; I'm not sure about that one, but it seems familiar. I vividly remember performing a back and forth "joke" routine where I was a barking dog answering questions from my brother, the trainer. I can picture our basement in the house where we lived, and I know Chrissy had to be a baby or perhaps not yet born, on some of those occasions, because I was only 4 years old or so. The colors of our basement are so clear in my mind; the wood paneling and I even remember the white with swirly brown basement floor, and I strain to see all the faces of my family as they smile and clap.....my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, Chrissy......all of them who have passed on to their new life. I feel myself yearning to recall their faces, like flipping the pages of a photo album, staring and running my fingers across their faces as if they could jump off the page and embrace me. Tonight, as I joined in the cheers of the Ellisville crowd, those memories replayed: sisters and a brother going on stage.
"Photos wear and tear and get lost, but memories are but a blink away"
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