Coming back to Chicago for a very fast weekend was so worth it. Shawn ran to me at the airport, Bubbe and Aunt Chike hosted me on Saturday morning, M & D really helped me out, friends met me for Mexican food at Salsa 17, and Rachel and Dan hosted dessert Saturday night. At the Chicagoland Showcase, I got to enjoy a huge hello and walks across the room to give me hugs. A few parents were amazed I came all that way, but the question wasn't should I go -- the question quickly became how could I not go? It's funny how no kids expressed the same thing. A delightful surprise was Darlene having put a thank you to me in the program, which then gets announced before the show, unnecessarily giving me credit for setting up the organization to run smoothly in my absence and for designing this year's fun show. Awwww. After watching the show -- which was really very good -- I enjoyed spending time with primarily the eighth graders. They're a special group who I've come to adore over the past couple of years.
In the homeroom after the show I spoke with the ensemble. Little Red Riding Hood went through the forest to Grandmother's house, but that wasn't intended to be the end of the story. Life is a journey, not a destination, and you're here with some of the people who you care about the most. But she encounters the Big Bad Wolf-- that guy who can kick you when you're down, those people who only criticize you for being onstage, or even yourself if you focus on that one mistake you made. But there's also a basket of goodies-- a retirement home performance, competitions...
The Colombian flag has three stripes: blue, red, and gold. The blue is for the Carribean Sea on the Atlantic side and the Pacific Ocean to the west. For you, it's the sweat put in at rehearsals. The red is blood from the war for independence from Spain two hundred years ago, but it can also symbolize blood relationships -- family, a.k.a. your show choir family. The gold is actually for gold, but are you in show choir for the money? ("I wish!" someone called out from the back.) Not only are you not getting money, your parents are thinking, "We had to PAY money!" So why are you here? What are you in it for? "Performing," a girl answered. Exactly. So it's the sweat, the family, and the performing... and with that I handed them each yarn bracelets to wear (manillas).
It was even better in person than in words. P.S. The judges placed them in 5th, 4th, and 2nd. It was only one-half point away from a trophy. When I shared that with the parent president she replied, "But our favorite judge YOU YOU YOU were there. And we were so so so so happy about that."
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