Hello, Dearie!

So here it is. The blog that I've been encouraged to create. Hello!  I have no clear idea of where I want to take this. I do like the idea of having my own little soapbox. I often have thoughts that begin "I wish I could just tell people that ....." But nothing is coming to me at the moment.

So, has anyone heard any good jokes lately?

Actually, this is reminding me of time in college. I was a theater major (but I spelled it "theatre" at the time), with an emphasis on acting. The roles that I preferred tended to be comedic. I was definitely not a musical theater person, but I was envious of those who were. I have mixed feelings about musical theater. I find it so cheesy -- and yet a good ensemble performance can actually evoke an unexpected tear from me. Something about good choreography and people unafraid to belt out a goofy song feels cathartic to me. (I assume many people feel the same way, thus the popularity of Glee, which I was sure I was going to dislike. I watch it for Sue, but I don't exactly turn it off when the numbers start.) Anyhow, I took a musical theater class in college. The only musical that I had ever been in was a children's theater production where I played the tortoise in The Tortoise and the Hare. I sang and danced but in my mind it didn't count. The other students in my class were mostly girls and were the big names in the theater department at my school. The ones who were automatically cast in every show and who seemed to live to sing and dance for an audience. I was sure that these girls felt disdain for me as much as I was envious of them. I dreaded that class. I especially dreaded one of our first assignments -- to rehearse a singing audition. I had not yet sung in front of this class. We had an assignment where we were to bring in a piece of music and properly hand it to a piano player, introduce ourselves (no up-speak!), introduce the number, nod our head to piano player to begin and then sing. Even as I am writing these words I can feel my stomach drop the same way it did when I heard the first note of So Long Dearie from Hello Dolly being played on the piano. But at that time, tears came to my eyes and I stood there -- not able to choke out one lyric.

Well, I'm not crying right now, but I do feel a bit vulnerable knowing that I'm about to publish this for anyone who happens to google the words "no up-speak!" to read.

Anyhow, despite my protests, I was asked to start over. My cheeks still burned, but I sang really well. And I got a standing ovation from the musical theater girls who ended up becoming my friends.