I shouldn't be anywhere near a blog, let alone a word processing program, typewriter or even a pen and paper right now. Let me explain. First, it has been more than 24 hours since I last slept. Second, I just went on one of those crazy jags at the grocery store where I buy so much stuff I leave a trail behind me as I try to push and shove my cart to my car. Then I did the same thing at the drug store. Good thing Costco isn't open yet. Finally, and this is why I have not slept- we went to see "Wicked" at The Pantages last night in Hollywood. We occupied ourselves on the six-hour-there and then most of the six-hour-back drives with listening to one of the books I've recently been asked to review and Glee covers of, well, everything.
"Wicked" was amazing, fabulous, totally worth dropping Dean and the girls valet-style and then running down Hollywood Blvd. in 4 inch heels because we were running a bit late. I just made 'final call' and Dean was getting up to come and look for me(likely imagining I'd broken an ankle on the curb or the stairs) when I said very loudly over the crowd, "Don't you leave our children unattended!" and staggered the last few steps down to our astounding seats for the outstanding show.
The girls were absolutely enthralled and perfectly behaved and now I know we'll be watching the Wizard of Oz and listening to Wicked over and over again. Dean and I were pretty enthralled, as well. Sometimes I am so amazed at my husband who puts up with my bs. Who in the Bay Area drives to LA for dinner and a show on a Sunday night, stopping to take a little hike in the hills to be all touristy and get pictures in front of the Hollywood sign? Not the first time, either- we went to Universal City for the live Glee show last year. Anyhow, many kudos to my man for being up for my crazy adventures and even wearing a tie this time (it WAS the Pantages).
So, I drove us all the way home. In order to feel safe doing so, I drank a few Rockstars along the way and alot of diet coke. Egads! I already have a caffeine withdrawal headache and I'm still jittering and popping like a firecracker. Oh, and the having to pee every 15 minutes thing.
In other news, Viola had her first voice lesson with one of the SFGC instructors this past Saturday and it went very well. While we'd been writing her off as having a bad ear, it turns out that she has some issues with her chest voice and transitioning from chest to head and back and so forth. When she sings in the upper registers and stays in head voice, she has an absolutely beautiful voice. I am just so, so grateful that we've found someone who is willing to work with her and bring it out of her. I knew it was in there, darn it!! In the meantime, this vocal instructor is going to address her specific issues while giving her some things to sing that show off the best of her voice.
Sadly, Cousin Margaret, who lost her husband earlier this year in a car accident, lost her Dad right before Thanksgiving. The circumstances were much different as it had become apparent he was ill and had gone into hospice so everyone had their chance to say their say. Dean's parents had even come down in October and they rarely, if ever, travel anymore- so Dean's mom got to see her brother and I guess they even went bowling. Is it an up? Is it a down? I'm sad that Yo lost her brother and Margaret lost her father, her kids lost a grandparent- but how fortunate that everyone had their chance to say their goodbyes, say their last words. In my opinion, unfinished business, not being ready(I mean, when are you ever really ready?) just sucks.
Some people thought it not very humane of us that we let Phoebe live out her natural life. And it's true, she probably would have qualified to be put down, being a dog and all, a year or so before she actually went. But you know what? I feel good that we were like those crazy animal people you never thought you'd be and had our ancient 80lb dog and carried her out to the grass several times a day and made up a special bed in the laundry room with extra orthopedic padding and a heated blanket... she had alot of great moments in that last year and out of all the years of fun and joy and comfort she gave us, that was the very least we could do for her, even if it did involve doggy diapers with a special opening for the tail. I was with her at the end and gave her medicine to ease her way and everyone loved on her and it seemed a befitting death for a very grand, in my eyes, life.
Speaking of which, one time a couple of friends(of that time) and I were in LA and went horseback riding at a ranch in the hills. Two things I remember in stark detail: the blond strands of my friend's hair which were gloriously long swinging against her back and the horse as we cantered along the ridge in the early afternoon sun and the other thing being a sign(horse ranches tend to have lots of plaques and signs with cheesy sayings) that the three of us all commented on as being quite apropos for us. I looked it up later and believe it was the following or something close:
Life is not a journey to the grave
With the intention of
Arriving safely in a pretty
And well preserved body,
But rather to skid in broadside,
Thoroughly used up,
Totally worn out,
And loudly proclaiming,WOW !!!! What a ride!
Photos may be coming soon, if I get around to it.
How's your ride been so far? This week? This year? This decade? This day? Time just keeps marching on which is why I suppose it is ever so important to take a crazy drive, go on a crazy hike, see a crazy sunset, see a crazy show, take another crazy drive... even if it means missing a little school or something IMPORTANT like that. If your life and this world are your oysters, what pearls will you glean from them today?
Right now, me? I'm going to go snuggle up with mine and get a little shut eye before the next crazy adventure.
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