I stopped back the following week to talk with Wayne. I was his excuse for stopping lawn work for a little while. Just reminded me how much I love my new life style.
The week included seeing my Goddaughter, Erin for the last time before her 21st Birthday. She's too grown up to suit me now. It'll really be hard to see her next spring after her birthday. I didn't get to go to this Christmas Party, but it's the most recent picture of her I have
I invited some friends to join me at the "Holiday Pops Spectacular" with the Roanoke Symphony, Salem Choral Society, Roanoke College Children's Choir and UNA Dance Theater. Becky Kiser and her daughter Alex, and Carol Wheeler were to be my guests. Carol and I got to the Civic Center early. I was very sorry to receive a phone call from Becky, about 30 minutes before curtain to tell me that both she and Alex were sick and couldn't come. That nasty winter "thing" that was going around had hit both of them at the same time.
I just couldn't stand to waste two tickets so I went to a couple waiting in line to get to a ticket window. When I asked if they were waiting to buy tickets or were they in the "will call" line, the lady said, "We're waiting to buy tickets. The show is almost sold out, so I know they'll be way in the back but my husband was out of town and we weren't sure he'd be back in time so I didn't buy them in advance."
I said, "Well, here are tickets for two really good seats. Enjoy - and Merry Christmas." When they sat down next to us and we started talking we discovered that she had been a substitute teacher and knew all three of my kids. It really is a small world, especially in a town the size of Salem !
I had friends in every one of the performing groups but I especially wanted to see Maria Jessee dance. She's the young lady I talked about in my October 10th blog. It was a major "inbetween" just learning that she was dancing. When I had talked with her in October she told me she was dancing in The Nutcracker but the performance was after I'd be gone. So I didn't think I'd get to see her dance again this trip. But I saw Unurbat Gunaajav, the director of UNA Dance Theater in the grocery store and asked him what they were doing for Christmas. He told me that they were dancing with the Roanoke Symphony. Even though Maria was dancing with another group, he said that he had asked her to dance for him as well. She agreed. Oh, and the only reason I saw Unur was that I had forgotten something and had to make a second trip to Kroger's. AND it would be the first time I'd get to see Maria "en pointe."
The concert was great and the dancing was exquisite. Thanks to the wonders of cell phones, Maria's mother was able to direct me to the "stage door" after the performance so I could give Maria roses
I haven't seen them at Church because they've been going to the Saturday evening Mass so it was great so talk with the whole family, even for a short time.One more performance before I headed south - Emily Milan (see Dec 13th blog) was performing in "A Christmas Story" at the "Showtimers" theater. Emily is on the far right on the poster. And, again "Tinkerbell Jerusalem" came through. All performances were sold out and with little-to-no encouragement they put my name on the waiting list for cancellations. The day before the performance I got a call - one ticket available. Funny, funny show. When I went back stage to see Emily, I also saw Jane Brill, the Director. She was Tom's English teacher at Salem High. I DID say that Salem was a "small world" didn't I?
I'm so Blessed to have so many incredible young people in my life. It's hard to leave them, but after a couple of days running errands it was time to head south. Email and cell phones do keep us all in touch. And I'll be back next year to see them again.
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