First, a little backstory: I’ve talked about high school a fair amount in this blog. (It was the best of times, after all.) When I was in high school, one of the many things I loved about it, was that it was set up as basically a theater job for me.
I ran of errands, hung lights, and generally did everything I could to help (which benefited me as well, since I was constantly learning and growing).
In the end, it seemed as though whenever it needed be, it would just be me and B programming lights (or fixing fake pianos, or whatever else needed to be done) at 3 or 4am. (As I said, it was really the best of times.)
I saw the way my work helped the shows, and I saw it very soon after the work was completed. We were averaging more than a show a month, so we never had to wait very long lot see the rewards of our labor.
I felt like I was really helping something bigger than me (our great program), and in high school, I didn’t have to worry about anything else!
I didn’t have bills to pay, or roommates to deal with, or jobs to constantly find. I didn’t have a social media presence to worry about. While twitter existed, it certainly wasn’t on my radar yet.
It was really simple and incredibly fun, and I could just totally focus on my own tiny corner of the world (and act as though the whole world revolved around it, since my world did).
I could be completely focused and committed to one thing. It was brilliant, wonderful, and easily one of the best, if not the best, year(s) of my life.
So, as you know, last week I was visiting Ohio. I called B to ask if she wanted to do something with me for my birthday. Unfortunately, she was completely booked for the whole day. However, she invited me to a reading she was doing the next night.
I went, of course. (She’s incredibly talented, and I’d jump at any chance to see her onstage.)
After the show, she asked if I wanted to come over and hang out for a while. (She lives right down the street.)
As we were hanging out at her house, she had photos out from her years of teaching (since she was prepping for decorating the arts center for her party).
(Here I have a little side story, which I will tell soon.)
Anyway, as she looked around at so much from 40 years of teaching, it was clear there was a lot that was going to be needed to be done.
I practically begged her to let me help! “Please, it’ll be just like old time’s sake. I’m here through Saturday basically just for you anyway. Let me help.”
She seemed to have kind of an “eh” feeling about it in the moment (while still appreciating the offer), saying she thought she had enough help, but would call if she needed more.
I got a call about an hour later saying her daughter got stuck in California, and she’d love if I could come in after all the next day.
I leapt at the chance, and the next day dutifully reported to the performing arts center where her party was being held.
Tomorrow, I’ll continue with the story of setting up for the party.