I guess the holidays bring up lots of emotions and thoughts for everyone. This week I have been thinking about a lot of different things. This week last year I was stretched almost to the breaking point. I was rehearsing my BFA project to get ready for the performances on Friday and Saturday. Stephonn, my partner in the project, and I went through every emotion in the book getting ready. We were at times frustrated, elated, angered and amused. We were so disappointed in some people and became so much closer to others. When all was said and done I think we both have lots of memories from the process. I got our yearbook from Montevallo a few weeks ago and there was a whole page devoted to our project TIMELINE, which made me very happy!
During that same week I had to finish my BFA book and present my directing scene all within a 24 hour span. That week was also when I had to audition for the spring shows at school- a monologue audition, seperate singing audition and a dance call. Three times I had to pull away from getting TIMELINE together and go try to audition. And in the midst of it, my sweet cat Newman became ill and died. Between classes, rehearsals, hanging lights and backdrops, auditioning and the emotions of losing a dear pal, plus trying to get ready for Christmas at our home, I was totally exhausted and ready to give up. But I didn’t. Although I felt very betrayed and alone at times, my pals in the show and the couple of people who helped us, kept me going.
A year later and I have graduated. I still have people who talk to me about TIMELINE. Stephonn and I keep in touch and he tells me what an impact that show had on him. It did on me too, but I think in a very different way. I am glad it bonded me to some great friends and people I will never forget both for good reasons and some not so good! The fact that the show made an impression on people and had meaning for so many means so much to me!
I am busy again, rehearsing another show but this time I don’t have to do it all, I only have to concentrate on my role as Mary in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And it is a wonderful life! I just decorated our Christmas tree. I always love pulling out the ornaments one by one, remembering the people who gave each one to us. Many of them came from my old friend Mr. Burgess who died on Thanksgiving so many years ago. Some are from neighbors from the old neighborhood. Lots of them are made by my son Jon. Some of them are kindergarten crafts and others have his childhood pictures in them. Baby’s first Christmas, souvenirs from all over the country and mementos from different events.Two pairs of baby socks hang from the tree and at the top this year I put a bird’s nest with a small cardinal in it, along with a wreath of a younger Jon’s tiny hand prints. I think of the people who have been a part of my life, my TIMELINE castmates, my friends who have passed away, the friends who have moved away and the people who make my present life so fulfilling.
What goes under the tree has never meant as much to me as all that goes on the tree. During Thanksgiving, while in Nashville shopping with my friend Stephen, we saw a tree that was “designed.” It was color coordinated and very spectacular. We stared at it for awhile and since we both love decorating we discussed how much we would love to have a tree like that. Stephen said that someday he would do that, buy ornaments that matched his decor and have a stunning tree. I did not say anything because I know that as long as I can muster the wherewithal to decorate a tree, my tree will hold all of the mismatched, oddball ornaments that bring back wonderful memories and make me feel closer to all of the people who have been a part of my life.
