
We, with about 600 other Hale Centre Theatre goers, found ourselves in the light and in the dark; in the light because the house lights were on in the middle of the show and in the dark because we had no idea why.
Hale Centre Theatre crowds are generally friends and matinee crowds are generally elderly and friendly. All of us sat, generally quietly, patiently awaiting the resolution of the “technical difficulty”, whatever it was. All of us, that is, except Grace. A few minutes into our wait she suggested to her father that they start The Wave. She asked the right person—one of the things I adore about Lance is that he is game; nothing embarrasses him.
[NOTE: Hale Centre Theatre in a theater-in-the-round; its 613 seats circle the center stage.]
They recruited Miles and Cooper. I agreed to participate as well, though very half-heartedly. (Maybe only quarter-heartedly….). Tanah told them, emphatically, “No”. Grace rose and waved, as did Lance and I raised my hands. Miles and Cooper rose and waved as well….and The Wave died there. Not to be deterred, Grace and Lance rose and waved several more times. After three half-hearted attempts, I went back to my book. Grace and Lance did not go back to their books. Nor did they go back on their goal. Rise and wave and wait….rise and wave and wait…….again….and again…..and again.
After six or seven attempts, one person to the side of us rose and waved….and someone directly across from us did the same thing. Encouraged, Grace and Lance rose and waved again. A few more people joined in, including a significant number of people sitting behind us, who saw and supported our efforts. (I say “our” efforts because, by this time, I had put my book down and was an eager participant, as was Tanah.) The Wave rippled weakly around the theater. More people joined….and more….Momentum built….. and The Wave was on! It circled the theater several times, with nearly 100% participation and in full audio. “Wheee” we roared as we rose and waved.
The show, “Ghost”, was fabulous—great acting, great message, a great story that elicited a full range of emotions—and we’ll remember it for a long time. Better than the show, though, was the fact that Grace successfully started The Wave—we’ll remember that for a much longer time.
The right to tell some stories requires people to rise from their seats, other stories require people to rise from their beds… Paula, a kindred spirit of mine, texted me about a story-creating opportunity in Roy. Get Air, a local trampoline park, was unveiling its new Ninja Obstacle Course and the first 100 people there would get in free. Doors opened at 5:00 a.m. Grace, Miles and I were the 16-18th people there. Miles loves trampolines, I love stories and Grace loves both.
Grace also loves having her cast off (YEA!) and Miles loves his new haircut. Months ago Miles told me I was no longer allowed to cut his hair. [Chick was in high school before he fired me as his stylist.] Miles’ hair got so long that Elder Hislop (Chick) did not recognize him in photos. Wednesday he got a haircut and now I almost do not recognize him.
I applaud haircuts (even when I have to pay for them). I also applaud spring. YEA and YEA for longer, warmer days!! My toes are free and happy again—toes were never meant to be enclosed—and my garden is growing as are our lambs. Onions, peas, spinach, carrots, lettuce, and beets are planted; grapes, berries and fruit trees are pruned—I’ll be posting pictures of protruding plants soon. (I hope!)
Stories, stories, stories………… Life is the stories you can tell. The stories I can tell are good, not Earth shaking, but good. So is my life, not Earth shaking, but good. Very, VERY good. Thank you, God, for a good—very, VERY good—life.
Love,
Teresa