Just this past Monday, I stopped into the Valdese Community Center to see if there was anything I could become involved with. I was looking for something like Art lessons, Couples dancing lessons, etc.
I asked the nice lady behind the counter if I could be put on the open auditions list to try out for any upcoming plays or musicals. To my surprise, they were in the process of putting together "It's a Wonderful Life" for Christmas. She asked if I could come back at 7:00 PM to audition.
Ted was having to work so I took the boys with me. Most of the parts had been assigned but there were a few left. I auditioned for the part of Miss Carter, the bank examiner and got it. The director asked if there were any young men that would like to audition. A boy of about 9 or 10 raised his hand and went up to audition for the part of young George Bailey. Blaine suddenly decided he wanted to try out. Now, this is a boy who is so incredibly shy that he won't even stand and say a few lines in the Primary Program every year or give a talk in Primary. I was stunned that he was even interested.
He wanted me to raise my hand to tell the director but I said that was up to him. He was called upon and stood up to go up on the stage and froze. He looked at me as if to question what he was just about to do. I simply told him he could do it. The director noticed his hesitancy and said, "Son, you'll do just fine."
He went up on stage and did an excellent job. I couldn't believe it! When he sat down next to me, he was so excited he couldn't wait to hear if he got the part. The director continued to ask him to read the part and sent us both home with a play book. I, on one hand was thinking, what have I gotten myself into? I haven't done any acting in such a long time. Now, I have to memorize lines, blah, blah, blah, but the excitement I felt for my little boy was so overwhelming.
Maybe, just maybe, he is beginning to come out of his shell. How can I not participate in this? Mom and son, in a play together. How cool is that?
On another note, I traveled to Cookeville, TN last weekend. Brent and Dana are getting ready to move and were in great need of the boxes I took with me on my move to NC. To top it off, Lezlea, needed me to get the rest of my junk out of her house.
I went without the boys because their father was in NC visiting them and Ted had Coast Guard. While there, we had a small reunion with "the Band."
Band members Steve Sliger, Melissa Brothers and Brent Archer were present.
In addition, our family had a night of Jack-o-Lantern carving. The boys had a blast!
This coming weekend 3 of Ted's kids are coming to stay with us for the weekend. It's Ted's birthday and we are going to have a big family photo taken. I am excited to take pictures and post of them. They are such great young women and young man!
