23/365 A Hug

The parking lot is full, the lobby crowded, and there’s a feeling in the air. Jonathan’s given up his one Broadway day off to do a benefit cabaret for our theatre. Yesterday was his 22nd birthday. Success has come early for him. Success hasn’t removed any of the kindness that fills his soul. As he sings, his talent amazes, his smile warms. Jonathan gives us a hug.


Jonathan is currently in 'Spring Awakening'.

22/365 Suitcases

The Chicken Ranch girls need suitcases. A 1957 Samsonite is too nice but I remember it as a graduation gift. “It’ll last forever,” Dad said. It looks darn good after fifty years. An oversized tapestry case reminds me of Cannes. The gleam of saddle soap clings to a monogrammed leather case – a young bride’s wedding gift to her husband. I’m treading memories in a sea of luggage.

21/365 Just So Stories

The giggles crescendo. I know there are only eight teens in the theater but it sounds like a symphonic performance – full and sweet. Tonight is first costume and press photo. They’re excited. They dress in Victorian finery and pull out props. The photographer poses them holding a blanket river and having a tug-of-war with the elephant’s nose. He takes a long series of shots. Kipling nods approval.

20/365 Wednesday

When my daughters ask, will I tell them I drove around looking for him or that I walked, arms at my side, waiting for his hand to take mine? Will I say I hired a band to parade down Main St. playing something Stan Kentonesque to celebrate his smile? No, I’ll say I took roses from his girls and whispered, “We miss you” to the cemetery air.

19/365 The Angelettes

He hands them to me two at a time. I hold them carefully. They’ll have another life, I think to myself. There are seven of them. There should be eight but one strayed. We load them into my car. Their headlight reflector breasts point skyward. I drive the speed limit back to the theater, unload them and cross off lifesized cheerleader puppets from the " …Whorehouse…”prop list.

18/365 Skewed Hearing

Willie Loman said, “Attention must be paid.” I didn’t pay attention to Willie. When the girls were growing up, I misheard lyrics regularly. Boy George’s, 'I'll Tumble For You' became 'I’ll Call My Lawyer'. 'Go Ahead and Jump' was 'My Friend Joe'. Yesterday, I listened to an interview on NPR. I thought the songwriter was about to sing, 'Rabbit Ears'. The actual title was 'Gravity'. Sorry, Willie.

17/365 Diet

I don’t own a scale. I depend on my jeans to tell me if I’ve gained weight. They tell me, “Yes.” After the last snowstorm, I cooked, baked, ate. It was time to cut back. I went to the grocery for vegetables and met Girl Scouts – selling cookies. I bought one box; put them in the freezer. Diet Jello tastes much better with a frozen cookie chaser.