Sunday, November 1, 2009

Cats and parents: Daily Gratitude 1

Every November I look on in horror as bloggers all around me sign on for this whole posting every day craziness that is NaBloPoMo. Because every year I seem to be up to my neck in rehearsals and/or performances for something and I know my reader is about to explode.

This year is no exception.

And so it is that I cannot believe that I've just felt the urge to TRY.... to TRY to do it myself.

The first 15 days of November promise to be insane. Insane.

But for that very reason it seems to me that it might be a good discipline to post something that I am grateful for every day. Even if it's just a few words. So I'm gonna give it a shot. For me.

Ack.

Today I'm feeling very grateful for parents who took me to plays as a child. This afternoon I took The May Queen to see Cats... it's the triumphant return of Broadway touring shows to NOLA after Katrina wiped out all our big theatres. I first saw Cats when I was 11 or 12. I remember my mother reading us the T.S. Eliot poems the show is based on from a library book as we drove to the theatre. I remember the thrill of intricate set (the May Queen and I peered at it through binoculars and challenged each other to find certain details - "do you see the paintbrush?" - before the show), the incredible dancing, the cat that prowled so near to us in aisle. When the lights dimmed and the orchestra began today I felt that same rush I felt as a child.

I watch any show now with different eyes... trained eyes, experienced eyes. I look for what works and what doesn't... and why. But there's no denying that inside... my heart was leaping and spinning, just like the dancers on that stage. Just like it did when I first saw it. BECAUSE it did when I first saw it.

Because I had parents who took me to see it.

(and I am grateful that I have until tomorrow to come up with a Monday Mission... because even though I usually get the ball rolling on Sunday night... I am coming up dry at the moment)

10 comments:

S said...

I adored Cats.

Jen said...

Believe it or not, I've never seen CATS. I'm also grateful for parents who took me to plays, ballet, modern dance, concerts. All a part of my very rich childhood. There were all these "rehearsal" deals available for families growing up in NYC back then and all the museums were FREE. It was way cool.

I am emphatically NOT doing NABLOPOMO or NANOWRIMO. I'll do well to post or write anything this month.

Good luck, though! I've done both other years and enjoyed them.

Kat said...

I too am grateful for parents who took me to shows. :)
Cats is one show I just could never get into. Not sure why. Hmm.

kayerj said...

what a nice memory, and nice parents. I'm glad you were able to take the MQ to see it. If I don't get back my MM is up.

Mary Beth said...

I've seen Cats a few times (the first time we were close enough that one of the cats came out from under my sister's chair!) and would go back to see it in a minute.

My parents took us to all types of shows from the time we were old enough to sit still through a performance. We thank them by taking them to see shows whenever we can:)

alejna said...

Oh, yay! I'm glad you're going to give NaBloPoMo a shot. And I love your plan for posts.

I never knew that Cats was based on T.S. Eliot poems. Cool.

thailandchani said...

Love the music from Cats. :)

I can't imagine doing NABLOPOMO but will be glad to see something from you daily.




~*

Louise said...

I pledge to never do NaBloPoMo or whatever it is! EVER!

What a nice thing to be grateful for! I am grateful for the same thing. I only went to a very few in my elementary days, but by the time I hit high school, my interest was high, and my mom would plan summers for she and I to go to plays and especially the opera. And when we visited New York the first time (Thanksgiving, my junior year in college),Cats was a surprise for me. I've seen it once traveling since, but all of that has certainly made me appreciate the theater and long for it.

imbeingheldhostage said...

I'm so proud of you for jumping on the crazy wagon. I actually had you in mind when I made the disclaimer that people should erase me from their readers now :-)

This is fun. Just keep telling yourself that.

Kyla said...

That is great. I've only ever been to see The Civil War...and the Nutcracker, though that counts as a ballet.