WHEEEEE!!!!!!

Ah, this is the least horrified I've felt on an opening night in a long time. We are ready. R.E.A.D.Y. Wonderful things happened last night. (Other than a few more bruises for me and the moment where I apparently elbowed Travis in the mouth, splitting his lip - I didn't notice, but he was bleeding and laughing when we got off stage. Kyle also cut his ear and apparently bled all the way through the second act. And I had a nosebleed this morning, which is not something I've ever seen before. This show is physically detrimental. But so FUN!!!)

Good Things, Final Dress Edition
Billy McCoy's mother's gushing (I don't take well to gushing; I get very embarassed...but it does feel good!)
Being so in the show that I didn't realize Ben was front row until curtain call
Kyle's "Impossible Dream" getting better every night
Travis' statement that his first night performing for an audience was a rush he hasn't felt in a long time
Crowley's bootie grab (Crowley is apparently terrified of me, so I reacted with a completely out of character gaze of shock, awe, and pride)
Eric's extremely sexy arm move (he grabbed my arm and just kind of smelled or kissed it or something, and rather than getting pissed I was kind of like "ohhh...that's nice...")
Billy (rocked the house)
Kissing on the nose still works in staring contests - even on the same person, every time
McKenzi (more on that later)
Realizing as I was about to start "What Does He Want of Me" that I was about to sing a solo, on stage, for an audience, in character, completely alone - for the first time in my life. Eek! And yay!

It's a good show. I like it. And it's good people. I like them too. I always greet this day with the shock that the show actually came together and is ready, but in this case I'm especially in awe.

I am a clever girl. I am out of my Silk Chai at home, so I had to stop by Starbucks...but this morning, the College Park Starbucks was also out of chai. I didn't want to be 20 minutes later getting to work just to go to the Thornton Park Starbucks...so after getting in to work, I offered to make a Panera run, out of the goodness of my heart, if anyone wanted anything. And my supervisor wanted a bagel - so after a short detour by Panera, I got my soy chai latte. Ha. Ha ha.

Okay, on to McKenzi. I LOVE her!! She gave me a note last night after the show, and I didn't want to look at it in front of her, so I opened it in the parking lot, and she drew a picture of me!! I don't mind saying, it's a pretty good picture too. She's maybe, twelve, perhaps, and I just think she's the greatest little thing.

I don't know what it is, but when someone under 18 looks up to me or likes me in any way, I'm always immensely flattered. I think it's because young people are pretty incapable of B.S., so you know it's sincere. The best compliment I ever received was the young girl in Target who I overheard loudly whispering to her brother, "She's pretty!" when I walked by. The most rewarding job I ever had was when I volunteered at Hibiscus House for abused children when I was in high school. Those things took time, but when a battered child runs up to you upon your arrival and gives you a hug, because they trust you and love you and feel safe when you're around, that's when you feel like you truly must be a good person. And McKenzi makes me feel like I must truly be a good person. McKenzi is my happy!