The Music Man experience

Our seats are 1^st Mezzanine, Row B, Seats 1 & 2 – VERY good seats. On the aisle. Smart. We could see everything. They were a gift from a beloved friend who wanted me & Meg to enjoy an experience together. I sit on the aisle seat, she sits in seat 2. To her left is an older man who I pray to God has a forgiving heart.

(TUTS Chairman of the Board steps out to speak & push the 2015-2016 season.) 

M: Why is that big curtain there?...Where is the Music Man?....(listening to what is being said) Cinderella is here too!?....Where is Mary Poppins!?....The Little Mermaid is here?!

T: (trying to quietly answer her questions as fast as they shot out of her mouth)

M: (Overture begins) Momma, look there are music notes on the curtain! Where is the Music Man?

T: We haven’t seen him yet.

M: (First scene begins) What are they doing? Where is the Music Man?

T: They are riding on a train, listen to what they are saying! The Music Man is on stage but we don’t see him yet.

M: (2nd scene) I'm thirsty.

T: Ok. (wondering how I am going to solve this problem and trying to figure out how to keep her in the seat)

M: (3rd scene begins - we move up a few rows to disturb less people) Where is the Music Man? (Gymnasium scene) Is THAT the Music Man? Where are the 6 bones? I'm thirsty.

M: (4^th scene begins - we exit the theater to find the water fountain) Where are we going?

T: To find the water fountain

M: Then we can go back inside and find the Music Man?

T: No.

M: Why?

T: Because once you leave the theater, you cannot go back inside until the break.

M: Why?

T: Because we will disturb people and that’s the rule.

M: I’m thirsty.

T: (we find the water fountain and M takes A SIP)

M: Ok I’m done.

T: Seriously!?!? Well, you need to drink more than that.

M: (she sips a little bit more)

T: Let’s go potty.

M: I don’t have to go potty.

T: Well, I do.

M: Well, I’ll stand out here in the hall.

T: No you won’t. Come in here. Now.

M: Ok. (reluctant)

M: (singing in the bathroom) Momma, I LOVE how my voice sounds in the bathroom. So big!

T: Yes, these walls are good for that kind of sound. (leave the restroom & head to the lobby for snacks)

(At intermission, the people flood into the lobby for snacks)

M: Momma, where is everybody going?

T: Ummm……

M: Are they getting something to eat?

T: Yes! Then it is time to go home.

M: Oh! In our car?

T: Not everybody can fit in our car. Just me and you.

M: Yeh, they have to drive their own cars. Right, Momma?

T: Yes. We better get going!

M: I don’t wanna ride the elevator.

T: Okay, we can go down the stairs!

M: Okay!

We get to the car, exit the parking garage, and we were not even out of downtown Houston – she was sound asleep.

All I could think – “Well, I’m glad we didn’t go to Disney World!”

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

It has rained for 2 days. I shoulda planted my garden last week but I was trying not to spend money. I wish my laundry was done. I coulda started and finished it, but I took a nap then went to lunch with a friend. And got a pedicure. I woulda taken the time cook dinner, but I was refereeing two 3yo girls. 

Excuses, excuses. Nobody's fault by my own. If I would just take care of Tescille, I'd have my hands full. An excuse is a skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Build a bridge and get over it.

My Momma was full of idioms that I hear pouring out of my mouth daily. My favorite one was a threat to take her seriously when punishing me, "If you say a cuss word again at school, I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap." Here it is...."And if you think I'm kiddin', just stand by and watch!" I learned to take her seriously. Especially after I called a boy in my 6th grade science class a 'bitch.' The teacher wrote it on the report card - they used to do that, ya know. I had to get the report card signed and punishment came the next morning. Before leaving for school, Momma took me in the bathroom and squeezed Palmolive dish soap on my toothbrush. Yes, I had to brush with it. But wait. There is more. She allowed me to spit out the excess, but she would not allow me to rinse. She took me to school with a mouth full of soap. When the van door opened, I bolted into the school and ran straight for the water fountain. 

To this day, green Palmolive liquid dish soap is not allowed in my home.

Did it work? Did I stop cussing? Well, I shoulda....

Being Digital

Last night, we walked through the office supply section of Walmart and there were 5 subject spiral notebooks. I thought, "Who even needs those dinosaurs anymore?" To which I replied in thought, "A bunch of people who are not as digital you, Tescille."

When earpieces were all the rage to go hands-free on a cellphone, I thought bluetooth was stupid. "Why do people need to have conversations with other people like they are talking to a ghost?!?!?!?!"

I have changed my bluetooth perspective in the last year. No earpiece, thank you. Bluetooth tethers my smartphone to the smart soundbar for our Smart TV and I can listen to commercial free music on Amazon Prime Music. I gotta be honest, I LOVE this digital luxury.