Well, Wee Cluver Girl donned some red, white, and blue for the 11-11-11 Veterans' Day assembly at school, and despite being a bundle of nerves, performed nicely her reading part at the microphone.
Older Sis' took to the stage in her choral part (in the Mission Band) in "Guys & Dolls Jr." for her middle school (hence the plain white blouse and black slacks -- h/t Rem & Karen), and two hours before heading out from home for the final performance, she got an uber, ginormous, shocking, can't-believe-it surprise visit from her dear Pittsburgh friend, Grace!
The Tjelmeland family was traveling from St. Louis back to Pittsburgh, and Mama Kay had prearranged with me for this delightful stop-by for the girls. They hugged, and giggled, and talked, and hugged. Gotta love girlfriends! Chad and I had the chance to get to know Grace and her family and it was a really nice, relaxed two hours of interesting conversation. Delightful! We look forward to seeing them again when we make our way out east.
Bay and I attended the Friday night performance of Anna's play with my parents, Pap and Grandma Finch, where we encountered a family friend who is also a parent of one of my students, has a daughter in Anna's class (in the play), and younger children at the gradeschool. She stopped to expound excitedly about Baylor's great job reading confidently, clearly, and proudly earlier in the day at the assembly; Bay grinned and blushed excitedly. Earlier that night, during our pre-play dinner at Panera, we ran into a couple of my parents' friends from Freeport who, by happenstance, were in this neck of the woods 2 1/2 hours from their home. Sometimes I take better notice and pause to appreciate the people around me, around us, and it's comforting. It grounds me, supports me, lifts me up.
Chad and the boys enjoyed the play Saturday night with Pap and Grandma Cluver, and so, for today's final performance, we did the drop-of, pick-up approach. Reappearing at the school at the time of the final bow, I made myself available to help with tear-down and/or clean-up before leaving for home, and while I did what I was able, so many parents with power tools and know-how really make quick business of the real work. I ran into the parents of several of the kids' friends and quite a few of my students, spent some time, in particular talking with the father and then the mother of one of Baylor's dearest gal pals. (They have older children, also, one of whom was in the MS production.) We smiled and shook our heads slowly as we appreciated how alike are our younger girls -- so full of energy and creativity; how they delight in each other's company. Connections. All of these connections that in the "to do's" of daily life I have taken not enough time to relish.
Friends from my old stomping grounds, friends in the community into which we've settled as adults, and new friends from my birthplace of Pittsburgh. Reassuring. Reminding. Exploring. Two girls at microphones -- stepping up and standing tall. Roots and wings for the Cluver girls. All three of us.
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