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A New Stage

Okay, so I'm putting on my maid costume, right? My oldest daughter earned a small part in a community theater production of the classic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and --somehow -- found myself hoodwinked into being a servant named Sookey.

Sookey, for the love of Snoopy.

But the costume (complete with full apron and a little kerchief hat) was the easiest to get used to. The tough part was -sheesh! the amount of time this effort has gobbled from my life.

Selfish, yes. But I'm entitled to be human, right?

The first week, I had to send an email to the director and make a plea for a relaxed schedule.

"She's five ... has only two lines in the 150-minute production ... and ... she's five. Kindergarten is going to be oh, so rough after getting into bed after 9 and 10 pm 3-4 nights a week. Not to mention the four year old I have to drag along, too ..."

I stamped the experience as the Worst Great Idea I'd had in a long time. Damn rec center activities overloading, subscription to Nick Jr having, exposure to the arts preaching, obscure vegetable cooking, teachable moment seeking, paranoid of finding my kids on the Daughter of Oprah Show in 15 years, overachieving mother.

That would be me.

But, as it turns out, it was a great idea. Both of the girls look forward to playing with the new extended family and I've even caught a bit of an acting bug.

Not to worry. I won't be added this to my too-long list of things to do until I can get a pass to show up on game day!

dnk

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