Yesterday I wrote about the frustrating delay of getting to my 3rd grade play. Here is my mom’s side of the story. Also a friend messaged me that she might have photos of that play. It would be fun to see some after all these years!
Since I’m not always very demonstrative by nature, Esther has sometimes thought I was not as excited about something as I actually was. I realized that being the big star of her class Christmas play was very important. She practiced on her own with no need of help from me. She knew everyone’s part, including her own perfectly.
Hal had already planned a ministry trip to Mexico. Sometimes he scheduled these trips months in advance. For my part, I was really excited about the play. I scheduled a doctor’s appointment for early in the afternoon, planning to be home in plenty of time to get myself ready (people dressed up more in those days, even though it wasn’t all that long ago), and to help Esther get ready. I was in a good deal of pain and needed a prescription in order to fully enjoy the occasion.
At the doctor’s office they put me in an examination room and closed the door. I waited and waited . . . and waited. I was watching my watch. I was finally going to give up and just get dressed and walk out, when a nurse opened the door and looked very surprised to see me. They had forgotten about me!
I drove home as fast as I dared, Esther jumped in the car, and we got to the school just in time for Esther to appear on stage with her class. Her poor teacher was biting her fingernails. Esther not only had the main part, but when one of the other players would get nervous and forget his or her part, she would whisper the next words, and the play would continue without the audience knowing the difference.
I was very proud of Esther that night and, as she said, sorry we didn’t get pictures. I really didn’t think about that ahead of time as Hal was the photographer of the family. All my children are good photographers, but I finally gave up after getting too many rolls of film developed only to see I cut people’s heads off. Just recently I tried to take photos of a parade with my telephone and got pictures of several people’s back sides. But that’s another story.
I was forgotten once — by an acupuncturist! There I was, laying on the table with needles stuck in my arms, feet, and neck. Casually getting up and walking out wasn’t really an option. I finally started yelling — and they came rushing in, apologizing all over the place. It was an experience that I wouldn’t care to repeat.
Esther and Frieda, I’m glad everything turned out all right, making it possible for “the show to go on.”