Wicked Divas

A Sunday afternoon of fun and music, laughter and cupcakes.  It was an afternoon at the Bass!  Truly joyful, even through the tears.  It was another exercise in moving on without mom.  I am so blessed for the legacy she left, a love of family, a love of the arts and a love of music...

And so it was Bass Hall, the Ft. Worth Symphony, Katie, myself and Wicked Divas!

Amazing vocalists, fabulous music and a touch of wicked humor.  Just what I needed on my first trip back to the Pop Series without mom.  So, yes, there were tears, especially when we made it to our seats.  The last time we sat here, mom was nudging my elbow and whispering in my ear through the whole performance, rising to give a standing ovation.  How to make peace with the gut-punch realization that she's gone?   Every now and then it just overwhelms - that missing, that longing to touch, to see, to hear... 

But, I have been blessed with the soulful beauty of a daughter who understands, and was there to walk with me through the minefield.  Hallelujah, we made it out alive, if not a bit tattered emotionally...  And along the way, the music shimmered over us.  The lyrics simply fed a hunger in my soul.  Did they know I'd be there in seat K-1?  Needing to hear just that song, those notes?

The Ft. Worth Symphony welcomed 2 well-known Broadway Divas to their stage this weekend.  Alli Mauzey and Julia Murney have both played on the long-running Broadway show, Wicked.  Such light and energy, they brought the music to life.  It was simply a pleasure to take in.  The sang a variety of numbers from several well-known classics, from My Fair Lady to Ragtime to Phantom of the Opera.  It was pure escape from the realities of life!

And it wouldn't have been a Wicked Diva show if they hadn't included numbers from that wonderful Broadway musical, Wicked.  Anyone care to join me for a trip to New York City?  Katie and I have vowed to get to Broadway, and soon!

Alli and Julia closed the symphony with the song, "For Good," from Wicked.  I had never really taken in the words before...

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

Because I knew you I have been changed for good....
 
Oh, words for my aching soul.  Mom, it's true.  Because I knew you, because I was blessed to be your daughter, I have been changed for good.   Yes, tears, but, refreshing still; there's the missing, but the knowing.  Because I knew you I have been changed for good.  I am blessed.

And blessed more with the sparkling eyes of a daughter who spied the new bakery, The Cupcakery, across the street from the Bass Hall.  Oh yes, it's a chocolate cupcake for us!

So delicious!

There's a little Wicked Diva in all of us!  Maybe one cupcake is not enough!

Blessings of Grace to you, Jane

Beautiful Music

Mom and I looking sharp for the opening weekend of the Ft. Worth Symphony's POP series. We spent the afternoon at beautiful Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth enjoying some fabulous music.

Mom's still rather weak and the stairs proved to be a work-out, but she was determined to attend, sans wheelchair or walker. She did agree to taking the portable oxygen (thank you Lord). Once we got to our seats, we breathed a sigh of relief and let the excitement begin to build as the musicians tuned their instruments and the lights dimmed...

Every year for the past 5 years, we have had season tickets to this Symphony series, and it was so very important for mom to be there today.  I think she had thrown down the gauntlet to her body and said shape up, we're going, end of discussion.  And thankfully the new regimen of meds has really helped with the nausea and vomiting this past week! Praises for the marinol (marijuana derivative) and steroids. Great combination if we do say so!  Her improved well-being made the symphony that much more do-able.  It was a challenge met head on with a smile and mom's dogged "don't mess with me" attitude.  I can honestly say she enjoyed every minute right to the last curtain call.
 
We are slightly concerned about some deepening pain under her rib cage, but so far the break-through pain meds have been keeping it under control. Mom concentrates on the positives, like not throwing up once in a whole week. That's breaking news around here! Of the Hallalelujah kind!

Also happy to report that Dad is feeling much better. He was out today cataloging an impressive array of fishing equipment. I think he's looking forward to their upcoming vacation on Lake Texoma in a couple of weeks... Watch out all you little fish families, the hunter is coming. And he doesn't do catch and release. I guess maybe I get all my amazing trapping skills from Dad, and my compassionate sensitivity from Mom. Huh.... You never know just exactly what your kids are gonna pick up. Those pesky racoons are soooo lucky I had such great parents!

Praying your weekend has been filled with beautiful music of the happy kind. My Love, Jane