ian & emma have been tearing up the stage at western high school this week. they've been part of the cast of "state fair", an old musical set at the 1937 iowa, you guessed it... state fair.
ian scored one of the leads... and plays the part of "wayne", a farm boy who becomes enchanted by a showgirl and temporarily diverted from his life-long love waiting for him back home. there are a lot of students from westwinds in the production... which makes it even more fun. and ian's girlfriend plays the role of his sister. kelsey has a lot of songs and does a wonderful job.
the musical is a lot of fun... and the kids all worked very hard; but i must say that ian was the surprise for me. he's a natural. emma too
for that matter. she knows how to spice up a freshman chorus part better than most i've ever seen. i'm sure she's got a lot of high school performances ahead of her. but watching ian on stage for his first production was like watching him climb into his own skin. he seemed so comfortable. his character didn't feel forced or contrived. it was just him.
and his singing was great too. some of the songs had quite the range... but he nailed the notes, whether low or high. i was so proud. i'm not sure he's got acting in his blood like his older sister, but i'd be surprised if the bug hasn't bitten him on some level. i guess as a parent, we never know how these experiences translate into life.
ian's had quite a spring... and i'm proud of him for hanging in there with all he's had going on. he's learned some hard lessons about appropriate levels of commitment and life pace.
maybe he should teach me some of them.
which reminds me of a thought i had a few months back during a time in which things had been a bit strained between me & ian. we're usually very close. but it just seemed that i couldn't do anything right... and he couldn't make me happy either. then i remembered that tension was strangely like what jenn & i experienced during the last semester of her own senior year. hmmm.
since then things have been a bit better... or at least we better understand some of the dynamics going on... him wanting to get away from mom & dad... and us wanting to hold on to our baby-in-a-man's body.
shortly after that realization... a thought came to mind while i was driving. (i wrote it down because i knew i'd forget it if i didn't). it's actually kind of a prayer.
may i never expect his young heart to carry all the wisdom i've gained through my many years and experiences... ...but may i also remember that he is learning things i have forgotten or have yet to grasp.
I've got one graduating in a couple weeks too and feel that "tension" too. Our other daughter was graduating during my IL-2 treatments and I don't "remember" any of this tension. Perhaps it's because Gabby is our "baby" and I just turned 50??? I feel there's so much left to teach...I need prayer! Thanks as always for sharing!
Our prayers continue for you,
Janet
Posted by: Janet Hurt | April 27, 2008 at 10:33 PM
My wife Debbie has a theory that Senior students and their parents start having a strained relationship with each other as a type of self-induced immunization (for both parent and child) for the pain of separation that is coming in the fall when the student goes off to college. If you don't like each other much over the next few months, it makes the hurt of leaving them at the doorstep of the university a bit less painful. Funny though, the pang in your heart as you drive away from the dorm will still be there anyway.
Hang in there Randy!
Joe W.
Posted by: Joe Wiley | April 28, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Thanks for your words...they come at such an appropriate time. As so many "seniors" still seem quite junior-ish to us (true seniors, I might add)they are blossoming adults. I find it comes much harder to those of us whose child doesn't reach this separation stage until their early 20's. Somehow you think you've by-passed the pain with this one, but then the day hits and it's a rude awakening. I must, also, ask God to keep me from imparting 54 years of experience in her 23 year old box of understanding. We both would shed a lot fewer tears.
Posted by: Judy Martin | April 28, 2008 at 01:55 PM
Randy,
so glad that things are going well! You are an encourgement to me as we are getting set to see Scotty through another transplant....so neat to see your children thriving! What a blessing!
Much love, Cinda
Posted by: Cinda Garst | April 29, 2008 at 03:48 PM