Circles
This past month, I had the wonderful opportunity to play the Ghost of Christmas Present in Hale Centre Theatre's 24th annual production of A Christmas Carol. HTC has produced a few different versions of this classic over the past 24 years, but certain aspects have remained in each version. For instance, towards the end of the play a young boy brings the poulterer back to Scrooge with the prize turkey. Scrooge tells the poulterer to take the turkey to the Cratchits and, in Hale's version, the poulterer gives a laugh reminiscent of the Ghost of Christmas Present hinting at the fact that poulterer really is Present.
Many years ago when I was very young, my parents took me to see A Christmas Carol at Hale Centre Theatre. I don't remember much about that night. But I very much remember the above mentioned moment. This year, I got to play that moment out night after night. I couldn't help but smile every time I thought about how cool it was to experience this moment of theatre from both an actor's and audience member's point of view. It felt like coming full circle in some small way.
I hope I will have the opportunity to play Present again next year. And maybe the year after that. And after that. After all, the other cast's Present, Tom, has played Present for the past 24 years. I would love to be part of a tradition in that way. And who knows, maybe the person who will play Present in another 20 years was in the audience and will remember me the way I remember Tom from all those years ago. Insert Lion King's Circle of Life song here.
Christmas 2008
A while back, a friend asked me if I was excited for Christmas. Excited for Christmas? For adults, isn't the question usually, "Are you ready for Christmas?" After all, getting excited for Christmas is generally the arena of the young. Kids get excited for it. Adults get ready for it. Once you cross the threshold of receiving Christmas to providing it the excitement dies. At least it had for me.
It should be no secret that my family's existence over the past few years has been financially unstable. This year has been the worst, as terms like default, repossession, you're fired and foreclosure have made frequent appearances in our vocabulary. The stress has impacted my relationship with my wife and the repercussions have been felt by my children, one of whom broke down in tears because Mom and Dad never used to fight.
So, no, I wasn't excited for Christmas when my friend asked. However, I have thought about that question every day since it was asked. I have followed it up with one of my own. Why? Why was I not excited for Christmas, a time my character in A Christmas Carol calls, "The happiest time of all the year." It may sound trite and even a little cliche, but my criteria for what makes Christmas something to be excited for was askew.
As this year has come to a close, many blessings have presented themselves to my family. Two separate groups have stepped forward to help provide a better Christmas for my family. Help was not asked for, but they gave it anyway. How humbling it is to receive help of this kind. What can we say other than thank you? The fact that these people made such an effort to think about others is just astonishing, especially during this time when we are all feeling the economic crush. You won't read this, but I thank you.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't thank my parents. They have been the official sponsors of Santa Claus for years. Without the help we have received from them every year, the Santa part of Christmas would have never happened.
Also, God has answered my prayers by leading me to a new career opportunity that will help my family immensely in the years to come. I start my new job with the new year and hope it will truly be a new and different and blessed year for my family. Thanks also go to a friend who helped me every step of the way during the hiring process.
So, as I have pondered being excited for Christmas, I would like to change my answer. I am excited for Christmas. I am excited for a Christmas that has shown me that God hears and answers prayers. I am excited for a Christmas that has shown me that truly good, decent, Christ-like people still exist in the world. I am excited for a Christmas that has given me hope for the first time in a long time.
Good-Bye, Grant
My Dad's cousin Grant passed away this week. He was one of the nicest men I have ever known.
When I returned from serving a two year mission for my church, I was trying to go to school and needed money. Grant gave me a job in his print shop. I don't know if I ever properly thanked him for that. He really didn't need my help, and in the end he kept me on longer than was financially smart for him to do so.
I really enjoyed working with him. I miss the smell of the ink, and the sounds and rhythms of the offset presses. I miss the trade shows. I miss the lunches with Grant and my Dad.
But, most of all, I'll miss Grant. I'll miss his kindess, his patience and his laugh.
Buddha is 9
Buddha spent his birthday performing in A Christmas Carol, twice. Matinee and evening. One of my greatest joys this year has been performing with him. Theatre can mean a lot of time away from family, but having him with me has been incredible.
I am so proud of the person he is and the man I see him becoming. Even at 9 you can see it in there. He brings a light to all who know him.
I love you, Buddha.
Ah, Live Theatre
One of the characters I play in A Christmas Carol wears an eye patch. During tonight's performance in the middle of my scene the elastic strap snapped and sent the eye patch flying. I stopped for a second, then said, "I can see! Hallelujah." Got a good laugh.