Riverdance

In reality it is too late to be up and writing in a blog. Well, it is for me, anyway. I just got home from the theater . . . or should I say, theatre. ;-) I really enjoyed "Riverdance." If you've not seen it, it is worth the price of a ticket. What a wonderful mixture of music! Not only do you have the expected Irish mixture, but there is also a bit of Jazz, some parts that have a New Age flavor (shades of Yanni or John Tesh), then something close to Russian Folk and don't forget the Flamenco. It was interesting to watch the flamenco dancer, expressive with her hands and body accompanied by three male dancers with the straight backs and their arms close to their sides, creating a wonderful contrast. There is a number called (I think) "Trading Taps," in which 2 African American men and 3 of the Irish gents challenge styles, again celebrating the variations. The musicians, the band, was small. Just a keyboard, a drummer or rather a percussionist, a violinist (fiddler), a saxophone, and a man who played several instruments, a flute, guitar, and an Irish version of bagpipes (much sweeter than bagpipes). But wow, could they put out music, despite their small census. Oh, I forgot, there were 2 people who played Irish drums, sort of a small bass drum, in a few numbers. It was astounding and wonderful. I enjoyed it so much that I even sprung for the DVD, not a cheap-y, but I think it will be worth it. I’ve been going to Starlight Theatre about 28 years, and this is only the second time I’ve bought the soundtrack or DVD. The other was before DVD days (!!!!) and I bought the soundtrack of “Big River.” Hmmm. Do you think I have a “thing” for rivers? Maybe so! These 2 shows couldn’t be farther apart in style, so my interests are certainly diverse.

Tonight was a little bittersweet for me. I had season tickets since 1977 or 1978. They are wonderful seats, 1st row, box seats, center stage. I hadn’t planned to be in Kansas City this summer, so the tickets were transferred to my son and his wife. It just happened that DIL Connie and granddaughter Kylee are in Mexico, spending time with Connie’s family, so I got the tickets. I enjoyed being able to see and talk with old friends, my “neighbors” in the seats next to me. I had said goodbye to them last year, so it was a nice treat.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. Everyone had other plans, so I went alone. It doesn’t bother me to go alone to most things, and certainly not this. But I was thinking as I left that this marks another step in my journey alone. I’m sure there will be many more events which will be solo outings for me. It is going to be a challenge for me later on, as I start going places with less comfort cushion. Here, at Starlight, I know many of the people who sit close, so in a sense, I’m not really alone. What will it be like when I find a theater in NM and go to strange seats, sit with strangers? I don’t know.

I also thought as I drove home about how many endings I’m experiencing. Like Starlight, I had season tickets to see the Kansas City Chiefs for as many years. Those were actually reassigned over a year ago, so I’ve “let go” of them in my head. But when I think that I’ve attended my last professional football game, my last performance at this theater, I realize that I will be doing more “lasts” in the coming weeks. A sobering thought.

I look forward to the many “firsts” that will follow these “lasts.” But it remains significant to me that this is such a changing time in my life. For every friend I tell goodbye, a new one awaits. But the challenges of ending, beginning, and just learning to be OK with being alone . . . well, I hope I find that it isn’t as staggering as it seems at this moment. Looking back at what I’ve already accomplished amazes me. I just hope what is yet to come will be easier than it looks from my present vantage point.

I’ll end with a quote that seems to fit this juncture:

“If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.” --Mitsugi Saotome