Catch-up Post - Nutcracker

Before January ends, I want to squeeze in one more December post.  For the first time in 13 years, I danced in the Nutcracker again -- on pointe!  When I stopped doing pointe work several years ago, Robby never believed me when I said I would never put them on again.  Well, I guess he wins.  Once a dancer, always a dancer.

This post is actually about two related events on the same day.  First let me begin with the beginning of the school year.  Jenna's kindergarten teacher does this really fun thing called Mystery Reader.  Every Friday a parent, friend, or family member of one of the kids in the class signs up to read a story or two to the kids.  Who is signed up is kept secret until they walk in the door.  She told the parents at the beginning of the year that sometimes people will dress up for this.  So I signed up and planned to come in ballet costume and read...

The Nutcracker!

I was really lucky because one of the directors let me borrow the costume for the day.  I took it to the school, dressed in the office bathroom, and surprised the teacher and class (and the office staff)!  The best part was hearing the other kids in the school who saw me whisper to each other that there was a princess in the school!

We all enjoyed it, and afterwards I showed them my pointe shoes. 

Jenna was delighted!  I even followed her into the lunch room still in costume and waved to all the kids there.  This is the closest I will ever come to being a celebrity.

That very night I had my performance.  It was so fun performing again!  I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be.  I just prayed beforehand that I would be satisfied with how I did, and I was very satisfied.  So much so, that the directors have asked me to perform with them again next year.  I am also going to be in the recital this June.  It feels so good to be dancing again.

This is my good friend Liza.

The bright red lipstick left a nice mark on his cheek.  He didn't know I was going to do that!