Let me start by saying I was NOT at all in favor of Patrick participating in this POPs (Pacific Okinawa Players) musical when he presented the idea back in December. It's not that I have anything against POPs...not at all. Love me some community theater. But just not with everything else he has on his plate and the craziness that is our normal family life. I thought he was nuts. I told him no. He persisted. He went with a friend to the tryouts. They offered him a lead part. I told him he'd have to turn it down. He countered with a proposal that would not involve me having to drive him anywhere, ever. He'd have rides with a friend on the way there, and another family on the way home, and he'd do his homework in seminar period at school and when he wasn't on stage at practice and he'd still get all his chores done and keep up his As and Bs at school and yadda, yadda, yadda. I knew better. I knew it was never as easy as it looks on paper. Two hour practices every week night? Insanity. But against my better judgment, I let him accept the part.
This meant, he'd start his days at 5 AM to get ready for Seminary. Then after school, he'd have (fill in the blank here with Madrigal Dinner/Talent Show/Far East Drama Competition) practice, depending on what month it was...until 5 PM. Then, he'd eat a sandwich or something on his way to his 6-8 PM play practice. Then, he'd get home anywhere from 8:30 to 9, do whatever homework he didn't finish, and go to bed and repeat. M-Th nights, for two months. Oh, and did I mention he also was trying to earn money for his drama trip to NYC over Spring break? Yep. So, he had to squeeze in odd jobs between the cracks, too.
The whole "You'll never have to drive me anywhere ever" clause? You can guess how long that lasted. About a week. While Jeff's mom was completely awesome and did take him along with her son, from their after school practices to POPs practice, the rides home fell through right away. With 3 of us taking night classes, and practices rotating from Kadena to Foster, it made for some frustrating logistics. There were times when I wished for a time machine so I could go back to that night and say, "HECK, NO! Final Answer!" He did manage to keep his grades up, although I don't know how. It took a toll on his health...due to lack of sleep, I'm sure.
But as I sat there watching him tonight, I was glad that I said yes. He is good. And I'm not just saying that because I'm his mom...he is REALLY good!
And he was so obviously in his element. From the time he was little, he has loved to perform, and I really think it's when he's at his happiest.
This was his first musical, but he looked like a pro. His vocal abilities have really come a long way. I think show choir has been great for him.
The show was way too short. We knew it was a short show, but it really went by too quickly. I was sorry when it was over.
Some of these kids were just adorable! There was one boy that (as Coree puts it) sounded so inconvenienced by having to say his lines. I wasn't sure if it was part of his character, or just his nature, but it was SO cute, whether on purpose or not. That and the part where he was picking out his wedgie while he was delivering his lines, downstage, center. You can't write better stuff than that.
I'll just include a little clip of the curtain call here. I don't have a recording of the performance yet, but someone is getting it to me so that Cliff can see it, too. I'll try to post the link here, but to be honest, I'll probably forget.
"What? Why yes, I'd be happy to give you my autograph..."
And here's Patrick's "adopted" brother, Jeff. In the program bio, Patrick wrote that he was Jeff's white brother...among other "Patrick-isms." To be honest, I'm surprised they printed what he had to say, because it was not the usual, professional, "I'd like the thank God and my parents" fare. It was hilarious, for sure...but just not typical. Patrick is nothing if not original.
"Well I didn't get the lead...but I got the guy!" (Line from the play...not real life.)
And look at this little mini me! Isn't he a doll?
I love drama kids. They are totally awesome.
"Are we that awesome? Yes...yes, I think we are."
I love these kiddos...they are each amazing for different reasons. This experience reminded me that I need to be more of a cheerleader and less of a dream-killer. Not that I didn't have some valid arguments. Even so, if I remember correctly, it was me years ago, who gave the advice to Cliff (who was lamenting how hard it was going to be to go to full-time grad school at night to try to become a chaplain, while being a full-time Marine by day and trying to pay some attention to his family in there somewhere): "Name one worthwhile thing in life that's not hard."
With all of the hassles, this was still one of the most worthwhile things I've watched in a long time. Congratulations, Patrick. I'm excited to see where your talent and perseverance take you.
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