A Favor

Today, I appreciate my parents so much. Any time I call them asking for a favor, they go above and beyond to help me out. Today, their 49th wedding anniversary, is one of those days.

In high school, I got to star in the Fall play my senior year. It was William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. In a gender-bent role, long before Dame Helen Mirren’s version in 2010, I played Prospera. It was an amazing opportunity at a difficult time. My dad had just accepted a job in Minnesota and was living there full-time and visiting on most weekends. My mom and sister were going to be moving at the end of the semester. I was going to be staying in Kansas with an aunt and uncle, so I could graduate with my class.

My dad wasn’t going to be able to attend any of our normal performances. So my amazing director, wanting to help me out, opened up one of our final rehearsals to our parents. My dad was able to attend. He brought his camcorder. I had a flub in the performance, and while the audience didn’t know about it, my rigid perfectionist was incensed. I never wanted to see the video.

It’s been a long time since that video. About 25 years. And I think fondly of all of my cast members, many of whom were friends or friendly acquaintances. They were all more talented than me. I was happy to bask in their glow and go along for the ride with them. I’m still Facebook friends with some of them. Including the girl who played my daughter, Miranda, in the play.

This girl was a year behind me in school. And she was amazing. Her fire burned so brightly. She is someone I wish I could be more like. She was smart, funny and such a pleasure to be around. I was lucky enough to be in Marching Band and Forensics with her. I always took myself way too seriously. I was afraid of looking stupid. I worried about what everyone thought of me. We were teenage girls. I’m sure she felt the same way. But she always seemed to be able to rise above it and just BE. It’s a lesson I’m still struggling to learn.

After high school, she channeled her massive talent into photography. And she is so good at capturing the essence of her subjects. Unbeknownst to both of us, she even shot the photos at one of my cousins’ wedding reception! I think we were both a little surprised when she posted the pictures and I commented with my connection. It’s amazing how, even many miles away, our spheres of influence still occasionally touch.

And now this beautiful soul with a loving husband and three amazing kids is in a fight for her life. A fight that truly doesn’t look good. And I still follow along, from my distance, wishing I could make it go away for her. The world needs her. Those of us who have been lucky enough to have had our lives touched for her, however briefly, need her.

My parents have been going through items in storage – old family photos, slides and home movies. And in the midst, they mentioned that they came across the video with the play on it. I called them Tuesday morning and asked if they could have it digitized. They had it converted to DVD yesterday (which was her birthday). And now they are on their way to deliver it to my friend. Because that’s one of the ways I will always remember her – basking in her glow on the stage at BVHS. I hope it makes her smile.

I love you, RM. Always will.