My family went out last night to see Mrs. Pigglewiggle at the Children's Theatre, which is an amazing institution - widely regarded at the premier one of its kind in the country. A special birthday gift for Lucy - we really love the ephemeral kind that ends up taking up shelf space only in your memories.
About a thousand people were in attendance, the production value was sky-high - quite spectacular, really, and a wonderful time was had by all. So here you have it; within a span of 10 days, my family experiencing both ends of the spectrum: the bad (if not the worst) and the good that is Urban Living.
Lucy, through her school and with her family, is getting exposed to such a wide array of experiences - and for that, I am so happy for her. Thus far, there's not any one activity she is particularly hooked on that couldn't be done on the backyard swing, snuggling on the couch, or at the kitchen table. So no ballet classes, soccer camps, or piano lessons for the time being; which is totally fine by us. But she knows there's a larger world out there and that's good enough for now.
On a side note - but related to the Children's Theatre: damn. damn damn damn. I was struck with such an intense feeling of "I should be doing that"/"I belong up there on that stage," that it still had a pretty strong hold on me after the show, while we were driving home with Lucy asleep in the back seat. I was waxing a little regretful at the childless years I didn't spend pursuing this particular field, and having those feelings mix wtih those of a growing restlessness my current "career," and Sharon reminded me that it's never too late. I couldn't pin her down on specifics, but we both tend to believe, quite unscientifically, that things happen for a reason. She wonders if my simultaneous growing unrest and re-inspiration in pursuing a future in the arts aren't totally unrelated. Perhaps more on that later.
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8 comments:
I am sure they are related and I believe you can pursue the arts wherever you are.
A short response to a bigger conversation. Perhaps a Beer Phone Chat is in order?
On the first point: you of all people should understand that the idea of doing the arts for a living is a totally different ballgame.
On the second point: Always open to that.
yes
Sounds like a great birthday present and a fun time.
As to a radical shift towards something more inspiring...a fascinating topic...
A wise man once told me that you're better off with the things you love the most as your hobby than you are with them as your career. While that seemed really cynical to me at the time, I can see more truth in it today, even if it remains fairly cynical.
Few jobs come without significant compromises, and there is a fair amount of danger in being too emotionally invested in something that is providing you with your livelihood.
I would never discourage pursuits of any sorts, and in fact would encourage getting out of soul-sucking jobs of any kind, but there is a tipping point in that decision making process.
It seems like your most recent theatrical foray pointed out some of the pitfalls to be found amongst the denizens of that particular world, and I would think that they would become magnified the farther up the ladder you climbed. Such it is with all things, the greater the rewards, the greater the risks and responsibilities. The emotional roller coaster stands to get higher, and to broadcast its effects farther into the rest of your life.
Call this the devil's advocate speaking.
Sounds like a great topic of discussion for a 7 hour walk around Minneapolis, with a stop for lunch at the Town Hall Brewery.
You may be correct.
Man you are a great dad! Your children will remember all of the great life experiences they had growing up. Imagine all the great things you have exposed them to already. Lucy is only five. How many more fab things will you get to do with your kids? Hope it's a many thousand times a thousand.
Mixdorf - truly, some wise words, and I hope to revisit, whether again in this forum or in person.
Hopefully many more, TClog. Thanks for the kind words. Again - it's not about some kind of game of "super-achiever" I'm playing with Lucy and Rose. It's all about (hopefully) putting a range of experiences out there for her and basically saying, "See, it's a big world out there. Go get it."
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