
To my illustrious shining star Belle:
Last Thursday which was the day before camp ended or more specifically the thirty-ninth day of camp, your theatre group put on a production of The Princess and the Pea. Your first four weeks of camp were comprised of swimming, soccer, tennis, softball and many other sport-related activities.
The last four weeks I signed you up for the theatre group which spends the entire morning and early afternoon in the theatre and turns out a full fledged production in seventeen short days. You contributed to all stages of designing and performing the production.
Each day I would ask you what your favorite part of theatre was that day. And everyday I would get nothing. I am sure many parents can relate to this, or maybe its just me but all I know is sometimes when I put questions to you and your sister I usually come up with a big nothing.
I have learned or read somewhere that the best way to get information is to ask your children very specific pointed questions. So each day I would try to do just that. "What songs did you sing today?" "What dances did you practice?" "Do you know all of your lines yet?"
I gave up after a while because even with these specific pointed questions, I would still come up short on usable information.
So I just went with it and figured it you weren't complaining then it couldn't be that bad. I was sometimes just happy that you were not out on the fields running around but locked in a cool air conditioned theatre.
On rare occasions you would showcase some of the dance moves or sing some of the verses from the songs in the play. But those times were few and far between. I feel like we practiced for that first audition and then fast forwarded three weeks to the production. I guess in between those three weeks we were sort of busy packing up our house and moving, but it all seemed to slip by so quickly.
So the day of the performance Dad and I along with Grandmom, Lily and Annie came to the auditorium to see your wonderful performance. You were Minstrel #4 and did a ton of singing and dancing throughout the entire play.
Dad and I were shocked. Shocked at how our non-committal, can't be bothered party girl turned that STAGE OUT! I mean you were singing and dancing and smiling from ear to ear. Might I go so far as to say, you were the only one on that stage that could muster up a smile in addition to singing.
You were unbelievable and we have always known you to be quite the actress, but we were more convinced than ever that you belonged up on that stage based on what we were seeing.
For all the times growing up that I wished I could have been in my school play but never had the courage to try and waited until I was in my early twenties to pursue acting seriously, you did it!
You had courage and poise and presence. You were plugged into that role, to your reality in that moment and you were the best Minstrel girl on that stage. You morphed into an alternate version of yourself. A little performer fully committed to what you were doing, intense and in the moment.
You were even giving some stage direction to some of the other kids that were floating away from their marks on stage. And of course the one thing that they asked the children not to do, wave at their parents, you did and did it quite nicely. Or as my Dad likes to say, you did it with panache.
The moment you exhibited this panache came as you were exiting stage left and you stopped right where you were, paused for a moment and waved directly at us. That's the Belle we know and love.
For an hour and fifteen minutes you kids danced and sang your hearts out. Not one break in the action and all of this was done in seventeen days, truly amazing.
Dad and I were so taken with your presence and your star certainly shined that day in that auditorium. After the play we met you backstage and brought you the flowers that you were considerate enough to remind us not to forget about.
You were a natural on that stage. That is a true gift and I hope you nurture it and follow wherever it may lead you. And always know my little star, that I will be watching you every step of the way.
Love always,
Mama