Last Saturday night, as I watched the final scenes from the Las Vegas production of Phantom of the Opera, if I could have jumped up on stage and sang with the cast, I would have! If I could have jumped into the orchestra pit & played with the orchestra, I would have! I could barely contain the emotion, the thrill, the wonder of what I had just witnessed. I don't think I can even convey in words the feelings in me that surfaced at the end of the production. I have seen Phantom before. I know the music. I know the story. And yet, it was as thrilling, as entertaining, as memorable as it was the first time I saw it in LA.
I am not sure why, but seeing Phantom awakened a part of me that often lies dormant. It reminded me that music is an integral part of who I am. I love music, but, as I have immersed myself in raising my children, I find that this part of me is usually put on the back burner, so to speak. My grand piano sits quietly in my living room, rarely touched. Why is that? I think it is because the piano is too quiet. It can't remind me that it needs attention the way a whining child or messy house cries out for attention. It always looks beautiful & clean & never cries or whines, and so it sits, except for the very rare moments when I feel its pull to exercise my fingers - just for a few minutes. I am sure one day in my future its pull will be stronger as the other cries for my attention become fewer. It's just nice to sometimes get those little reminders that there is more to who we are than simply the day-to-day things we do.
So Phantom - thanks for awakening the music in me! And thanks dad - for treating your family to a night on the town. It was a treat I will always remember - as will Madi, who got the greatest surprise when she found out she got to go at the last minute! Lucky girl!
Everett Andrew Duncan, Jr. 9/26/1958-01/02/2015
9 years ago
7 comments:
I hear what you are saying. Being a wife and mother, it is hard to take that time to nurture yourself spiritually, mentally, and thrive in all the things that we love to do. There is a time and season.....right? So glad you got to appreciate phantom again! What a thrill, and so excited that Madi got to go!
When I think of you when we were teenagers I think of you playing the piano. I remember being at your house while you were practicing a song and now every time I hear that song I still think of that afternoon. I can't think of the name of the tune right now, it'll come to me.
I love Phantom, too! Rent the silent film version of Phantom - it's great!
I hummed the tune for Zac to see if he knew it and he said it was Claire D' Lune (I know I'm not spelling that right). Do you remember playing song? But, I can't carry a tune, so what Zac heard might not be what I hummed.
Motherhood DOES take over our lives and we love it, but it is nice to remember the things we did and who we were before children. You should record yourself playing the piano and put it on your blog. I'd love to hear it!
Your mention of the silent piano being neglected made me think of my second child who is quiet compared to her siblings. It is easy for her to get lost in the family, so I've been trying to make sure she gets the attention her louder/more demanding siblings receive.
Judy - I was going to leave a comment to list possible songs, but you beat me to it! I definitely played Clair D' Lune as a teenager. It was actually a recital piece - probably from one of my last recitals. I also loved playing Moonlight Sonata & the Theme from Man From Snowy River - bet you haven't thought of that song in a while! I am amazed that you have such a specific memory of a specific song I played.
Actually, I have a lot of specific memories of that time. Maybe because my time in Vegas was brief and specific - my high school years. We were in, then we were out. It's like my Vegas years are encapsulated.
After my family moved back to California (I had already left for California. I don't know if you remember, but I ran away - just hopped on a plane and lived w/my grandparents), I made some friends then went with them to Provo while they attended BYU. When I met new people there, I didn't tell anyone I was from California, I told everyone I was from Las Vegas because that was my identity at the time.
When people find out that I lived in Vegas they always want to know what it was like. I always tell them I loved it. I don't know if I could take the heat now, but I loved it then. They want to know what the church is like, if "Vegas" permeates everything . . . Funny.
Thank goodness my teenage years are over, but thank goodness I had great friends!
the phantom of the opera was pretty great!!! i enjoyed it too!!!
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