Who would’ve thunk, when I was stuck in the middle of the backseat of the Lemon Woody station wagon (I had – have – the shortest legs) as my family careened across no-man’s-land toward Idaho or went up and down the roller coaster hills on 104th on the way to church, that those two mostly-annoying sisters on either side of me would produce such delectable children?
Ty, Izzy, Lou and Sam
I have three nieces and a nephew, and each one of them is a unique delight. They’re the only people who actually like my singing, and I get excited each time I get to see them.
Lindsey – the oldest – is tall and pretty, athletic and shy. I find myself doing the goofiest things to coax a smile out of her, and when it happens, it makes me a little giddy.
Tyler is Lindsey’s younger brother. He’s easy to be around and game for almost anything. He’s a great audience – quick to laugh – and my favorite person to play cards with.
Isabella is Erin’s oldest, blondy-blonde, smart and self-confident. She loves to perform, and expresses herself in big ways. She wore her Alice in Wonderland costume for a year straight.
Samantha is the youngest – three and a half. She’s got huge blue eyes and dimples, and enough energy to power a small town. She’s really chatty, really headstrong, and really cute.
Erin and Izzy are going to see “Wicked” next week, and I can’t WAIT to hear all about it. It’s Izz’s first musical, and I expect that she’ll be totally entranced. I was hooked from the get-go. I was eight (or nine or ten) when my parents took us to see “Annie” at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Were I a different kid, I’d be able to tell you about the cute dress I was wearing or the Shirley Temple I drank in the lobby or the experience of being surrounded by giant buildings in the “big city.” I don’t remember any such things, or much at all. Only the all-encompassing feeling of wonder and the certainty that I WANTED TO DO THAT SOMEDAY as I watched the sets changing after the chorus sang “We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover.” In the words of the WWotW, “What a world, what a world.”
I hope hope hope that Izzy, many years from now, will also re-experience the wonder each time she thinks about seeing “Wicked” as a six year old. I’m thinking I need to get the soundtrack for both of us, so that the next time we’re together we can sing.
A moment of silence during our Fourth of July "concert" of patriotic songs.
Second, there are so many thoughts swirling in my head – where does one begin? If I could have one thing that doesn’t really exist, it would be Dumbledore’s 
Pickle Dreams 