More Recital; Swan Songs

 Recital Week was maybe our most emotionally intense week ever.  It was Golda's last, but VERY last thing before her next adventure.  Scott's sister Michelle had to give us a reality check at Oklahoma, declaring, "She's not dying!  She's just going off to college!"  So we tried to get our emotions in check.  It's not the next step that's sad, it's the ending of the current phase.  It's ok to feel all those emotions, but I admit, some of us were a little overwrought. ;)

 But wait, there's more!  Freestone turned 12 and was ordained a deacon in the Aaronic priesthood.

 Ruby's drivers license came in the mail.

And my dear friend, teacher and mentor, Peter Prier, passed away.  I was teary-eyed all week, remembering all the tender, funny, intense, hard, rewarding moments I spent with Peter during my 4 years at the Violin Making School of America.  Not only that, but I mourned the Peter I knew as a little girl, and the boss I knew working in his shop.  He was my landlord, too, at a quite exciting time in my life.  Peter was a good man.  He did favors for everyone, all the time, myself included.  

 And then there was Xanthe,  She was in my ballet class this year, and I loved it.  She will be repeating 4th grade again next year. and I'm sad.  Happy but sad.  She will be in ballet with 5th graders next year, a constant reminder that 4th grade came back.  Maybe because of Peter, and Golda's swan song and Freestone and Ruby passing milestones too, but Xanthe's beautiful little face was making me verklempt all week, too.  Thank heavens for Araceli, who kept me grounded.  No milestones right this minute, just happiness.  Araceli just happened to be in the car with me when I found out about Peter from Yanfu Tong. He just wechatted me one word: Peter. Then it made sense what another friend had posted on Facebook: "Today I will remember when the roundness became square." Peter always said funny things, and that was one of them. I was having Araceli text all my VMS friends to find out more details. She was solicitous of me all day, giving me lots of hugs every time the tears wouldn't stop. I was so thankful she was there with me.

 How cute are these Gold Crayons?  Ptolemy was so stinkin adorable in his dance!  I love him and his endless enthusiasm.  He wasn't weepy at all!

 The best kind of exhaustion.

 This is true friendship.  Michelle sneaked backstage with me to see Golda's rehearsal for the Company dance.  Look at her face.  It - surprise! - brought tears to my eyes to see that much enthusiasm for someone else's kid.  I love Michelle and all my friends and family who take joy in our journey.

 Ellison, Elizabeth and Araceli.  Hopefully they will be friends like the kind of friend Michelle is when they grow up.  Another friend moment that I 'll always treasure is Sarah Scheuller coming to sit in the audience with me during dress rehearsal for Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Watching Golda, I was thinking, "Hold it together, Circ.  Do not fall apart.  Do not cry."  At the poignant, almost reverent end, I looked over at Sarah and she was wiping tears off her face.  Not A tear, a whole face full of tears.  These are true friends, who can celebrate and appreciate so fully alongside a friend.

 And speaking of true friends:  Evyn.  Where is my heart emoji?  What a good young man.  He is leaving for his 2 year mission in a few weeks, so he and Golda have said their final good-byes for 3 years.  This age is so intense!

 Coco loved this week as much as we did!  With 7 grandchildren in the recital, it was a pleasure to watch...a few times!

 And then we celebrated Freestone's birthday...with a violin lesson.  We like to give our teachers a little gift on our birthdays.

 I am so grateful we still have 2 more years with Ruby!

 Wah!

 This was backstage between dances at the point where the choreography calls for Ruby taking off her "Granny Panties" and giving them to Golda.  It's kinda sad we don't have 2 pairs, but a lot of money is hemorrhaged in our family on dance clothing, and sometimes you have to share.

These two have shared a lot.  On Instagram, I "shared" their first moment:  I was holding 10-month-old Golda on my hip.  I had a pregnancy test in my hand.  I looked at it, and it was positive!  I laughed.  Then Golda laughed.  She laughed, and I had this sense that she knew exactly what she was laughing about.  She KNEW Ruby.  She had been waiting for her, and she knew Ruby was coming.  Every since that moment. or should I say long before that moment, Ruby and Golda have been sisters.  Their bond is without beginning or end, and it's bittersweet to see one moving on without the other.

 Esmae

 Proud of Freestone.

 Wiping away tears after it's all over.

 Freestone had presents for Golda and everyone else that he bought from the vending machines.  Such a thoughtful kid.

 I figure Golda has taken over two thousand classes at Clytie's.  Thank heavens we still have other kids to drop off in the alley.

 Sarah Robinette, modern teacher and beautiful, creative genius.

 Between stagings, I took Freestone to a comic book store.  I jokingly told the guy there, "He doesn't usually dress like this."  The guy's response was, "OK.  It wouldn't be a big deal if he did!"  I love those hipster places.  The guy was really nice to Free and helped him pick out some Magic cards.  Then we went to Lee's Mongolian for lunch.  I couldn't help but think of the Seinfeld puffy shirt episode.  Tee hee.

 Ruby

 Araceli sneaked me a smile during her dance.

 The timpanist for the New American Philharmonic.  Another emotional moment of the week:  This guy has a very pronounced stutter, and he one night really wanted to talk to me and Freestone.  He showed us a list of ballet terms he had in his wallet from when he was 12 and his mother wanted him to be a dancer.  He told us a lot of incredible details about his life and accomplishments.  I was grateful he took the time.

 Golda, we are so proud of all the work you have done in dance.  Golda took double classes last year and worked so hard, six days a week, to make it to Company.  Her dreams have all come true, and now she is off to major in ballet.  It's a beautiful life, and one that Golda can be proud of working so hard for.