It Was Lovely, Thanks

Son Larry-O did himself proud in the one-act play at Big City U.

We met him beforehand for tiny little hamburgers at a hip fast-food type place with a fabulous bar in the back (a bar where we had Cosmos and Mojitos until curtain time). He was energized, happy, hungry, and he left us rather quickly, to get to the theater an hour ahead of his call.

At details of his life like that last one (an hour ahead of his call), I want to ask, "Who are you, and what have you done with my son??!?"

Larry's program (which actually takes place at a theater conservatory affiliated with BCU) has done more to grow this boy up than all the yelling and haranguing a mother could lovingly squeeze into 18 years. This was a boy whose constant refrain to mom in high school was some combination of, "Five more minutes" (playing Halo II), "I have plenty of time to work on that" (school assignment that was due in 12 hours), and "Five more minutes" (to sleep).

But now that he is doing what he loves... and isn't this the key for us all?... he is striving to be an hour early for his call to the theater, because that is professional, that is respectful of his fellow actors, that is what is expected, that is what is required.

As for the play, he was wonderful, as was every other student on the stage. Ah, the complicated goodness of being in the premier program for what you are doing: everyone is fantastic. But Larry's goodness is multi-layered... he is good (read: excellent at his craft) and he is good (read: a good soul). Afterwards, I marveled at his ease and happiness among his friends; no strain, no struggling to fit in, he has found his niche, he has found his place.

I am wandering the same terrain as Cheesehead and Jan Edmiston this morning. Wondering at the change and growth, and knowing that his center of gravity, his polestar, has shifted, and his home is now, truly, elsewhere. It is a joyful and shattering thing, all at once.

Love him like crazy, my talented boy. Trying to maintain some dignity here.