LAST DAY OF TOUR!

You guys, the time has come!  TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY OF TOUR!

Crazy, huh?

There is a giddiness and sadness amongst the cast and crew.  And although I have been honest about my struggles throughout this experience, I know I will get sentimental when the music begins for the very last show.

I will say, “This is the last time I will ever put this purple flower in my hair.”

“This is the last time I will look at Andre on this step.”

“This is the last time I will smile at Michael right here (our NEW goodie!)”

“This is the last time I will do the running-man in this snake outfit.”

And when I do this enough, it opens up the door for all sorts of sentimental feelings.  In fact, some may be more than sentimental; some may be just plain irrational.  I might actually say, “Boy I sure do hope I get to do the running-man again in a snake outfit because, if not, I think I am really going to miss it!”  That is how sentimental I can get.

It reminds me a lot of my last day of high school.  I found myself surprised by my sentimentality when this day came.  I didn’t enjoy high school much nor was around much for it (Back story:  I went to high school for two years, then moved to Texas to skate with an ice-dance partner.  When that partnership ended, I moved back home and went to school for the last half of my senior year) Yet on the last day, there I was getting teary-eyed, wondering if I would ever see my teachers or classmates again.  

Funny enough, I did get a good does of reality too, that last day of school.  In my sentimental state, I gave some boy, who I think I thought was a close friend, my yearbook to sign.

He wrote, “Have fun in Texas.”

Hmmm.  Apparently we hadn’t caught up since I moved back home from Texas (hence the being at school and all.)

Point is, sometimes my sentimental ways keeps me from seeing things clearly.

So, here is my clear-thinking going into the closing of this tour:

Yes, there comes some sadness in the ending of a chapter.  But what is pretty cool is to realize that you even created a chapter in the first place...good, bad, or something in between.

Because I think that is what makes for a great life story-- one that has lots of different chapters.

And I am excited about whatever chapter is next.  

Let’s get it started.

What I've Been Up To

I think this is what the kids call an "epic fail."  I have completely failed at writing once a week.  And just towards the end of tour!  Grrrrrrr....

But conveniently and simultaneously, I am trying not to care about things too much.  I told Brent that I was going to incorporate that expression "oopsies" into my vocabulary more.

So, oopsies!

And also in my lame defense, I have been giving this travel thing hell.

First, between Dresden and Berlin, I took a side trip to Prague with Michael and Brent.

Where I was happy that I don't eat meat....

And thankful for the invention of the watch......

And grateful for the beautiful blue sky that made for the perfect backdrop....

Then we spent three weeks in Berlin.

Highlights include:

Renting bikes with Charlene, Kathrin, and company....

Riding to the East Side Gallery....

Which is a remaining stretch of the Berlin wall and has about 106 paintings from artists all over the world.  Some of my favorites were this.....

And this.....

Some were beautifully powerful....

Some were incredibly inspiring....

And some were inspiring for second year roommates (notice my face)....

Going inside the Berliner Dom....

And on top of it....

Visiting the Tacheles.....

And observing how these little German kids played....

Then we cruised on over to Oslo, Norway.  On a ship....

And took in the wide open space....

As well as the city of Oslo....

And the waves of the sea (that made us keep low to the ground)

Now we are in Kiel, a maritime center of Germany.

The sun is out, the seagulls are too, and today we have just one show, which is the best number of shows to have besides zero.

And after today, there are....drum roll....7 shows to go!

I guess time does fly when you're, I'll admit it, having fun ;)