As the New Year approaches, I’d love to share something I’ve learned as I’ve grown older.
I’ve discovered even though Life is often beastly, you can always find a bit of beauty in it.
Awhile back, one of my teacher friends tragically passed away after a kidney transplant. Her family & friends were devastated. I knew Vanessa had always dreamed about being in a show at our local theatre. So after her death, her circle of friends & I decided to do a production called The Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast, a modified version of the popular Disney’s film — putting a symbol of V in every costume so she could finally be on stage.
Since Vanessa loved teaching, we really wanted do to a production for children. We’re still laughing about that one -- because Jim Deer was so wonderful as our Beast, we scared half the kids to death; and his own granddaughter had to leave in the middle of the show crying. Ha!
And talk about things backfiring.
I have never felt pain like it before. Not even childbirth or kidney stones can compare to burning the palms of your hands and wrists. Melting skin, huge blisters and missing layers… Owweeeee! I was standing across the stage with a remote control, practicing with some pyrotechnics. And when the really cool special effect didn’t go off, I went to investigate. BOOM! Somehow, I ignited the powder.
When one of the young actresses quit the show just a couple hours before our second performance, thankfully, I was still in shock. Ha!
But I soon realized, there CAN be goodness in the worst circumstances. It was Vanessa, herself, who always reminded us, “Build a bridge & get over it.”
Liz Miller, who was playing The Magic Looking Glass, said, “Jan, I can do the Marguerite part. I’ve been following along during rehearsals. I’ll call my sister Lauren and she can run up and do my part. ” And while Marguerite and Isabel, Vanessa’s daughter Anna, were singing “Fine Things,” something beautiful DID happen. You see Anna’s boyfriend Garrett had asked her to marry him at dinner before the show that night. I got to share the good news with the audience right before the curtain went up. And so, when Anna sang the lyrics “a diamond ring on my hand” from the song, she flashed her real engagement ring; and the audience applauded and applauded… (I tried. Ha!)
When I look at this picture, I think her mother Vanessa may have been there applauding too. Do you see her?
I’ll never forget the last lines of this show – after the Beast was transformed into The Prince:
OLD WOMAN: Prince, you may now forget the Beast.
PRINCE: I will never forget the Beast. He will always be a part of me. But he has been tamed by Love – thanks to Beauty.
It’ll Be OK.
~~~
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.” ~ Erma Bombeck
COMMENT: What’s something beautiful you can celebrate today?
So powerful! Thank you for sharing this beautiful story of pain turned into a blessing. ❤️🙏
Jan, what a wonderful story to share with us all. Sending you wishes for a happy and healthy New Year. As the Beatles said “ Love is all you need.” Sending lots of it your way.