Of amazingness

I can't really remember the last day I posted something, and I'm just to darn lazy to look it up. :)

Yesterday was opening night! Wooo Hooo! I can't believe how well our little play was accepted by the people of Fowler, and the surrounding towns. Before I get all excited and jump to my favorite parts of the day, I should probably just go in chronological order.

Before opening night, cornerstone has a tradition called the ritual. Basically, everyone sets up chairs on the stage in a huge circle. We each then shared about our favorite line on the play. I was amazed. Not only was every single person so open, it was really a homage to the fact that individual people hold different moments dear to them. For example, I've never felt particularly drawn to one of the scenes where two ghosts are talking about the differences between now and when they were alive in the great depression. But Keaton, my favorite 8 year old ever, sobbed as he told us about how much that part reminded him of his grandma. It was a refreshing experience. Everyone's hearts were just poured in to the middle of that circle. And everyone took care of the feelings being poured out. there was no skepticism, and no hurting. The whole act of the ritual made certain parts of the play jump out. Like the actors were doing those parts for the other cast members they impacted.

It's gonna be hard to leave this little makeshift family.

After that, I was feeling pumped. We each got a Gerber Daisy, and a poster. I very calmly strolled over to my car to put them inside of it, and then, again calmly, locked my keys in the front seat.

I've never done anything like that. I'm hype aware of my keys, so super worried about them getting lost, because I have three house keys, and my 100 dollar work keys on there. I was in shock when I did that. Literally standing there for 3 minuets waiting for my brain to register. Of course it would have happened when I was so far from home. Oh lessons, you have a way of being learned. Luckily one of our cast members is a tow truck. That's the thing about the world, it looks out for you. He did some voodoo magic, got a long hooky thing and opened it for me after the show. This makes Fowler a lovely place- the people.

But on to my favorite part of the day yesterday! For those of you who haven't heard anything about the play, I'll give you a little sneak peek. It's set in Fowler, and basically starts in 1918 and works through the history of the town. There are characters that are followed, the main two being Lydia and Ed. You watch them meet, get married, have kids, and have grand kids. Another large person in the play is the radio station host. He was the first African American radio host in California, and really helped build the community of Fowler. The play was written by collecting stories from holding story circles while in Fowler.

Back to my story. I'm sitting on a bench, completely emotionally worked over, due to excitement about seeing the play, and stress about my silly key situation. I'm pretty sure I look haggard and dead. As I'm spacing out, a soft, huge hand appears on my shoulder. I look up at the old, tall, smiling black man and smile back.

"It was amazing" are the only words he says to me.

The man was Woody, the person who our Radio Host was exactly based off of. He just kept saying how amazed he was. How he felt so big, to be in a play. I'm not sure he knew, but the air he gave off, made me feel so proud to be a part of this play. There are so many lessons that the play tried to convey, but the one that sticks with me the most is to just follow your dreams. He did, and he talked about how it was just something he was passionate about. It was inspiring to see that you can do what you love and make history. Even if it's small history, it is history.

I also got to meet the people Ed and Lydia were based off of. They were such sweet, kind people. Being here really has made me feel so young. There is a whole world waiting out there, and I have a whole 100 years to do things. I've got to stop looking ahead and look where I am.

Besides the hustle and bustle of everything coming to an end, everything else is calm. As weird as it sounds, I'm calm inside. What a fun life this is, and I love it.

I miss you all at home, and while it's bittersweet leaving, I can't wait to see you.
Stay lovely, ya'll.
Willie

P.S. 18 days until college starts? Is that even real?

P.S.2. LOVE YOU MIMAW! ;)

So much to tell! (days 6/7/8?)

I've been mega neglecting this blog! Oh well! Let's see, what to tell, what to tell.

On the production side of the play, all is dandy and lovely. My job is pretty much only getting easier and easier from here on out. We're currently in day three of tech(the show opens day after tomorrow!) so, I've got pretty much an awesome sense of who needs their mics on and when, and once people stop talking off stage, if I make a slip up, it's easy to fix.

Really what I'm feeling lately is very blessed. I love it here. Fowler has definitely made an impact on my life, and not just in the theater experience type of way. Since I've been here I've only grown more independent. It's an amazing feeling, knowing that in a couple of weeks, when I go to college I'll be able to handle it. I feel like I'm truly myself while I'm here, and haven't needed to be something I'm not.

My mother asked for more information on the other people down here, so that's mainly what I'll put from here on out.

Institute student:
Everyone here has been so great, it almost feels like their not real when I try to explain them.
The three people I've become the closest to would have to be Tom, Birdie, and Sabrina.

Tom is the Sound assistant, and puts Mics on people for us. The way he holds himself is so care free, and I've never heard a negative word out of his mouth. He always has a nice thing to say about anything, and it's obvious that he loves theater. He gives me this sense of feeling at home when I'm with him, and I think it's cause he just is so real. We got close over setting up sound stuff around the park.

Birdie is the most wonderful adventure I've ever had the fortune of meeting. She's short, beautiful, and from Georgia, with an amazing accent. You know how when you look at a super ripe peach it's all soft, fuzzy, and beautiful on the outside, and when you bite in to it it's even more juicy and delectable on the inside? That's what Birdie is. (not saying I want to eat her. She's amazing, but not 'I'd be a cannibal' amazing." She just does what she wants. She changed her name, had this crazy adventure where she got married and then divorced, doesn't believe in boy friends, and totally is inspiring. I doubt she'd take anything back, and she's really taught me not to regret anything in life. That all of life is this compilation of moments that coincide to make something beautiful. I'm so blessed to have met her.

Sabrina was the first person I got super close to here. She's the type of person who everyone (except crazy people) like. She's so nice, and positive, and gives off this vibe of "yeah! lets go do it!" when ever she's presented with a challenge. As weird as it sounds, I wouldn't mind growing up to be more like her. She's planning to become a teacher, and will be the best theater teacher (besides my mother back in her day) I'll have ever had the fortune to meet. Sub, as I call her, do to a mistype by the chamber of commerce, is the most loving, caring person I've met in a long time, and I can't believe that she has helped me here so much.

I could write for hours about the rest of the people. Everyone is so unique here, and has these back grounds that are adventures. I've said it before, but I can't wait to be like that. This trip has reaffirmed my, take like as it comes, have no regrets, and take every single opportunity you can, out look on life. It's been a wonderful adventure, one that's helped me develop the type of person I want to be. It's really the final step of escalating the childhood stairs, and I've hit the second floor, and don't plan to stop running. As much as I'm excited to go home and see my mom, Thomas, Morgan, and friends, I'm going to miss being here.

Anyways. Stay lovely ya'll.
I like your face.
Willie


Our wonderful set!


My wonderful buddy Birdie and I at the fabric store!


we went to dollar tree and got 54 dollars worth of fake grapes for props! What's a play about the raisin capital of the world with out grapes?