Once Upon A Theatre Rehearsal...

Thankfully THIS theatre moment was one that did NOT unfold before an audience, but during Dress Rehearsal.  For those who may be unfamiliar with theatre lingo, Dress Rehearsal is when the actors wear their actual costumes or clothing for a play for the final rehearsal before Opening Night.

This particular play, "Calvalcade" by Noel Coward was about a very loving couple over a period of time who weathered changes in the world around them including losses.  The two main leads acting in this production, Martina and Simon were actually married to each other.

The rehearsals leading up to Dress Rehearsal went quite well.  However a storm was forming below the surface.  It appeared the young actress playing the lady in love with the "Calvalcade" couple's son, apparently was brazenly being flirtatious with Simon.  Martina, well aware of this didn't appear to be concerned.  At least on the surface.  

Yet there is this very surreal calm where NOTHING stirs just before a tornado wipes a town off the map too!

When Simon and Martina arrived on Dress Rehearsal night, not only were they obviously fighting, they had been drinking!  Not good, not good.😱

So it would be an understatement to say that 

Dan, the play Director suddenly became about as nervous as a cat with a long tail in a room full 

of rocking chairs rocking.🤣

Act I came off well considering everything.

Then...came...Act...II.  When Miss Flirtatious enters.

Now I happened to be in the Scene Shop painting a set for a play the following season.  Way back there I usually couldn't hear what was happening on stage.  But I sure did hear a huge crash!  MY first thought was the unthinkable happened:  that part of my set failed somehow, so I went flying to Stage Right.😱  

I arrived just in time to see Martina hurl a large vase prop at Simon which shattered to pieces as she yelled, "Simon, you son of a b***h!"

"Marty I wasn't being flirtatious back," said Simon, as he dodged a large book.

"I saw you wink at her!"

"I wasn't winking at her!"

"Like hell!"

"Calvalcade" had clearly just descended into "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" here.😂

"Marty, do you REALLY think I could fall for HER?!!"

Oh my, Simon was in for it now, because this is when Miss Flirtatious suddenly came out from under the desk she was cowering beneath grabbing a whiskey bottle prop on her way.  As she hurled it at Simon he ducked and the bottle shattered my multiple glass window panes I had painstakingly put in for each of the large windows.😱

At this point Marty turned on Miss Flirtatious.  

"How DARE you!"  As she hurled the coffee table at her and missed, but took out MORE of my windows besides breaking a leg on the coffee table!🥴

"STOP!  ALL THREE OF YOU SIT DOWN NOW!"  

If you're wondering WHO said this, I can assure you it was not Dan the Director cowering behind the seats in Row F, nor was it the Stage Manager hiding behind the curtains, or Props, or the Executive Director and Artistic Director both hiding in the wings. 

It...was...ME...standing to my 4'3" full height.💥  

You see, when Adelaide's theatre set gets destroyed the night before Opening Night, she becomes a force to be reckoned with!!!😂

All three promptly seated themselves on the couch together when I ordered them to sit down NOW, even appearing to tremble a bit in fear as I stood before them.

"Simon, apologize to Miss Flirtat...I mean, Denise!"

"But I didn't..."

"I don't give a shit.  Apologize."

"Marty, you apologize to Simon and Denise."

"But Adelaide, I...uh...uh...okaaay, I'll apologize."

"Denise, it's your turn."

"Yes mam!  I'm apologizing!"

"Okay, all three of you are setting aside your differences NOW.  You have a show to do tomorrow and you're going to do it well and you're going to be sober doing it.  Right now you're going to finish Dress Rehearsal while I repair the windows and coffee table you broke.  If you're done rehearsing before I get done, you're going to help me finish.  Got it?"

They eagerly nodded in unison.

Simon then announced he had a confession.

"Now?"

"Yes Adelaide, please, because I'm not afraid saying this as long as you are here to protect me."🙄

"Marty honey, I was winking at Dan, not Denise.  I've been too afraid to come out.  No more.  I'm gay Marty.  Dan and I are in love.  This doesn't mean I won't continue to love you...it just means things will be different.  We will be happier.  Please, I need to know my sweet angel, if you will support me in this."

At first she was silent.  For an eternity. 

"Simon, honey, I think deep down inside I've always known this.  We haven't been happy or fulfilled for years, you know?  I really want you to be happy, I sincerely do.  I will be happy too.  I believe this change will be good for us both.  And you know what else?  I'm very proud of you!"💖

"I am too, Simon." I said.

After everyone felt it was safe enough to venture out of their hiding places, we gave them a rousing round of applause as tears filled our eyes, because we were all profoundly touched by what just happened. 

Then everyone suddenly turned toward me and gave me a standing ovation.  Even now all these years later my eyes are filled with heartwarming tears by what happened on stage that night.  

It was powerful.  It was shared.  And oh, was it 

ever magic.🎭💫

Ninety-nine Ways To Say...

One cannot work in Theatre for decades without witnessing or being part of some hilarious situations which usually unfolded NOT in rehearsal but before an audience.  The following two pieces for now are too brief for a blog entire, yet I hope are enjoyed...😃

There was in this play a character with the name of Mrs. DeMunderdum and Mike the actor tasked with nailing down this pronunciation most was having difficulties doing it.  For you see the consistency of pronouncing this correctly throughout the play was becoming far too elusive for our dear Mike to attain.

Now in Theatre there is always a person known as a Prompter who is situated in what is often referred to 

as "The Hole," not seen by audience but located stage center front.  From the stage side one sees only the head of the Prompter.  The Prompters' duties are to cue the actors on lines if needed, where to be when, lighting, curtain, and more.

Doreen our Prompter had her hands full on this one yet came up with a way to help Mike.  On two huge pieces of poster board in big block letters had "DeMunderdum" written so Mike could get help from both stage left and right as needed.  

This worked quite well Dress Rehearsal as Mike started to say when asking Mrs. DeMunderdum to dance, "Mrs. DeDanceder...uh, DEMUNDERDUM, would you please have this dance with me?"

But the next night, Opening Night, Doreen's assistant could not find the poster boards and quickly made one.  Only instead of writing "DeMunderdum" on it she wrote "DeMonderdom."  

Not good, not good. 

All throughout Act I, poor Mike became so darn confused he literally was blurting out everything from "DeMancetron to DeMonderdom to DeCrapetdom 

to DeMuncerdeedum to DeMunderdrummer!"

Those of us who happened to be in the wings felt terribly for our dear Mike...we really did, but I must say this fact still did not keep us all from dying in hysterics backstage.  So was the audience too.

Of course Doreen had no idea WHAT had gone so wrong and was livid when Intermission came.  The Director was absolutely raving with fury too because the critic was there that night to review the play!  A critic can make or break a play with just their ink alone!😱

Doreen herself hastily made new poster boards for 

Act II yet it turned out SHE wrote BOTH wrong too!  Our  Mike was doomed!  

All kinds of hilarious mispronounciations came out during Act II!  One I still remember was"DeShitzerdom!"  

So what was SUPPOSED to be a light hearted romance had disintegrated into a hysterical farce with the audience laughing themselves silly!

Around 3 a.m. we all were gloomily gathered at the newsstand dreading to see what the critic had to say.  None of us could believe it.  The critic said he thought the term, "Light Hearted Romance," didn't do the play justice as HE found the play so charmingly hilarious, especially...ESPECIALLY the very BRILLIANT way the female characters' difficult name was mispronounced throughout the play.🎭🤩

So for the remainder of that plays' long run no more cue cards were needed for Mike...😂

In Theatre the Prop Manager picks up where the Scene Designer's job ends.  It is up to the Prop Manager to decorate the set in whatever time period it takes place in, as well as to furnish props the actors will use.

For this play my assistant and I built a partial staircase which included a landing.  Of course to the audience this appeared as being a full set of stairs situated by a living room.  On the outside of the beam which supported the landing I installed a heavy-duty hook to hang a large fern as required.

In one scene on the landing the young man home from college does what is often seen in such homes as he sideways leaps over the railing to avoid using the more traditional way of entering a living room where family is gathered.  This was also a time period when it wasn't odd for a young person to be wearing suspenders.

Remember suspenders.

The word we were hearing backstage was that Stephen, the young actor who played the college student had a cocky attitude.  Because he had been in one successful play prior to this Stephen apparently thought he was better than the rest of the cast.  He wasn't even a lead in this play.  Nevertheless the older cast still tried to be patient with Stephen.

Rehearsals went well.  Then came Opening Night.

Because the hanging fern was real and belonging 

to the Director he removed it to a sunlit area following each rehearsal.  It was then up to the Director to put it back.  In the rush of Opening Night this did not get done and was not discovered until it was too late.

Somehow no one thought it important to mention this fact to Stephen because after all, he never leapt over the railing near the fern anyway so what could possibly go wrong?

As Roddy and Sheila, the actors who played Stephen's parents were at their places it was time for Stephen to make his grand entrance.  Since Stephen was oblivious to the fact the fern was gone and Adelaide's excellent work of placing the plant hook into the beam that could stay there until the end of time was jutting out, he leapt high over the railing in the wrong place.

As Stephen came down his suspenders caught onto Adelaide's hook.  Oh did they ever!  

In rapid succession Stephen suddenly found himself in the rather humiliating position of helplessly hanging upside down before a packed House!  The reaction of everyone except for maybe Stephen's parents who were seated in the audience was to lose it.

However, being the excellent actors Roddy and Sheila were they began adlibbing as they laughed.

"Well son," said Roddy, "didn't you see we moved the plant?  Come mother, let's help our son down."

So with Roddy lifting Stephen up a bit, Sheila standing on the landing lifted free the suspenders as a very rattled Stephen landed on his feet.  

From there Roddy and Sheila successfully steered the play back to where it was with a more humble Stephen doing so too.  Because of this the audience assumed what happened was part of the play.

From then on Stephen was far more pleasant to work with.🙂 

And many years later I heard my hook was still very tightly embedded in that beam and holding.😂🎭

Why...

 

Boldness Launched My Journey...

Despite my talent I was nearly not accepted into the Theatre Scene Design Program of the University I had applied to.  The Department Chairman expressed concerns I may not be able to paint the massive canvas or wood backdrops in the days long before the amazing computer graphics took over towards the end of my career.  

Dr. Ravenall was also very concerned my height challenge could hinder me from using the power saws and the other tools needed in set construction too, yet

I wasn't.😃💫

In my blog piece on Boldness I shared what happened immediately after Dr. Ravenall expressed his concerns in the excerpt below about what can happen when we either learn boldness or must become bold due to certain circumstances...🤣👇

[Even though I am about the same size standing as I am sitting I suddenly stood up in front of Dr. Ravenall to my full height of my very tall 4'3" and boldly let him know a few things about myself.  That it was because of my height I would be an asset as I had more to prove, and I would.  Not only that I had far more courage than the average person.  Furthermore, I was very talented too which he strongly agreed.  And one more thing I blurted out to Dr. Ravenall was I owned and galloped my horse bareback across fields asking him how many people he knew who could!

At this his jaw dropped.  And he was speechless.  He never had ANYONE talk to him before in such a way.  Especially such a young person!

He was silent.  For a brief moment I thought to myself, "Oh shit.  I blew it."

Finally Dr. Ravenall spoke.  "Adelaide, I am not only going to admit you to the program but our renown Prof. Emeritus of Scene Painting Dr. Sonderling, takes only eleven students every other year who have extraordinary talent and character.  Because you have just shown me both in spades I am putting you in his final class this semester."   

WOW.  Being one of the few chosen for THAT class was BIG.  Really big.  So was being admitted to the Theatre Scene Design Program too.  Boldness threw the door wide open for me.]

Dr. Sonderling was a beloved Scene Design professor dear to all.  I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be one of the few chosen for the last class of his long career.  He created this class for Design students who met certain requirements.  For 

me to be a first year student chosen to be in this, the last class, was really something special.  And quite an honour.

In the beginning of the class we prepared the series of huge canvas flats we would need for the Scene Painting assignments Dr. Sonderling would be giving us.

Obviously this was one class where we couldn't take our work home so the ten of my fellow students and I became very close friends, often painting through the nights on our huge assignments.

This class is where I learned I had a very special gift.  Normally artists transferring an image from a photo 

or page from a book divide the page into grids, then enlarge the grids to the flat, transferring the image.  I had a mental block with the grid system yet could freely reproduce a small image in its exact proportions onto a massive flat requiring tall ladders.  This proved to be quite a special gift on my career journey. 

It blew Dr. Sonderling away!  "Adelaide!  How do you 

DO that?!!"

"I don't know!  I just DO IT!  I can't explain how!  Is it a bad thing I can't do the grid system?"

"Hell no!  You really have a gift there!"

Dr. Sonderling wondered if the gift I had was because EVERYTHING from MY perspective is obviously much larger than I am anyway.  So as a Scene Design artist this afforded me the ability to easily recreate small into huge.😃

We had begun our first assignment on 4'x4' flats.  For this Dr. Sonderling gave us each a page from a very wonderful, colorful children's book called, "Tuesday," 

by David Wiesner, which was a funny book about a Tuesday when frogs could suddenly fly.  My page had the frogs on their flying lilypads high above the rooftops as you may see below which I had to recreate onto a canvas flat my height.😂

In High School I had already painted on huge 6'x6' canvas flats for various school productions which contributed to the reasons I was accepted into the Design Program when my portfolio was reviewed.

As Dr. Sonderling observed our individual drawing and painting techniques he discovered another amazing technique I did not know I had.🤔

I was so engrossed in my work I did not realize he was standing behind me watching me work.  All of a sudden Dr. Sonderling loudly blurted out, "ADELAIDE!"

In quick succession he so startled me I spilled half a can of green paint down my front from the frogs I was painting.😂🐸

"OH SHIT!  Did I do something wrong?!!"😱

Laughing, he said, "NO!  But YOU paint from dark to light!"

"Ohhkaaay...doesn't...everyone?"😳

"No, that's just it!  Everyone usually draws and paints from light TO dark!"

"OH.  Is this something I need to change?"😱

"DON'T TOUCH IT!"

When I told my dear mentor friends this they were not surprised.  They reminded me how my very challenging life and indomitable spirit meant I was always striving to overcome the dark to remain in the positive light I held onto in living my life.  And it was coming out in my creative technique of dark to light.  This made sense to me.😃🖌🎨

The time came for Dr. Sonderling's final assignment on the massive 12'x12' canvas flats.  We were anxious to see what we would be painting on this one.  This is when he handed each of us a large sealed envelope with our names written on it.  Inside was the Edward Hopper painting he had chosen for each of us.  Mine was the Empty Storefront seen below.

Not only were we given three weeks to produce this final assignment it accounted for half our grade.  A lot was riding on this project.

Since we each had three or four other classes besides this one we had to really burn the midnight oil to complete this project.  And do a damn good job.  The last two days we hardly left the Scene Shop.  Our massive flats, ladders, and paint were everywhere.  Besides having a steady stream of Theatre Department students and faculty who kept coming to observe our progress.😱

Finally it was time for both Dr. Sonderling as well as 

Dr. Ravenall to critique our work.  One by one in the Theatre our massive flats were set up on the stage.  

We were being assessed on accuracy and our painting ability of the Hopper painting we each had been given. 

Actually we all did well for we wouldn't have been in 

the class if we each didn't have talent to begin with.

Nevertheless, a LOT still was depending upon this assignment.  We would only be given our actual grade when both professors sat down with each of us privately. 

I nailed an A+ the highest possible grade and was well on my way.

We knew our flats became the property of the Theatre Department yet often through the years I have thought how cool keeping my Hopper flat and the flying frogs would have been...😂👏🖌🎨💫

From "Tuesday"

Edward Hoppers' Storefront👇

The WOW Factor...

I first am going to share the story about two seeds with you.  One seed boldly determined she wanted to grow tall and get off the ground doing it.  And she did.  You see it was very stormy where she was so with her courage she soared with the wind to a grove of trees where she made friends right away with the other trees and squirrels too.  Not only did she grow she lived a very full, colorful life.  She was admired for having the courage to live her dream.  There often were tough challenges of stormy weather but she realized the challenges grew her into the wonderful tree she became.  

Now the other seed instead lived in fear and insecurity.  Rather than soar with the wind to amazing new places filled with wonders and a place to grow tall she remained exactly where she was.  She worried about everything.  Most of all she worried about any missed opportunities if she left the ground like the other seed had done.  So she chose not to go anywhere.

Not good...not good.

For one day a crow came along and devoured this fearful, unhappy seed.

I am here to tell all of you about a really kind of mind blowing profound discovery I made recently.  This must be similar to when people suddenly have one of those moments of seeing their life pass before them as they have a near death experience, otherwise we would never know these events are possible for one to have.  Which is a good thing.  Though I have been extremely close to dying several times along the way I have not had nor am I having one of those.  Besides since I bought a expensive wild horse calendar as I do each year for this very purpose, I assure you my going anywhere is definitely not happening anytime soon because I invested in that calendar.😂

Though being height challenged you may have found by now I still managed to live a life of WOW (a life of WOW is another one of those many endearing, so I am told, "Adelaideism" things hoomans who know me either love or laugh hysterically about) by boldly surviva-soaring my way along and carving out one hell of a WOW life anyway.

Only I didn't realize quite how much of a life of WOW I had until I FINALLY arrived at this place in my life where I am writing all the things down I kept promising many I would do (so grateful I kept journals through the decades).  The reason it took me so long to do this is because I was too busy pouring myself into living 

in-between all the hospital living.

Another "Adelaideism" you are about to have the privilege of discovering here is, "The Adelaide IF Threads."  These are when one thing needs to happen for another to happen in life.  We ALL have an "IF Thread Of Gratitude" running through our lives.  Should you be unaware such a vital life treasure exists, please know that it does and hold it dearly.

I believe there is far more to our existence than these amazing bodies made up of billions of cells as we  dwell upon this tiny speck of Earth found somewhere 

in a VERY HUGELY VAST Universe and THIS is BIG folks! 

Anyway, I believe in all that VASTNESS there must be reasons why some of us come into this world with a 

Mt. Everest of horrendous challenges.  I believe this is why some come packaged with treasure, for I was blessed to come packaged with the soul of a horse, a sense of humour, the powerful gift of having love in the midst of hell without love, an indomitable spirit, determination in spades, creative talent, and an innate sense of positivity. 

Now...to my own amazing "Adelaide's IF Thread."

IF Adelaide did not have her loving babysitter at three and the other kids who adored her, she would not have known how much she mattered to others at such a tender age...the beginning of her journey.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide had not learned that love she wouldn't have begun boldly knocking on doors by five in yet another new town as her parents kept moving so much.  Because she did this she immediately found new friends and their parents who loved and accepted her and who stood by her when needed the most.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide's parents hadn't moved again she would not have known the bonds of friendship she found in kids living in the Orphanage, who like Adelaide were adults 

in kid's bodies because our adults failed us.  With Adelaide's innate courage and her new friends she learned to be stronger than all the ridicule and hurt hurled at her.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide had not written a sad yet powerful poem about losing hope read by a teacher who embraced Adelaide with her compassion by taking Adelaide into her home and heart, Adelaide wouldn't have had her first mentor friend who restored her hope.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide's wounds from yet more violence in her home had not been so severe the next morning, her parents feared the teacher would notice and they get arrested and suddenly Adelaide's dream of finally having a horse in her life happened.  Adelaide would not have known her first experience of being set free by her horses without the violence first.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide had not been set free with her horse, she would not have had the ability to paint and draw horses the way she could by making them free, and an art gallery who saw her work would not have represented her at seventeen.  Because of this...

IF the art gallery had not represented her and the local newspaper had not done a story about Adelaide and her art, four very special people touched by something they saw in Adelaide would never have known Adelaide or each other.  They would not have become Adelaide's dear mentor friends who loved her on her journey Adelaide began soaring upon.  Because of this...

IF these four had not taught Adelaide so well and nurtured her innate gifts she would not have pushed so hard to follow her heart into theatre, believing she had what it took to become a set designer.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide did not believe she had what it took to follow her heart to become a Theatre Set Designer she could not have blown away the Theatre Department Chairman with her boldness who accepted her into the Theatre Scene Design Program when he almost didn't. 

Because of this...

IF Adelaide's indomitable spirit following her first spine surgery had not come shining forth as she fought to walk again against the impossible she would not have inspired others who needed to be inspired.  Because of this...

IF one of Adelaide's mentor friends had not recognized Adelaide's gift to inspire others this mentor friend 

would not have encouraged Adelaide into becoming a powerful speaker.  When she did, Adelaide touched many lives by inspiring them.  Then the ripple effects of Adelaide's words they shared with others spread further and further touching more lives.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide never shared the gift for humour she had been given, doors of acceptance would not have been opened.  Most of all, many hearts may not have been opened too.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide did not have the courage and optimism including some insanity to take a HUGE plunge to raise the funding needed for a move to Maryland for more surgery and treatment with a new bone marrow drug by riding her horse ten miles with the media along on the ride too, thousands would never have taken Adelaide and Patches into their hearts.  They never would have embraced the inspiration they said Adelaide gave them.  And the laughter.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide had not plunged forth to Maryland she never would have found the love of her life and become the love of his life.  Though tragedy took his life, Adelaide would never known how deeply one could love and be loved by another and this is a treasure she will forever cherish.  Because of this...

IF Adelaide had not learned the profound gift and meaning of having friends so young, she would not have been able to nail this down so young.  Because of this her gratitude knows no bounds for all the friends she loves and holds so dearly.

You see, despite all my challenges what a fun, creative, filled with a huge cast of characters, love, horses, cats, adventurous, wonderful life I have had.  I have poured more living into my journey with all my severe challenges than many do without physical challenges. 

I have been very blessed to live a life of WOW.  And because of that...

The Greatest Test...

The greatest test of courage on Earth, is to bear pain without losing heart.

                                            ~Robert Ingersoll 

                                     

The Story When Patches Remembered...

Along the way now and then I have been blessed with some very bright shining touch of wonder moments.  Those rare moments when amazing Magic happens...

Not long after Patches came into my life I had yet another spine surgery.  Through no fault of my dear surgeon everything went wrong.  I suddenly began bleeding out thirteen hours in.  Immediately following nineteen hours of surgery, a huge hematoma formed on my spinal cord and began pressing on it.  I was becoming paralyzed.  My surgeon rushed back in and it took another four hours to remove the hematoma.  Twenty-three hours in surgery that day!😱

Two days later on Christmas Day in ICU, my dear surgeon and I discovered I still had a tiny bit of movement in a few toes.  For all I was worth I focused on my toes until they ALL eventually began moving.  Then my feet, legs.  I had a very full life to get back to!

The spine surgery was two days before Christmas.  It was Spring when I finally reached the place where I could walk with a cane instead of a walker.  I wondered if Patches would still remember me.  He was only six months old when I "disappeared," and now he was ten months old! 

One bright Sunday a fellow boarder offered to take me to the farm since I still couldn't drive.  

The farm was very busy that day.  I was so touched for I learned many had come out when they heard 

I was going to be there!  We were all so thrilled to finally see each other again!

I saw Patches way off in the distance high on a hill.  Someone offered to go get him for me.  

"Thank you!  First, please wait a moment," I said.  

I cupped my hands and called his name.  Suddenly Patches' head shot up and he began excitedly looking around as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.  I called again and waved my arms.

In response he loudly neighed and began flying 

down that field.  Then he briefly disappeared from sight.  Suddenly Patches burst forth in sight again 

at full gallop charging up the hill while so excited he was trying to neigh but squeaked instead.

EVERYONE but Patches stopped right where they were, watching.  Tough horsemen were wiping tears away from their eyes.  We ALL realized we were witnessing something very beautiful, special, and magical unfold before us talked about for decades.  Even all the horses stopped, watching this scene unfold!

Patches slammed to a stop a few feet from me, then walked up to me happily rubbing his head up and down me again and again.  Oh my, did Patches EVER remember me!

This...was indeed one of those amazing, rare 

"touch of wonder" gems in life I will hold onto forever deep within and never let slip from my grasp.

For I was blessed with a very bright shining diamond that day.💫🐎🥰🐎💫

Patches charging up the hill at full gallop to 

me.  Before I could take the next photo Patches was already happily rubbing his head up and down me again and again.  Everyone there including me, had tears pouring down our cheeks because we all knew we had just seen the very powerful magic of love happen before us.

Running Right Smack Into...

When working in Theatre one may often meet some of the famous along the way and my life has happened to cross paths with a few...

One year Mikhail Baryshnikov, the amazing ballet star was on tour and came to the performing arts center I worked for.  His performance had long been sold out.

Prior to the performance when life backstage can really get crazy the two of us passed each other.  The first was Baryshnikov and a entourage of people around him while I with brushes in my hands and paint on my face was in a rush.

The second time he was alone and stopped me.  He said, "I could not help but notice you."

I responded with my usual fun humour by saying, "Oh crap!  Is it because of the paint on my face?!!"

And he burst out laughing.  We briefly chatted then Baryshnikov asked, "Will you be staying for the performance?"

"I plan to watch it from the wings!  Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

And I was there.

After Baryshnikov's performance he was given roses and more than one standing ovation.  As the curtains finally fell he gave me a rose saying, "This is for meeting you and THIS is for the paint you still have on your face."  And THAT was a kiss!

Another performer I was so blessed to meet was 

the dear actor Harold Gould.  He starred in many stage, television, and film productions including one of my favorites, "The Sting."  Mr. Gould came to town starring in a stage production.

We met backstage when he couldn't find the way 

to his dressing room.  Being a Little Person throws wide open the door for conversations one normally would not get to have.  Mr. Gould said, "I can't help but notice you are a Little Person!"

"Oh REALLY?!!  Is it THAT noticeable?!!"

He laughed quite hard.

Then we had the nicest conversation.  It turns out he also loved horses.  As soon as he learned about mine he asked, "How DO you get ON your horse?!!"  (I am asked this SO much if I ever write a book that question should be the title)😂

After the performance we had coffee and a very delightful conversation together in his hotel lounge talking about life, dreams, art, "The Sting," and horses before going our separate ways.

The next person I am going to share here is someone most of you may have never heard of, however, those who know theatre will know of this incredible lady, Betty Comden.  

Ms. Comden's writing partnership with Adolph Green was the longest one in theatre history lasting an astounding six decades.  They provided the lyrics and screenplays to some of the most beloved Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows ever.  "Singing In The Rain" is just ONE of them.

How we met is really funny.  In New York on a crowded street in the Theatre District one day where I was in a Scene Design Workshop there a lady literally ran right smack into me almost knocking me over.  This happens to Little People a lot you see when people not expecting a hooman to be found way down here will plow right into us.😱

Immediately as she began profusely apologizing I blurted out, "You're Betty Comden!  WOW, it is such a pleasure to meet you!"  Which then shocked the hell 

out of HER because people usually had no idea what Comden and Green even looked like.  I knew because 

of my passion for and minor in Theatre History.  I was thrilled to meet her!  Ms. Comden was flattered.

Both of us had a free moment so we went to a nearby coffee shop spending a very delightful time talking theatre, Set Design, art, dreams, poetry, jewelry, horses.  "Dear, if you don't mind me asking how DO you get ON your horse?!!"😂

Though I have met other famous people I am only 

going to share one more here.  And believe me this is someone known worldwide.  None other than Colonel Harland Sanders himself Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken whose home was close to the farm where I boarded some of my horses.

We first met when he was the Grand Marshall of a 

small town parade close to the farm which my pony and I were riding in.  As soon as The Colonel saw me he rushed over.  He was quite intrigued saying, "Why you're one of those little ones aren't you?"

"Oh crap!  I didn't think it was showing today!"

He got a huge kick out of my humor.

So a few months later one day as I was riding my pony Sadie off farm a limo suddenly pulled up beside us.  It was Colonel Sanders who recognized me because my dwarfism was STILL showing.🤣

"Little One, I told Miss Claudia (his wife) about you and she would just love to meet you.  Can you come on up to our place?  PLEEZE?"

How could I possibly turn The Colonel down?  Sadie and I headed up to their place where The Colonel and Miss Claudia were waiting.  They had been married for decades and clearly adored each other.  And they both had a question they wanted to ask.  "Honey, HOW DO you get ON your horses?"

That became the first of several very delightful visits where we sipped tea and talked.

But knowing how fiercely The Colonel was known for guarding the secret of his very famous Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe I knew better than to EVER dare ask what was in it regardless of how darn cute The Colonel said he thought I was.😂

                                   Baryshnikov 

                                   Harold Gould

                             Betty Comden

                        Colonel Harland Sanders 

Within Us...

What lies behind us, 

And what lies before us,

Are tiny matters compared to 

What lies WITHIN us.

                   ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes Expectations May Smother The Beauty...

I do my thing

And you do your thing.

I am not in this world 

To live up to your expectations 

And you are not in this world 

To live up to mine. 

I am I,

And you are you,

And if by chance we find each other, 

It's BEAUTIFUL. 

               ~Fritz Perls 

Even Soaring Above A Flock Of Birds...

WHOO HOO HOOOOOOOO," all twelve of us yelled after cramming ourselves together onto a large slick section of vinyl flooring we borrowed from the Scene Design Shop to plunge down the Mt. Everest of hills with perfect packed down snow.

Only there was a slight problem though.  Near the bottom one had to be very careful (assuming one had any control of what one was riding on) to aim going stage left because you see if one went stage right one would plow into a creek.  Plunging into a creek during winter is something most of us try very hard to avoid if possible. 

The other friends I was plunging down this huge Mt. Everest hill with were the ones I wrote about in my blog describing Dr. Sonderling's last ever elite Scene Painting class we had the honor of having been chosen for.

Since we had to spend so much of our time together painting assignments on MASSIVE canvas flats we nine young men and two young ladies became very close. Actually Dr. Sonderling was profoundly touched by just how supportive and close a group we were.  

The last day of his last class Dr. Sonderling said to us as he kept choking back tears, "All of you have formed 

a very touching deep bond always looking out for each other, helping each other, having fun, laughing and hugging.  A camaraderie I have not seen like this ever before.  The eleven of you have become very special to me.  I could not have asked to end my teaching career with a finer group.  And all talented as hell too.  I feel so proud and privileged to know you.  Please keep in touch with me!  By the way, what in the world are you going to do with the vinyl you asked to borrow?  I'm curious."

Sooo, this is how seventy-two year old Dr. Sonderling wound up on this large piece of slick vinyl flooring with his eleven students careening down Mt. Everest at high speed.  From the top of this hill none of us could see how at stage left where we HAD to go if we wanted to avoid plowing into the creek, a very unexpected rise had been built in the snow for the purpose of becoming very airborne. 

Now I have a feeling my dear readers are wondering what happened, are you not?  I daresay you would really like to know how our flight landed.  So please hold on tight and keep reading to the end...the...very...end.😃 

All of my other ten friends in dear Dr. Sonderling's final 

Scene Painting class and I kept in touch with each other through the years (well now you at least know WE survived Mt. Everest anyway...sort of...😂).  And we all kept our promise to keep in touch with Dr. Sonderling the remainder of his life too (yes, he too survived Mt. Everest...kind of🙃).

Although my other ten friends and I kept in touch the last time we all were ever together was that plunge we made down Mt. Everest.  For as life often does when one's heart is in theatre, the roads we travel and places theatre takes us are many.  Two of my friends landed Scene Design positions at prestigious theatres in New York and Seattle.  Another in LA.  One continued his Scene Design studies all the way to Oxford in England.  Loved England so much he remained there many years (and where have those years gone so fast?).

Two of my other friends found living in many different places not what they really wanted yet to remain in theatre landed Scene Design jobs at a university because they married each other.  Another friend of 

the ten began teaching Theatre Scene Design at a performing arts high school.

One of our ten died in a theatre shop accident.  And one we have no idea what happened to or where he is.

And finally the last you have been following her journey here.

Our dear Dr. Sonderling lived to the young age of 

ninety-one.  I was able to see him one final time when he was eighty-six.  He was thrilled to see me and though he was having trouble remembering people he had no problem with knowing who I was.  

"Adelaide!  My amazing little Scene Painter who draws and paints from dark to light instead of light to dark!  And who dances with horses!"  

So assuming you have made it this far without giving 

up to see how Mt. Everest ended I will not keep you in suspense any longer.

I left you hanging as we were careening down Mt. Everest at high speed unaware a snow rise was built at stage left, the only way for us to go without flying into the creek at stage right.  And we had a seventy-two year old Dr. Sonderling who had been keen to join us but by now was probably wishing he hadn't. 

In very quick succession we suddenly saw the friggin rise built in the snow, then we reached heights no one else riding on a piece of floor vinyl with twelve people have surely ever attained before in all the history of hoomans. 

The guys thought we had to hit that rise doing 40mph but it had to be at least 90mph.  We hit that sucker and we went flying waaay high.

How high?  

Well Dr. Sonderling swore he saw a flock of birds flying below us, however I cannot attest to that.  I know we 

did pass through some clouds though.

Somehow after we returned to earth again we landed and for a brief moment it appeared our destiny was to take a plunge in the icy creek.  Though we never told Dr. Sonderling this fact we think his weight on the stage left portion of the vinyl miraculously shifted us away from those icy waters, and most of all, sparing him from that fate because we cared so much about him.

We still kept speeding down the rest of Mt. Everest 

until we at last hit a series of snowdrifts before finally coming to a stop.

All twelve of us cheered, jumped up and down and hugged each other.  Dr. Sonderling said this was the most fun he had in years!  It was indeed a thrill for us all.  The serendipitous spur of the moment events in our lives always are.  That's why we all need them.

During my visit with Dr. Sonderling when he was eighty-six, there was something else he remembered because it was one of the best moments of his life.

Dr. Sonderling asked, "Adelaide, do you remember that moment when we hit the snow rise and we became airborne so high I saw a flock of birds flying below us?"

"Oh yes, Dr. Sonderling.  If I remember correctly I believe you saw those right after we passed through all those clouds in the sky."😂💫🎭

 

I Have Been A Rover...

THIS...has been one of MY life defining songs for decades because I was born with the spirit to wander.  And horses and theatre set me free to wander, free to hope, free to soar, free to love and be loved.

I have been a rover,

I have walked alone,

Gone a hundred highways,

Never found a home,

Still and all I'm happy,

The reason is you see,

[Many] times along the way

Love's [been and is] good to me.

                     Rod McKuen

Galloping In New York City...

When I was still very young, daring, and crazy, beginning to forge my way ahead as a theatre set designer with promise, a grand opportunity presented itself for me to take part in a prestigious set design summer workshop in The Big Apple.🍎  So I applied for and was awarded a small grant to get to do this, which was a huge honor.

First, I am about to share with you a proven fact:  those who have the horse passion and/or those who work in theatre always, and I mean ALWAYS are drawn to one another even if there are a thousand other people around.  

So I was in the crowded waiting room to see my doctor one day a few months before going to NYC happened, having brought a book on theatre history with me.  Soon after I climbed into my book, a lady rushed over and sat down next to me.

"I knew it!  Before I saw your book I just knew you were connected to theatre!  My name is Annie, and I'm from New York starring in the play at Actors here!"

"Wow!  I'm Adelaide!  So nice to meet you!  I'm a set designer for the much smaller other theatre here and I love it!  How do you like it here?"

"Oh it's wonderful and people are really nice.  But I miss my friends, and especially my horse.  Will I ever be glad to get back to New York and see him.  I miss the city itself too."

"Uh Annie, you're SO not going to believe this, but I have a horse too!"

"You're kidding?!!  This is amazing!"

We exchanged phone numbers.  Then I invited Annie 

to go riding with me using my friend's horse Rory.  She jumped at the chance.  Said she hadn't been able to get out much.  So one day I took her to The Kentucky Horse Park which was new and then we even paid a visit to Claiborne Farm to see Secretariat too.  

Of course I was keen to know where in NYC one not only kept horses, but where one rode.  In the early 1980's there were still a few stables remaining in the city where one could board a horse located not far from Central Park, with bridle paths just for horseback riding.

Annie asked if I considered taking Selah with me.  At this point taking Selah with me hadn't even entered my mind, because you see only a crazy person would even THINK of taking their beloved horse to NEW YORK CITY too, right?!!

Right.  I wasn't THAT crazy.😂

Besides, board in NYC would be quadruple of what I was used to paying.  Yet more than anything, I had to put Selah first.  After all, I would only be away four months for one thing.  However, Selah had never been anywhere before to experience the massive amount of traffic and noise of the city.  She would be absolutely terrified.  Also she was used to being out in the wide open spaces of the farm I had her at.  In NYC she would be stuck in a dark stall for hours each day.  No way would I put her through any of this.

This didn't deter Annie and her best friend Heather, who also acted and had a horse at the same place Annie did.  A fellow boarder of theirs was to be abroad that summer and he was delighted to have me "adopt" Mugwamp (yep, that's what his name was!) the months I would be there.  So I had a horse to ride in NYC!

And friends.  Annie shared an apartment with two dear and funny as could be guys, and they all insisted there was room for me.  So I had a place to stay too!

Broadway during the eighties was exploding with the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, then there was the hit about Little Orphan Annie, and Chorus Line.  In addition, Joseph Papp, who revolutionized theatre, was doing extraordinary things.  It was a very exciting time to be in NYC working in theatre.

After I arrived one of the first things we did was go to the stables so I could meet Mugwamp.  Then Annie, Heather, and I went to Central Park for our first ride.

We had to go a few blocks in the midst of all the traffic, and waiting our turns at the lights.  It was astounding.

The amazement of being in NYC with the gift of having a horse to care for and ride never lost its wonder.  And I was only asked a thousand times, "How DO you get ON your horse?"😂

Mugwamp and I quickly became close.  Soon he would nicker when he saw me coming.  How fun it was to be connected to a horse in one of the most unlikely places in the world!  

The four months flew by.  I absolutely love The Big Apple🍎.  It has indeed been for me an incredible place to visit and work in through the years, but not to live.  For I too, need my open space.  Even so, I miss the camaraderie of all who make the performing and visual arts happen there as NYC is definitely at the very heart of these.

Now that I am living with such rapidly deteriorating health challenges, my chapters in NYC and even galloping on a horse in Central Park, are yet more chapters of my life I am grateful to hold in my grasp because theatre and horse people always, and I mean ALWAYS, find each other.🐎😃🐎💫

Remember There Is Not Enough Darkness...

"There is not enough darkness in all the world that can put out the light of even one small candle."

In my beloved writer Arthur Gordon's book, "A Touch Of Wonder," is the quote above.  He went on to say, the quote was found on a small gravestone after one of the many bombing raids on Britain during early WWII.  Some thought the quote was surely written by someone famous.  But it wasn't.  For it was written by a very sad, lonely elderly woman whose cherished cat, which was all she had, was killed by a Nazi bomb.

I have always been a star gazer.  One thing I noticed is how the darker the sky, the brighter the stars shine.  You see, though darkness is not the source 

of the light energy, darkness is what empowers the light to shine stronger and far brighter than the light would without it.

The ones who have inspired me the most on my challenging journey are those who faced their challenges with such profound courage their lives radiated light shining their inspiration forth.

Many years ago I read the incredibly touching book by Paula D'Arcy, entitled, "Song For Sarah." She and her husband were expecting their second child.  Their first was Sarah, a toddler.  One Sunday in 1975 when they were traveling home after a visit with family, a drunk driver plowed into their car head-on seriously injuring Ms. D'Arcy, and killing both Mr. D'Arcy and Sarah.

In one brief shattering moment everything Ms. D'Arcy held dear was gone, except for the child she still carried.  At the time Ms. D'Arcy was keeping a journal and somehow she continued, pouring out her anguish, which eventually became her very inspiring "Song For Sarah."  She inspired out of the darkest, most shattering losses of her life.

Ms. D'Arcy's courageous experience has inspired millions around the world.  She helped me.  First, during the daunting challenges following each of my first two spine surgeries from which I had to learn how to walk again twice.  She especially helped me again years later when Aiden died.  Here was someone who knew the darkness of terrible, gut wrenching tragedy, whose journey through her sorrow was the very reason she shined so brightly, becoming such a profound gift for others.  These are the kinds of people who are my inspiration.

Many say my journey does the same for them.  I always hope so.  There is a reason why all my challenges have been so dark on my journey I will understand another time, another place.  For now, the darkness my indomitable spirit keeps shining out from is my candle burning bright while I yet breathe.

When life is tough, remember my dear ones, all the darkness of heartbreaking challenges cannot put out the light of even one candle.  Keep your candle burning bright with hope and courage.

The Precise Magical Moment...

We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed.  

As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over...so in a series of kindnesses, there is at last a drop which makes the heart run over.

                                ~James Boswell

When You Have Had Enough, Hold On Harder...

When the day is long and the night is yours alone,  

When you've had enough, hang on.
Everybody cries and everybody hurts.
Sometimes everything is wrong.
If you feel like letting go, hold on, hold on.
Take comfort in your friends.
Hold on, hold on.
           ~From the REM song "Everybody Hurts" 

 

All of us at times, especially these days, have those places in our journeys where we feel deeply the tragedy of life.  Those moments when we can feel utterly overwhelmed by it.🥺

Several years ago, due to some issues I was having, a biopsy was done.  As soon as my doctor received the results, he called me.  

"Adelaide, I'm terribly sorry to have to tell you this...you have advanced uterine cancer and we must perform an emergency hysterectomy."  

"How soon?" I asked.

"Tomorrow morning."😱  

After surgery, my oncologist wanted me to have radiation.  Only much to his horror and frustration he discovered it would be impossible for me.  Due to the severe curvature of my spine pushing my bladder in a higher position than normal, it was right in the "line of fire."  After consulting with other oncologists it was decided the radiation would cause such severe destruction, it had to be ruled out.  

Nor could chemo be done either, due to my severe anemia and hemophilia problems and previous bone marrow treatments.  In other words, we could not do ANYTHING.  

"So we're screwed?"

"Not if I can help it.  I want to make some phone calls first."  

My dear oncologist called everywhere without success, trying so hard to find SOME way to blast any potentially remaining cancer cells into oblivion.  He was NOT happy.  I was coming to the realization my only option would be to literally throw everything into believing we somehow got all the cancer cells out.  To embrace this belief. 

After all, this is the person who willed her toes, feet, legs into walking again, twice, was still living an amazing life, and flying without wings on her horse.  

Yet this still wasn't quite like walking again.  For one thing, I was a whole lot older, had endured many more debilitating surgeries and five more spine surgeries too, since learning to walk again both times.  Besides, seeing my legs was one thing.  Cells cannot be seen.  For the first time since my horrendous childhood, I suddenly felt very weary and overwhelmed.🥺  

By then, the severe spinal cord inflammation disease was taking its toll, terribly affecting both my bladder and colon/digestive tract function.  I had already begun having the awful bouts of nausea with it.  Besides being extremely painful too.  And as I have touched on not a thing can be done about this.  It can and is only worsening.  As if that wasn't enough, we were still fighting the blood condition I have.  

Hemingway said, "The world breaks everyone, only some become strong at the broken places."  

And that which doesn't break us, makes us stronger.  

As you may have gathered by now, I have never been one to be broken though.🙂  

We never know how strong we are until we recognize  and embrace our inner divine strength, because it is there however we believe.  Sometimes it takes an inner spark of courage to ignite it to surmount tough, daunting circumstances, but it is there.  I always refer to this as my indomitable spirit.🐎💖🐎

Do you know what else is there?  Friends.  

For you see, I was in a new city where I was working at a small theatre.  And yes, Patches was with me too.  I had already made new friends, as I always do.  At such a time though, I was missing my three dear mentor friends I had known for decades, Nora, Ella, and Joseph.  The three were much older than me and each taught me so much about life.  And taught me what love was.  Through me, they had also become close friends with each other too.

While my dear oncologist was searching what he could do to help me, I had to remain in the hospital.

One afternoon, as I was staring out the window, I thought I was losing it, because it sounded like Nora, Ella, and Joseph were in the hallway.  Suddenly, at that very moment in walked Nora, Ella, and Joseph!  I was never so surprised to see these friends in all our journey!  And thrilled.  They had been on the road for hours just to be there with me.  I had them stay at my apartment.

The three remained for a few days and their presence touched me deeply.  And was exactly what I needed.  Because of our long shared history, we talked and laughed a lot, reminiscing, as one can with longtime friends.  Also, they spoke with all my doctors, which helped them understand everything that could be done was being done.

Within a few years following this visit, all three passed away.  Yet they live on in my heart.  For the love we live in life remains after we have gone.

So far no cancerous cells have been found, but my oncologists remain very guarded.  They feel they need to be.  But they also very strongly praise my courage and fighting spirit.

It is said the more we love and are loved in life, the more alive in spirit we are.  And even more why we become strong at the broken places too.  Trust me, I know.🙂

Hold on, hold on, my dear ones.🐎🥰🐎