Well, we got off to a harried start this evening. I knew it would be a short turnaround time after school pickup and a return to school for the Advent program. Earlier in the day, I’d discovered my camcorder was missing and spent part of the afternoon searching for it, only to have my daughters announce it had been under the car seat since their brother’s birthday party a couple weeks ago. (sigh of great relief) So I spent some time trying to get it ready — charged up and a new cassette inserted. I don’t often tape full programs, but because my daughter would have a primary role in the event, and it would mark her last elementary Advent program of her life (she’ll be graduating into middle school come May), and because her paternal grandparents had come down with a bug and wouldn’t be coming after all, I was intent on videotaping the whole thing this time. Well, it wasn’t meant to be. I spent about 45 minutes on my computer while my kids swirled around me, begging for snacks and such, as I chatted with a tech person to try to fix an issue with the cassette door, only to find out that an internal error had occurred and it will need to be looked at by a real-life technician “at a service center near you;” i.e., far enough away to require it being sent away and/or costing a jillion dollars. (sigh of frustration) Okay, fine, I thought, as my daughters thrust their brushes, ponytail holders and heads at me, requesting that I please French braid their hair. So, I tried multitasking with braiding and concluding the chat session with the technician and kept having to stop and start over. (moans from the peanut gallery) Meanwhile, the mac and cheese was upstairs burning on the stove. The youngest had been promised mac and cheese all day and was none too happy to wake up from an afternoon nap to discover he was getting good old fashioned pbj instead. (insert dramatic howling sounds) And then, of course, I had to get my obligatory “before the event” photo of my daughters all snazzed up, but younger daughter didn’t have her tights on yet and older daughter was not pleased that we were going to be late. They finally collided on the stairs in their black velvet dresses and pasted on fake smiles to appease me. (sigh of exasperation) Finally, all five kids and I got into the van, pbjs still being munched on, and off we went. (Daddy gets to miss out on all of these theatrics since he comes straight to events from work — one of the perks (?) of owning a retail business.) We found a decent parking spot, a rarity on such nights. (sigh of grateful relief) In we went to find our spots…and to wait…and then finally, the program began to unfold.
Was it worth all that? Absolutely. I had some nice conversations with the other parents while we waited for the show to start, hubby showed up in time to see the beginning number, and our oldest daughter did a beautiful job of helping narrate another fine Advent event. The dancers were great, the singing precious, and, as predicted, the final song had its usual effect. I will share it here so you can catch just a glimpse of what I hinted at yesterday, though I’m sure the full emotional impact will be lacking — especially if you pay too close attention to the camera work. Keep in mind, I had to use my digital camera, which I rarely use for videos, but it’s all I had. I wasn’t in the best spot and, yes, I look like (and am) quite the amateur when it comes to this kind of videography.
So, really, close your eyes when you listen (I promise not to be offended)…and know that a shining day is coming! [NOTE: The download it taking an impossibly long time and I am beginning to lose hope. So at this late hour, I will leave you, instead, with a photo for now. If, at some late hour, it finishes downloading, I’ll go back to Try I and share the vid. So sorry for the teaser. I’m more disappointed than you, I’m sure, but such is life.
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