Well, this was an interesting week. A lot of opera, but no performing of my own, it hasn’t been the most creative week of my life.
On the personal front, I took my fella home for thanksgiving. He’s met the folks before, but not all of the siblings. We walk in the front door, which was unlocked, into the kitchen where food was on the stove and in the makings. Nobody was there but the dog. I went out the back door, which was open; to see if they were in the backyard for some strange reason, but there was no one back there. My family had been vaporized. Minutes later, Sarah (my sister) called…her dog had run away 2 hours ago and the family was out looking for it. So, Eric and I hopped in the car and took up the search as well. The entire family was looking for her dog. Zach (her fiancé) and his family were out looking for her dog. Eventually, everyone in the neighborhood was looking for her dog.
The thing is we never found it that day, or the next, or the next…its Monday and still no dog. My sister is beside herself. This is a woman that can nurse an ant back to health. I have never known someone so kind and giving to animals. Strays end up on her doorstep. She is a real life Disney princess…calling nature to her to be a part of her family.
The big problem, you see, was that is was a gorgeous Thanksgiving Day this year…all snowy and cold. They even had the plows out in Laporte County. Gorgeous unless you are a dog owner and your dog has just run away from home. Then it is a nightmare. God, I hope they find her today!
To top it off, when Eric and I got home, I heard from my dear friend Beckie Menzie. Her best friend, Roy Hine had passed away the day before Thanksgiving. He ran the Wagon Wheel Playhouse in Warsaw, Indiana. He was kind and quiet and thoughtful. He was young and in shape and left behind a large extended family and many friends. He was special to many people, touched them in many ways…as a mentor, as a co-worker, as a friend. Beckie was in shock and my heart just ached for her. Like my sister, she had lost something suddenly, something that she loved unconditionally. I don’t know what is worse...having something you love experience a drawn out death and you are ready when life ends for them or when something is taken from us suddenly, but they are enjoying life until you lose them.
It made me think of my best friends and how much I would miss them and how important they are to me. You never really face loss until it’s there. Nor do you realize how much something is a part of your life until it is gone. I wish both of these ladies strength and courage.
