 Singing in the Holiday show  |
There's a saying that having children is like letting your heart go walking around outside your body. I can vouch for the truth in it. On our recent cruise, we enrolled the girls in Carnival's children's program, Camp Carnival. The 6-8 year olds from Camp Carnival were invited to perform, along with the professional cast, in the ship's holiday extravaganza on Christmas Day. Nev has a great singing voice, so we looked forward to the show.
Imagine our surprise and confusion, then, as we watched her become increasingly distressed throughout the performance. By the time I met her onstage after the show, she'd melted into a puddle of tears. I carried her back to our cabin, where she told me, through sobs, that she was upset because none of the cast would wave back to her or even smile at her.
Stifling a laugh, I explained to her that they were working hard, trying to remember lines and steps and not fall over with the rocking of the ship. She was not persuaded. I left her sniffling on Vincent's lap and went to have a much-needed pre-dinner drink with my mom.
As I returned to our cabin to escort the girls to the kids' dinner, I saw them already en route, and rushed to catch up. As I passed through the atrium, a woman called out to me. "Excuse me. Are you her mother?" I turned to find the diva from the ship's production cast. She'd changed out of her costume but still wore her stage makeup. "Your daughter has the most beautiful voice. I've heard her in rehearsals."
I thanked her, and told her about Nev's earlier meltdown. "Can you wait here just a second while I get her?" I asked. I called Nev back and asked her if she knew who this woman was. "The singer from the show?" she ventured, wide-eyed now. "You have a beautiful voice, baby," the diva told her, "You're going to be up on-stage someday." Nev FLOATED the rest of the way to dinner. That, for me, was the best Christmas gift ever. |
.:.
| What a beautiful story, a Christmas I hope she never forgets -- ae warm fuzzy to keep in her pocket for when she needs it. --NJB (2009.12.29) |
| BRAVISSIMO Nev ! BRAVISSIMO ! --Auntie Maddy (2009.12.29) |
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