Performance Anxiety

 Two years ago Irini had impressed the world with her hip swaying and ritmo. She had wowed friends and relatives and her moves still adorn the cyber world through an earlier post on this very blog. April 14th was Amalia turn!  Unlike Irini she had an older sister in the crowd, and an aunt and cousins and Scott and Rebecca on top of the parents. Pressure was on. As the crowd gathered the little ones were outfitted with their clothes. Amalia was wisked into the changing room. Within just moments screams erupted from the room. Daddy thought to himself, "that sounds like my daughter". It was. She refused to be changed. The staff rushed in and out trying to figure out what to do?  There was back-row discussions of whether this meant the show would not go on (or not). In the end it was decided that family support was necessary. Other children too were crying, running, playing, dancing all over the place. 

The dolphins, of which Amalia is a proud member, were asked up to the stage (just after the elephants had been asked to sit down). Amalia walked on stage with her own entourage (Tia and Irini) and proceeded to stand there as her sister tried to follow the moves and lyrics. Irini did an excellent job, particularly noting that this was an improvised show for her. Tia likewise was excellent and quite enthusiastic. Amala, on the other hand, essentially sat there and refused to participate.   The second song followed more or less the same scenario. The dolphins received applause, as did Amalia, and were taken back in to that dreaded changing room. People shuffled back and forth. The family's eyes were fixed on the doorway. At least this time there was no yelling. Could it be that Amalia was ready for round two?

Between Amalia's rounds, Irini took on the stage. Following her friend Tara out on stage she was upset with mommy and daddy when they told her that she was a visitor and not a participant. She had done so well in the song she participated in but we were here to see the other children. She pouted and crossed her arms expressing her dis-satisfaction with the whole affair. After all she was really getting the hang of this stage stuff. After a while, though, she allowed herself the space to recognize that she could be an observer and still have a good time, so she settled back into a spot by the stage and watched and sang along. 

Meanwhile, out from the changing room appeared small and very cute dolphin members in  chihuahua outfits!  Anyone who spends time with Amalia knows that these days she doesn't like pants. Only dresses. Easy to put on. Airy. Easy to take off (which does a lot of). Comfortable transitions. The dolphin group was dressed in adorable little brown outfits - pants and shirt - and dawned little head bands with chihuahua ears. Amalia, fourth or fifth in line and standing in the front row this time, came out with her chihuahua outfit, plus a little tutu to ensure that a dress was still on (Tia's idea)!  It was the sign of a new Amalia on the stage. Her new self managed to focus more and more on the music, the words and the moves that came with that. Tia, who had brought her out again, edged back, allowing Amalia some space to shine. By the end of the song she had been caught on video (soon to be uploaded) participating with gusto. The chihuahua song ended to thunderous applause and a good deal of "ahhs" and "ohhs" and Amalia's extended family was so proud of her!  

So what do you do to celebrate?  You go for ice cream, of course!  Well, not quite ice cream. Frozen yogurt was more like it, but she happily rushed in to the shop and chose her favorite flavor: Chocolate. Add a few gummy bears and a two year old is in heaven. The sister, parents and cousins happily ate their own versions of heaven too. It was a great morning. We love you Amalia!

The next day, as Amalia and Irini were about to go to "Tia's house" Amalia got caught up in chihuahua fever. Over and over again she ran over and hugged us and screamed, at the top of her little lungs "Chao chihuahua!  Choa chihuahua!"  

Venturing

When you have time on your hands, and you are in a friendly place, it's hard not to venture. Venture into new things. Venture into little holes for crabs. Venture along the beach to find shells and, with a number of them in hand, return to make necklaces. Venture into tide pools to look for little fish (and more crabs). Venture along the beach to be entranced by the sunset. Venture down the coast to see what you can find.  Venture along the sand to see how hot it is. Venture into a moment to let go of a rice-paper lantern and watch it gooooooo higher and higher still until it disappears into the night sky. Venturing was so much fun that we did it time and time again. Venturing has the added benefit that it allows you to grow, in knowledge and in experience. The children ventured in all sorts of places. The adults did too. From walks along the beach to playing catch in the pool to checking out the local surroundings venturing was a low-key, but ever-present affair. How fun!

Colors

Ah. How beautiful to be able to engulf oneself in the colors of sunsets over the water. Between water and sky, it was the perfect combination of sound, colors that create that sense of awe and wonder. One can't help but slow down, stop even, to stare and absorb it. Even now, thinking back, the pictures - and the memories that they stir - bring a sense of calm. How beautiful a chance to be in it with everyone there. How lucky we are to be able to experience it, and luckier still to share it. 

Familiar Faces, Different Places.

It had been a while. In a country with a good deal of vacation days this was a stretch of close to two entire months without a day off. And having to juggle time at work with time at home, and the essential elimination of free time that goes with that, we were "running on fumes" as they say. No worry, though. We took our entire Malaysia-based extended family (Brownies and non-Brownies alike) and headed north to Khaolak, Thailand.  Add an extra bonus of our friend Leanne (who now works in Singapore) and her mom who had flown in a couple days earlier and life was good!

In Khaolak we re-examined life, re-kindled a love for nature and each other, recognized the power of being in and around water, re-absorbed the sun's energy and generally found lots of good from being surrounded not only by beautiful people, but also a beautiful place. The waves were steady, the tides tidy, the stars beautiful, the air crisp enough and the sun hot, hot, hot. 

The hotel was lovely. The distance to the beach quite short made shorter by the speed with which we moved along the pathways and the sand when we didn't have our shoes on. The water was almost too warm. The enjoyment almost too great. It was as if three days could suck you in and change your personality, the speed of your life, the laughter in your dealings and make you happy. Not that we weren't happy to begin with, but this was the type of happy that comes from focusing on things that matter: Family, friends, nature, experience, togetherness.