In high school I loved the Performing Arts. I participated in Girls Chorus, All City Chorus and the Drama Club. During my sophomore year, I was just getting started and I had the honor of playing the role of a sultry woman who was involved somehow in an investigation. Needless to say it was challenging but I loved to perform so let's just say it was a done deal. As usual our Drama department performed for students during the day and at night we had a special performance for family and community. By that time my parents had divorced and I saw my father bi weekly. Things were very different.I recall my mother's schedule was very busy, working long hours at CTA and she wouldn't be able to attend this show so I asked my father to attend but I didn't hear back from him. Our relationship was rocky to say the least. I assumed he would not be present.
Here we are on the opening day of the play and our Drama crew is nervous because the auditorium is packed, not one seat open. Two scenes into the play I'm in my role, cascading across the stage in my canary yellow wrap dress and there he is, fourth roll, left of stage, my dad. And for a minute I pause and smile and he smiles back. All of a sudden I felt my confidence raising. From then on my dad made it to my performances, traveling alone, always upfront, left of stage and me always pausing and smiling when I saw him.