Taking My Bow





"a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"
Shakespeare

 

I was struck with a pang nestled in my spirit. A pang I had not felt for quite some time, but nonetheless reminded me of the significant change I was about to experience.

I was in Solvang, California walking with my husband and son to the Festival Theater, for a Shakespearean outdoor experience. The thrill of seeing a stage production while on vacation, gave a skip to my steps upon the cobblestone. I couldn't imagine a more perfect evening than under the stars and before a stage with those you love?

Yet, with the sweet aroma of pleasure wafting about me, I felt a prick of sorrow within.

 

For the past twenty years, I have played part in the most romantic love story. The tale of how my affection has been pursued day and night, by One who desires my full attention and unyielding passion. Our story not unlike the centuries old drama which speaks to generation after generation, while transcending man's comprehension: A would be bride and groom separated by sin until united by death. God my Romeo and I his Juliette.

In this role of leading lady, the lover of my soul has beckoned me again and again to the theater. Thus granting more than an eternal romance, He has afforded me glorious moments about the stage. My first encounter in high school an awkward stumble, without his careful guidance.

 

Though love came quickly, I soon found myself caught in the crossfire of Capulet dreams I had for myself and Montague demands for a bride. Like Tybalt, I fought for my dream with pride and in so doing, killed my hope of basking in the limelight. The curtain fell with a cruel thud as the lights faded to black. In confusion and despair I chose poison and turned my back on the theater and the Light.

A profound and painful prick.

Life was dull, colorless and void of Light for a few dark and desperate years. But oh, how the Lord loves. My faithful and patient God, after allowing me to suffer a season off stage, wooed me back into the safe fold of his embrace. This time I joyfully surrendered to His plan. Once sealed in his grace, He led me back to the theater; this time for His glory. There He cast his Light upon me, and I flourished: budding dramatic ministry after dramatic ministry.

While the Lord called me to the stage, he also blessed me with an amazing husband. Kevin, my parallel love of twenty-one years, has generously afforded me the freedom to serve the LORD with my passion for the Arts. Together Kevin and I have sacrificed a lot for this call from our first love. Without my husband's constant affection, encouragement and support, I would have perhaps stumbled a second time through the theater. Consequently, missing some kingdom glory.  

Twenty years of productions and ministry is a hearty run. But even the best shows eventually come to an end. Romeo beckons Juliette away from the stage. And while joy, passion and adventure remain part of our story, I expect--at least for a while--my heart will mourn the once again closed stage door.

Had I known my last musical would be a final curtain call, I don't believe I would have done anything different: Perhaps I would have taken a bow. And though a small sorrow has pricked my heart, it came from the rose God tossed before my feet. Drawing a tear from my eye and praise from my lips, as my soul cries out to Him; BRAVO, my LORD! BRAVO!

 








The Wonders of Willy Wonka

Looking at something familiar with a new perspective can reveal something sweeter than chocolate.

In the early stages of searching out a musical for our school's spring musical, I was taken with the option of Willy Wonka Jr. With great wonder, I pondered the story by Roald Dahl, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". For as I listened to the music and later watched the movie adaptation staring Gene Wilder, I discovered my spirit connecting with the tale of my childhood with surprising intensity. No longer was the mysterious confectioner merely a misunderstood genius...Willy Wonka was a creative depiction of my Lord Jesus Christ.

The journey of directing and producing this favorite story from my youth was delicious fun! Sweeter still, was the revelation of God's promises tucked into the chapters of this special story. For just as many passed through the wide gates into Wonka's amazing factory, only one journeyed through the narrow gate of humility in the end. And it is Charlie alone who at the end of an unforgettable tour of a chocolate paradise, humbles himself before the candy Creator and confesses his sin. His prize? Grace and a new home!

The reality that all things are created by and through Jesus, beckons us to pause and ponder the glimpse of the Lord in Wonka's make-up. Consider Christ's purple robe...traded for a purple coat. A brown hat worn like a crown of thorns and a cane in lieu of a shepherd's staff. Wild imagination at work! But the similarities extend beyond the man into the plot. Interestingly, the gates to Wonka's factory are closed to the world due to rebellion, just as access to Eden was closed due to sin. Yet, the heart of the Confectioner mirrors the desire of our Creator to make a way to share the wonders of their worlds. A Golden Ticket thereby symbolizes a golden rule. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these shall be added unto you."

A tour of the famous factory begins with Wonka drawing back a lovely curtain.  Thus, revealing a necessary contract which must be signed between the Guide and his guests for factory access. In this scene, I'm reminded of God's tearing of the curtain in the Jewish Temple (pulling it back) upon Christ's sacrificial death. This introduced a new covenant between Creator and man which mandated one access to the prize.  Just like with God, there are rules to be upheld and consequences to consider within the factory. For Wonka carries with him both the wrath of judgement (for covenant breaking brats and their parents), and the forgiveness of sins (for repentant children).  

But why a candy maker? How better to invite the world to "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Ps 34:8).  Unlike the movie, in Dahl's story, the Candy Man is Willy Wonka in disguise. How similar to a God who clothed himself in flesh to serve his little children. That is why, in my imagination, the candy store in Willy Wonka symbolizes the Church. Understandably, the kids race to the candy store for the glorious taste of Trinity Treats. Naturally, the Candy Man tends personally to sharing his delicious promise of redemption: like Jesus ministering to his disciples.  The red stripes of his Candy Man coat hauntingly similar to the stripes upon Jesus's bared back. The more I study Willy Wonka, the more I see characteristics of our LORD. And just as the famous song declares, the Candy Man mixes life with love, "and makes the world taste good!", Jesus Christ mixed his purity with our sin and created sweet salvation for our souls.

But what of the Golden Ticket? Ah, this is our symbol of the gospel! Though Mr. Bucket devours the Old Testament Newspaper for the tiniest bit of "Good News, he remains dissatisfied, for only the New Testament provides the answer to escape a life of eternal suffering and hardship. Likewise Mrs. Bucket wears herself out tending to the soiled garments of those around her. And what of Grandpa Joe, confining himself to a meaningless life in bed, though he was capable and created for so much more! Oh, Grandpa Joe spoke of Wonka, but he spoke of suspicions and wives-tales. Grandpa may have worked for Wonka in the past, but he did not know Wonka personally. Similarly, God's Word tells us there will be many who claim to know Christ, only to have him deny ever knowing them when they stand face to face. Meanwhile, Charlie holding onto hope, plants the spiritual seeds of positive thinking in his father's mind. This  after experiencing the richness of Wonka's work, granted by the Candy Man. Suddenly Charlie's whole world is focussed on the mysterious Confectioner and he longs to venture beyond the locked gates.

Though Charlie ponders the reality of a golden ticket gospel, his whole outlook on life changes when he spots gold within his candy wrapper. With the treasured golden ticket in his hand, there is finally something worth getting out of bed for! Bursting with joy, the young believer exuberantly shares his new treasure with his family. Declaring with glee..."I've found it!" Thus, the gospel truth comes to the Bucket home!

Not surprisingly keeping with scripture, it is Willy Wonka who provides the coin which buys Charlie the winning candy bar. For it was Christ who paid the price for our salvation. Likewise, the gospel is available to any, but embraced only by genuine seekers. Though five are fortunate to find the golden tickets, only Charlie and his family truly know its worth. They alone understand it holds the key to Wonka and a better life!  Still, they could not imagine all their encounter with Wonka

The factory tour of temptations at Wonka's side illustrates the LORD's desire to journey with us through life as our guide and teacher. His casual warnings to wayward tourists, similar to the whispers of the Holy Spirit to our conscious. Additionally, Wonka's Oompa's act as an invitation to consider the angelic servants of our LORD, tending to the Creator's work.

Finally, Wonka reminds the world there is consequence for sin--great or small--with Charlie's loss of the tour prize. For it is the meek that shall inherit the earth and the humble heart before God which gains the treasures of heaven. With Wonka as it is with Christ, humble repentance gains a new life, a new home and one day a new world. A world of "Pure Imagination"! For Charlie there was no greater prize than Wonka's forgiveness and Factory. For the repentant sinner, it is salvation through Christ and an eternal heavenly home.

So while Friends Christian Middle School proudly shared the work of Roald Dahl in their production of Willy Wonka Jr. last month, I celebrate the works of our Creator God. How sweet is the love of Christ! How wonderful is our Savior!

Tracy L. Frazier
Photo by: Sara J.

Trunk Themes

Trunk o' Treat Themes

Just a few ideas that might inspire your next Trunk O' Treat. Most of these themes were created because I already had much of what is noted. Still, I hope these are helpful as--if nothing else-- springboards into grander plans. The candy to go with each theme can be found at the following link; http://www.candyfavorites.com/candy/candy-money. 

Star Wars – Poster, light sabers(lit up), glow in the dark stars, rings and necklaces, etc. Various figures and ships placed about. Character masks. Strobe light. Soundtrack playing. Hand out "Starburst" candy (Pictured above).

Pirate ship – Sheet sail with skull, black balloon cannon balls, loot props: jewelry, silver, brass and gold colored candlesticks, silverware, platters, chargers, napkin rigs, etc. Pirate hats, scarves, toy guns and  swords. Ship in Bottle (2 litter bottle-cut around base...insert a small toy boat, glue at cut and put string or ribbon on seam), boots, gold coins, Treasure chest, compass,  map. Bottles of Root beer. Black or white plastic table cloths tattered can become dramatic embellishments to the sail or set up. Hand out chocolate coin candy or root beer barrel candy.

Toy Story – moving boxes marked with Andy’s toys. All sorts of toys and games stacked in the back of the SUV. One box tipped open with toys spilling out all over the back of the vehicle in a vignette similar to movie scene. Movie memorabilia of all kinds. Make a movie title sign to sit on the top of the car.  Make a claw machine out of poster board to match rocket claw machine in the movie.  Make green rice crispy treat martian heads to hand out. Use life savers for eyes and black frosting or a chocolate chip for pupil.  Have the kids use a toy claw to fetch the martian treats out of your rocket.  

Pumpkin patch – Line trunk or bed of SUV/Trunk with burlap. Create the picket fence look on a small scale with flowerbed sized boarders (Home Depot). Fill with pumpkins, roosters, corn stalks and scarecrows. Add some paper black crows (die cuts work) taunting the scarecrow. Straw strewn about.

Spider  Man – Spider webs, Gotham City buildings made out of boxes sprayed black and yellow windows painted or draw window grids on strips of yellow duct tape with black marker. For a high rise that glows...cut some windows out and illuminate with a flashlight from within the box. Create a city scape with matchbox cars and Lego blocks, etc. Create billboards from food wrappers and adhere to boxes or street signs.  Use comic book pages to embellish the setting. Also, you can make comic signs from bright card stock : Pow! Zap! Bam! etc. Hand out Pop Rocks candy.

Disney Classic – Create a Disney fan fair or parade float with stuffed Disney characters, and various Disney memorabilia; pennants, hats,  posters, etc.. Make mouse ears for the top of the car. Star shapes and glittery garland can add fantasy touches. With Disney you can't go big enough!  

Princess Trunk– Princess dresses, boas, shoes and crowns. Set up back of SUV like a dressing room with wall and hand mirrors. Frame prints of favorite princesses and display. Tulle always says princess as does sparkle. The more bling the better. Hand out candy rings and bracelets.

Baseball- Truck Bed – Set up a stadium setting with sport chairs, team blankets, bats, bucket of balls, bases, helmets, Team Banner, foam finger, posters, and more. Make a score board to display. Scatter popcorn or peanuts in the back of your truck or place bags of game snacks in setting. Hand out chocolate baseballs, Cracker Jack, or bubble gum.

Teddy Bear Picnic – Display teddy bears of all shapes and sizes. Create an outdoor picnic scene by laying a plaid blanket or quilt down. Add picnic baskets filled with food from your pantry. Honey, jams and peanut butter. Bread, crackers, etc. Add bug net, honey jar (clear canister lined with yellow tissue paper. Add a label marked Honey to outside of canister. Make chenille wire bees to grace the setting. Bernstein Bears books.  Bee Keeper gear. Hand out Bit O' Honey candy. Play the song Teddy Bear Picnic found on Itunes.

Tim the Tool Man or Bob the Builder Truck or trunk – Peg board back drop loaded with tools, measuring tape and project plans or blue prints laid about: Printed cut outs or the real deal. If Tool Man, have a First Aide Kit featured and perhaps some project mistakes on display. Bob the Builder can have toy tools scattered about and pictures of the Toddler favorite characters. Hard hats, tool belts, construction boots, etc. Saw horses can be used to create a work bench to hold your candy container.

The Pool Party SUV/Truck- Place a plastic pool filled with water in back of vehicle. Scatter pool toys, towels and rafts about. 

Duck Pond SUV/Truck-Similar to Pool Party, use a plastic pool filled with water in vehicle. Place several rubber ducks on the water. Embellish the pool with a couple reed potted plants to create a tall grass backdrop to the pool/pond. Add elements of duck hunting about: binoculars, toy guns, targets, camouflage, whistles, orange vests, boots, feathers.  

Surfer Shack – Use surfboards, boogie boards and skim boards to create a display backdrop. Add plastic buckets of candy, beach towels, beach bags stuffed with beach paraphernalia: Sunglasses beach hat, suntan lotion, book. Use the following to create a vignette; boom box, cooler, volley ball, paddle ball, wind sock, flip flops. For some added beach ambiance, fill the bottom of a wagon or steel tub with beach sand and shells. Hand out salt water taffy.

Vegas Trunkmetallics all the better. Create a slot machine out of a box. Or you can buy a 'Scene Setter"  back drop kit from party stores like Party City). Celebrity stand ups can be used to enhance your scene or better yet, dress as dealers or stars yourself. Hand out $100 Grand mini chocolate bars or candy slot machines.

Video Game Trunk – This is for the video game junkie. Hook up TV and game system and have a game on display. Create a setting with video game cases scattered about on display. Place various game controllers about. You may also scatter various snack and food wrappers about and empty drink cups as litter. This plays on the "junkie" angle. For extreme fans, they can dress like their favorite game character. Hand out Gob Stoppers.

Drive In Movie trunk – Pillows, blankets, nostalgic candy props, 3-D glasses, pop-corn tubs. Movie posters. Make a big ticket for the back drop. Prop up speakers to hear the movie. Show an old movie on laptop or DVD Player. Hand out nostalgic movie theater candy: Red Vines, Bottle caps, Razzles, Big Hunks.

Pet Store trunk – Crates for stuffed animals stacked. Pet supplies; food, leash, brush, bowl, bed, etc.  

Wonka Candy Store-Purple plastic table cloth roll used to create back drops, curtains, etc. Props of candy suckers, gum drops, etc.  Pool Noodles wrapped with streamers for large candy sticks. plastic colored plates for suckers. colored buckets of bulk candy on top of tissue paper to look full. Use polka-dot and stripped tissue paper in clear containers to look like filled jars of candy. Create a giant chocolate bar. Purple top hat. Hand out Wonka candy (assorted).

E.T. - Stuffed animals all piled up with E.T. in the middle (Print out a picture on computer or draw one of E.T.)Can make a moon with silhouette and put on top of car. Park a bike with a basket by the car. If you have a bike basket create a sheet covered E.T. to sit in the basket. Hand out Reese's Pieces.  

Shark Attack - Rim the back of your SUV  or trunk (when open) with fake teeth and have a surf board sticking out of the back. 

Pinocchio Theme Fun- Turn the back into a puppet theater and suspend puppets from a clothes rack in the back. You can make paper jointed puppets. Copy a favorite picture of a character at a greater size. Cut the character carefully out and separate at the joints. Then put the paper puppet back together with brads at each major joint. Suspend with fishing line or string to a t-bar made from Popsicle sticks. Place Pinocchio on stage or in a bird cage with the cruel Stromboli near by.

Pinocchio Theme Scar- Turn your SUV into Monstro the whale. Sit on a raft inside the back of your vehicle like Gepetto sat in Monstro. If you want to add more characters to this set up, add a black and white cat Figaro and a goldfish in a bowl. (This also works for a Jonah and the whale theme.)

Regardless of what theme you choose I hope you have a wonderful time creating FUN for yourself and others. Happy and Save Trunk O' Treating!

T.L.F. (2011)

Trunk 0' Treat

...last Friday, I stopped by the church office for some ministry business. It's always fun to connect with the body in motion behind the scenes! Little did I know, my impromptu visit backstage would grant me a dramatic "treat"!

Instead of our traditional Pumpkin party (Halloween alternative) with carnival booths, expected inflatables and rides, our church has decided to travel a different road this year.  A road less travelled perhaps, but one which promises an eclectic view. And while we'll need are cars for this journey, we won't travel beyond the parking lot. That's right! We're having a "Trunk O' Treat" Block Party!

Now, if you are like me, the concept of  a "Trunk  O' Treat" is a new one. Perhaps thoughts of cars lined up with trunks full of candy come to mind. I admit, my initial thought was, "I don't want anyone looking in my stinky old trunk!" However, after blindly agreeing to create a sample trunk to display at church on Sunday, I was soon burning rubber down the road of imagination: eager to leave my mark on the Trunk O' Treat pavement!

Logging onto the cyber highway, I found a traffic jam of ideas on how to decorate the back end of a vehicle. This growing trend was growing on me. So I soon kicked into overdrive and ditched my mouse for a pen and paper. Visions of themes flashed through my mind as I did a mental inventory of Frazier "stuff". Before long, I hit the brakes and parked at two ideas: Star Wars...(an all time favorite) and Toy Story. Both themes had significant scenes with vehicles so I thought them perfect for a trunk design. Ha! I was not only inspired...I believed I could fly! Let the Trunk Wars begin!

Sunday's test drive was a big success.  I witnessed first hand the excitement connected to this trunk frontier. Young and old visited  the Vader mobile and Toy Trunk with enthusiasm. I was thrilled with the squeals from the young padawans who were itching to take hold of the light sabers bursting from the car. And I nodded with understanding as many said "Oh, that's what it's supposed to be", certain they too, had in mind trunks full of candy. Brake lights were going off all over the place as people began to rev up their own imaginations. Staring at the Toy Story scene scape in the back of my SUV one soon to be trunk designer honked..."I get it!"

I drove home from church unexpectedly blessed. What began as a bit of a chore ended as a sweet treat. As I pulled into our driveway, I noted my husband's truck parked in front of the garage. It's silver tale gate beckoning me to take it on the road! It's official...I am a trunk junkie!

I would love to hear from other trunk junkies. Share your ideas if you like. For those of you looking for ideas I've listed some of my own on a separate post titled "Themed Trunks". What makes these themes exceptionally fun to work with, is the fact we already have everything we need to pull them off. And I encourage you to use what you already have as well. Take a spin around your place and see what you have lying around. If you have athletes in the house, create a sports trunk. Fill the trunk with all your gear and wear your favorite jersey. If your child has a boat load of stuffed animals, create a zoo and you can be the Keeper.

Regardless, the goal is to have fun and keep it Light, on an otherwise very dark night.

The Power of a Card

...I received a few phone calls, sent several text messages and checked my emails. After a quick game of Boggle I was struck with awe over the little wonder I held in my hand.

If you are reading this blog then you are a life touched by Steve Jobs: Perhaps this century's greatest contributor to personal, business and social prosperity. Interesting how the man named Jobs has been responsible in part for creating millions of jobs around the globe. And while you and I may not be connecting through Apple products via this blog (I have a Del), we certainly owe Mr. Jobs our sincerest respect and appreciation for pioneering the electronics of our era.

To Jobs! The Thomas Edison of our time: brightening our lives with better communication, entertainment and ways to improve our business, studies and crafts.

But Jobs was not only a brilliant engineer, he was a mighty bridge builder. His work constructed cyber pathways over vast chasms. What was separated by land, sea and time is now connected, twenty-four, seven through electronics.
But there is another bridge that has been built over the past seven years which is also taking the world by storm; Send Out Cards. This online greeting card system has quickly become one of the fastest growing businesses and entrepreneur opportunities. Kody Banks, the founder of the company, was inspired to build a bridge of opportunity for people to stay connected. Having suffered the tragedy of losing a loved one unexpectedly--after ignoring a prompt to reach out and express love--Kody was determined to never again ignore his promptings. While SOC was created through pain, it is now known for pleasure and millions of lives are being changed for good.

What started out as tiny outfit in a small office space, has quickly turned into a multi-million dollar industry: A mighty bridge for people to connect and build stronger relationships through cards.Yes, cards! In a world which seems to be moving deeper and deeper into a forest of cell towers and electronic communications, the age old pleasure of receiving a card in the mail, still moves and appeals to many. So many in fact, Forbes noted it as one of the top 500 companies in 2009 and it has grown exponentially  since.  

One would expect Jobs and Kody to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. Jobs had his modernity and Kody his traditional "snail mail". But for all of Jobs brilliance with cyber communications his world of electronic connections have left millions feeling cold and distant. Text, tweets and e-mails just don't have the power to touch us like receiving a special card in the mailbox. On the other hand, Kody's SOC bridge is becoming a well travelled road of happy travellers, paved with warm greetings.

Jobs recently discovered the power of a printed card. Just two days before his death, Apple released an app for the iPhone named 'Cards'. Ironically similar to SOC's online greeting card system. Job's reason for building another online card system could have been due to SOC's astonishing success and growth the past few years. However, I hope it was through his receiving a flood of greetings cards during his illness.

While Steve Jobs is no longer with us, his contribution to this world remains. I wish I could send him a "Thank You" card!

www.sendoutcards.com/131768

In the Gift of Time

I made a list of upcoming birthdays and anniversaries for my family "crew". It's amazing how many celebratory moments can embellish a calendar page. As the summer show comes to an end and a new season kicks off, I find myself in the annual dilemma: how to celebrate my husband's birthday.

This will be my twentieth performance at surprising him with a meaningful gift. My fingers itch with excitement over the applause this years gift will warrant. NOT!

Is it just me, or is buying that perfect gift for the leading man in your life torture for anyone else? Anyone? (Cue the crickets)

I've been racking my brain since Christmas to single out a show stopping gift he'll enjoy, appreciate or simply use. It's not that he has it all. He simply wants little and even less of the lime-light. For Kevin the greater gift is no gift. Translation: No Production, Birthday Marquee, Costumes, Guests, etc. But to a person who enjoys celebrating dramatically, giving gifts and blessing loved ones with standing ovations, this is painfully off Broadway. The reality my husband doesn't eat sugar and wants me to spend as little as possible practically predicts a flop.

Does anyone else hear the Mission Impossible theme? So the challenge at hand (should I choose to accept it); give a gift that isn't really a gift, costs next to nothing and will feel special. REALLY? Oh, how I'd love to rewrite this part of the drama (Sigh). I accept...but only because I'm running out of time.

Staring at the clock's menacing ticking hands, an alarm went off. I know exactly what to give Kevin for his birthday...time!

In our culture we are called to be "ON" stage performing in various roles each day. Sometimes having to change costumes and make-up, until we are spinning like the hands on a...you get the point. Looking back to our colorful calendar, I realize this plan of action could actually bring about a hearty "BRAVO!" I'll give Kevin the gift of time and he can determine how to spend it.

There's a saying on the wall in our home; "We do not remember days, we remember moments." I find this true. I dare say, Kevin and I would struggle to recall the many gifts we have exchanged through the years. Yet, we could easily spend a good deal of time, recalling special moments in our lives.

This isn't exactly new in our gift giving. For Christmas the past several years we decided to forgo the melodrama of gift card exchanges. Hoping to bring back the joy in giving, we now gift our adult children special events. In other words we give them time: out on the town, together, and without our perfectly precious grand-babes. They love it and we are inspired! My step-mom gets lunch and an afternoon to catch up on each other's lives. Our drama loving niece prefers going to the theater. And my grand-daughters enjoy celebrating at the tea house.     

So who's on your list of gift recipients over the next few weeks? Have you struggled with what might bring them joy? Perhaps a gift of time is not a one-size-fits-all remedy. Then again..."there's no time like the present!"

Still, when you consider no one is promised tomorrow, a gift of time today may prove more valuable than gold.

Connecting-Unplugged

I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen in awhile.


Having spent nearly six months working on a production, we saw each other regularly. Yet, following final bows our busy lives sent us off in different directions.  She was coming from the gym and I was avoiding it! We stood outside our favorite coffee shop sharing dreams for the year ahead like previews of upcoming attractions.


As I listened with interest and awe (for she looked like she had lost weight), people zipped by us in a flurry of activity. Most had an electronic device in their hand or ear and were engaged in pop-culture communication. Then it happened. My ears began to pick up the one sided responses like a medley.


Suddenly my friend's solo performance turned into a Broadway musical with a choir of vocalists threatening to upstage her. My eyes glazed over as I worked to place her back in the spotlight. All the while I prayed my struggle went unnoticed. A long blink served as a much needed black out which swept the others off the stage. 


It was a pivotal moment in the day: an authentic face to face conversation. I wanted to sip it slowly like my coffee. The Folgers jingle crossed my mind; "the best part of waking up...".


We laughed over the parallels in our lives (we're both mother's of teens), and inquired of summer vacations. I felt joy stretch across my face: this friend made my heart feel light and fresh. I realized how much I had missed our daily connection. Our surroundings became a fog as she shared stories of the past six weeks and how she had lost nearly twenty pounds. She had my full attention.


We hadn't moved in over twenty minutes. I don't mind standing. It burns more calories. Yet, I took notice of  a cozy set of empty chairs on the patio--three feet away--and mentioned we continue our impromptu visit in comfort. Sitting back against a plush pillow, I turned my phone off.


By the time our cups ran dry, we had enjoyed a wonderful hour long chat. A lot can happen over six weeks! We hugged one another good-bye, thankful for our "chance" encounter. And once again--as if on cue--an invisible curtain rose on the coffee shop's patio stage, revealing a company in a dramatic scene of multi-tasking.


As I walked back to my car, I checked my phone...three missed calls. I allowed the car to idle and chill while I joined the chorus line of cell phone performers. The small device felt cool to my hand which had been warmed by a dear friends grasp.