"excuse me sir,

may I have another margarita?"

Ummm...I think that's the script. See you all in a week or so. :)

One Happy Girl

I’m wearing a tiara right now. I feel very loved.

Today is my last day as an opera lady. And while my co-workers didn’t serenade me (trust me, you don’t want opera staffers to sing), almost the entire staff showed up for my goodbye lunch at Manny’s.
Ain’t nuthin’ like Manny’s to send you off well.

Our director of education gave me a tiara to wear while I opened presents (and for my last day). I got a few opera things, but the group gift brought me to tears – a book called Angels in Africa. I was so moved. These people really got me. They’ve supported me in all of my endeavors.

I’ve been saying it would be bittersweet for awhile, but today, I really feel it.

I’m about to go off and wander though the theatre for the last time. I want to run my hands over the red velvet seats while this place is still mine. I want descend the stairs into the orchestra pit and think of all the melodies that linger in the air. I’ll relive memories I wrote about when I first started, but didn’t understand until now. This music and its longings are a part of my blood now.

At times like this I am so aware of how beautiful this life is. In moments like that, I could curl up in a ball and swim around in it. Time feels infinite.

Today is one of those infinite days. And I’m wearing a tiara to celebrate.

From the catbird seat

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." Psalm 116:7

Before I went to Kenya, I had a distinct moment of clarity where I realized that I tend to treat life's happy things and challenges as if I were constantly climbing mountains. I climbclimbclimbclimb to get to the vista, and once I'm there, I breathe in the view for a second or two, then immediately begin thinking of how I'll get down. This ephiphany was really a gift from God - cognizant of my tendency, I spent my two weeks in Kenya sitting cross-legged at the top of my proverbial mountain. What I saw in my present-ness was amazing - life changing stuff.

I don't have many feelings of deja vu, but as I wrap up my last two days of work and get ready to head into my new adventure at the zoo, I felt that same nagging feeling creep up on me. It's become glaringly obvious that if I don't slow down, I will be in danger of completely missing this blessing.


In the spirit of absolute disclosure, I love change but fight it with every fiber of my being. This crosses over into good, exciting things too. The frightened child in me tends to look for the bottom to fall out. As I get older, I'm starting to believe this is genetically inevitable (worrying being a family trait and all) but I'm still fighting it with all I have. It's not always easy, but the more I've come to understand God, the more I see that this is just not the way to live.

I'm lucky. I'll have an extended vacation in Florida and although it's not a mountain, I can stand at the water's edge and look around a bit. I can look back at the blessings and give thanks. I can look forward at the adventure and be excited. But most importantly, I can sit in the present and look around.

A missive before the safari begins

Hi kiddos.

I apologize for the incredible lack of posting as of late, but this summer has been certifiably nuts.

As seems to be the case with me, life changes tend to come in big, sweeping movements. Maybe it's my flair for the dramatic, but when something is around the corner, you can bet it'll be a good story that sets me stumbling upon it.

The latest adventure in my life is a new career path. Starting at the end of this month, I'll be moving from the opera world and will deal with prima donnas of a more primal nature - I'll be the Development Events Coordinator in charge of Jazzoo for the Kansas City Zoo.

1. Jazzoo is this wicked cool event that raises serious money for the zoo each year, so that was a huge reason I took this job.
2. This will give me the development experience I'll need to run a not-for-profit someday. (Which is my new longterm dream.)
3. Lions, cheetahs, koalas and elephants at work everyday?

Ummm...no-brainer.

Still, though I've been thinking about a switch for a bit now, this opportunity moved SOOOOOO quickly. From interview to acceptance = 7 days. Just enough time to make your head spin. But in the thick of all this, I've been reminded of just how often God speaks to me this way. Too much time or room to think, and I'll whittle all the beauty out of something. Things moving too fast keeps me dependent on Him.

I've got about 8 days left at the opera, then I head to Florida with the family for some good, quality R&R before I move into my new digs over at the zoo. Literally. Like, nearby the sea lions and stuff. I can eat lunch with the zebras. (Hope they like hummus.)

Anyway, I'm beyond excited, a little nervous (since this is largely uncharted ground for me), and mostly immensely thankful for God's sweet provision. He's been pouring down surprises all over the place as of late and I'm feeling just a little bit like I'm His favorite. (I know, I know. Every person is His favorite.)

In the meantime, keep me in your prayers, swing by the zoo in August, and keep checking this space. I'm sure there'll be all sorts of interesting fodder to muse about soon enough!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21