Nostalgia

If you have been reading you know that Lisa went back to wintery Northern VA last weekend to attend the WATCH awards ceremony. While she was there she stayed with Grant and Miranda and the boys, visited the old house, the tenant and the next-door neighbour, did some shopping and had lunch at the Silver Diner. She also went by Emily's old school to speak to the kids in Drama Club about "Seussical the Musical" and visited Emily's old classroom, where she was treated like a rock-star. She is feeling very nostalgic.

Emily is also getting ready for her Spring Break trip back to VA and has started looking forward to all the things she misses. She loves school here - but has had a lot to say in the past few days about her old school and old friends. She is feeling very nostalgic.

It started Lisa thinking about nostalgia. The dictionary defines nostalgia as, "a bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past." What do you think "bittersweet" means in the context of that definition? Does it mean bitter because you don't have it anymore but sweet because the memory is there? Does it mean a sweet memory but you are bitter because you are longing for it? Or does it mean bitter memories but a sweet longing, because it is safe to long for things you know you won't go back for? Or are we thinking too much?

The things that are missed about "home" (yes - "there" is still home, "here" is still becoming) are often the things we most wanted to get away from. Like casual abundance. As soon as Lisa landed at the airport everything that she had been wanting to buy for the last few weeks but couldn't (either because we couldn't find it or it was too expensive) was just steps away. And she hadn't even left the airport yet. Like cleanliness. We used to joke about our neighbourhood resembling a movie set from the "Stepford Wives". It looked lovely last weekend. Like Emily's old school (the amount of homework and the misbehaving students). Although Emily's new school is much better for her and she really loves it, Lisa did get a bit emotional when she walked in to Emily's old classroom. They really miss her and it is so obvious.

Anyway - nostalgia is a natural part of such a big move. Lisa remembers feeling nostalgic for her life in England after moving to the States - but it so glad to have stayed in the US. Mark feels nostalgic for Scotland all the time - especially when Dundee is winning - but would never move back. We have made a long-considered and well thought out move, and it is definitely for the best. Maybe we can dissect the dictionary definition a little and just focus on enjoying the "sweet longing".

WATCH Award Ceremony

Kind of Wordless Wednesday. Check out 5 Minutes for Mom for more.

Lisa is back on the island after a quick trip back for the WATCH Awards. No award for Lisa or Emily but so fun to be there amongst the 400 DC theatre people and be nominated!

Christy and Lisa

Christy, Dana, Akila and Lisa (Hot Box Gals)

Lisa and Grant (Lisa's arm candy as the Gals called him)

Dana, Lisa, Karen and Molly

The nominated performances (Emily in rehearsal as Baby Kangaroo)

Lisa as Adelaide

Close...but no cigar

Well, the news came through late last night on the wire - there will be no WATCH awards adorning the Cabrelli mantlepiece this year. Obviously the judges didn't see enough performances or were simply bribed: sour grapes...never. Oh well as that classic US saying goes - "you're all winners". Evidently except on this occasion!

On a positive note, a great time was had by one and all. The occasion was glitzy and made everyone feel special for the night. It was fabulous to meet up with all the "old crew" again and regale the delights of "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" one more time. Community theater is such a bonding activity; everyone gets stuck in together with "blood, sweat and tears" and the memories will last forever. And, of course, there was Lisa's escort, Grant in his kilt!! Pictures later.

Now the challenge is to establish community theater in Nassau - wanna help?

She's Off!!

Lipstick on the table, PC on powersave, lunch still in the fridge but she's missing......Lisa has left the island. The rest of the Cabrelli clan missed her before she got on the plane. She's on her way to the US capital to collect the WATCH awards - if there's any justice. Yes, its that time already. Lisa has her little black dress, her escort in tartan (Grant, of course) and empty suitcase for the awards (and Sam's club!). The results of the nominations are announced on Sunday night so stay tuned.

Meantime, as with any hierarchy, when the "top dog" is out the second in command is in charge - so Emily is calling the shots. Mark thinks he's in charge but everyone from Colonel and Ow upwards knows differently. Who knows what shenanigans they will get up to over the next 48 hours.

Down a Peg (or Two)

We will leave it to Emily to regale you all with tales (and photos) of her birthday in her blog tonight, but suffice it to say she had a good one.

Mark and Lisa went to Emily's Parent/Teacher conference yesterday and, as is the norm, left feeling very proud of Emily. Her teacher said that after two or three days it was as though she had always been there. She was immediately accepted socially, her behaviour was excellent and her academics are in the top of the class. She said she is very happy to have her. After Spring Break they are going to include her in an advanced "pull-out" program. She will join the 3 other kids in her class who spend about three class periods a week working on advanced, more challenging projects.

So...they are currently studying Economics and Emily came home last week with a note asking for Parents who have experience "starting and operating a successful business". She asked if Lisa would come in and talk about Emily Rose. Lisa was feeling quite proud of herself and was really looking forward to spending some time in Emily's classroom. That is until yesterday.

We discovered that the Grandfather of one of Emily's classmates will also be coming in to talk about starting and operating his succesful business - it's only Sol Kerzner the owner of the Atlantis and countless other real estate ventures that "blow away the customer". We told Emily what an amazing experience that would be for her and how lucky she was to get to hear him speak. Then Lisa jokingly said, "don't you feel sorry for me that I have to follow that with Emily Rose?" Emily's response? "A little bit."

Ouch!

Happy Birthday Emily!

First of all thanks to everyone who took the time to post a message to Emily's blog. She was absolutely thrilled when she got up this morning and saw all those comments. She kept checking back to see if there were more... so there is still time :-) She read every one very carefully and giggled her way through it.

This is my favorite picture of her. It was taken at Alan's (my brother's) wedding after she had gotten fed up with the fancy hairstyle and let her hair down (figuratively and literally as she was quite serious during the ceremony). We were out on the balcony at the reception and Mark was swinging her around in the air. Mark is actually in the original picture but I had cut him out so I could use the photo on Emily Rose and now I can't find the original. This photo captures her personality and spirit perfectly.

My sister put it best when she said in her birthday wishes to Emily, "All our lives changed the day you were born Em...We all were so happy. And you continue to amaze us every day, only now you are a young lady, not a baby." Young lady... scary!

And now Alan and Diane are bringing us one (or maybe two) new members to the club.

Happy Birthday Emily! You are the best!