Moon Over Mount Holly

Tonight was my first foray into High School theater to see "Moon Over Buffalo" for which Viona was the prop master.  The stage presentation was quite surprising for a what I would have expected out of a high school performance:  interesting design, intricate detail, good context for a play set in the 1950s.  The acting may have been amateur but the actors showed the necessary exuberance and were at times indistinguishable with some of the professional actors (waiters) I knew in Philadelphia.  Viona's part was back stage and I wandered back after the final curtain to see if she needed a ride home or whether she would go out with the cast and crew.  That outing will not take place until Wednesday but several of her colleagues noted how helpful she was in the production.  It is not hard to believe.  I finally found her and her face was shone as a spotlight, as if she had been on stage.  Such was the joy evident in our Kosovo daughter, such was the joy of our star.

Homecoming and Life in the Empire

I tell Viona all the time, half jokingly and of course half not, that she is now in the empire. A world of never ending happiness, a prince once said, and he was right, day day or night night. We have more than humans ought to have, but the garishness of our lives speaks to an essential possibility that humans have most likely longed for (except real princes) for thousands of years. Luxury and ease -- these are the things I would wish Viona could steer clear of, but it is impossible in the empire. And then comes homecoming and our princess alights our stair.

All Hail, Princess Viona of Kosova, and long live the Empire.

Halloween

Mount Holly had many witches for Halloween though I would imagine only one from Kosovo.


Viona got to meet many of the locals --- some of which are not as beautiful as those of her native country .....

But then New Jersey is not known for its beauty.

Behold all things are New

Just as Kosovo itself is a new country, so too is its favorite daughter new to the wonders of the empire.  This last week she not only experienced her first outing to a mall with a friend but also had her first cinnabon thingee.  Most significantly she got to experience the only town festival in Mount Holly that attracts a large following.  Several thousand people flock in costume to Mount Holly for the "Witches Ball" Halloween street fair.  Here you can meet face to face with real ghost chasers and other paranormal not so normal people.  Viona wore the witches costume Nicole handmade a few years ago, and was the best dressed witch at the ball.

Waiting for Viona

At least temporarily we have a 17 year old whose autonomy is close but not quite absolute.  Really the only stricture placed upon her was to call if she wasn't going to be home by 4:00.  When the clock struck four Viona was nowhere to be found, and the waiting began.  So Rosencrans and Gilderwhatever made people wait for several hours and still nothing, we didn't wait that long and instead I started to swing towards the high school and coffee shop as routes or locales our new daughter might be.  It is interesting experience to gain 13 years before our next oldest reaches that magical age of 17.  And even with the rush of anxiety caused by 45 minutes without a call, Viona has a bit of magic (this time without sarcasm) and there she was right by the bank walking home.  She got a call back for an audition to a play.

Kosovo Humor

During Nicole's pregnancy with Jo Jo we took to eating a bag of M & M's a night.  Not the small bag which is only good for little children but real adult full size action.  It gave us both a nice pregnancy glow and weight gain.  But all good things must come to an end even when the baby is 5 months old.  Viona as well became accustomed to our happy habit and joined in so she was also displeased when I said, "this is the last time we'll eat M & M's.  We have to stop."  Her reply was symptomatic of her overall wit.  "I guess this is the end of our sweet American Dream."  Indeed. 

Now Jo Jo provides our sweetness.

Viona's Room

The arrival of Viona caused a move in our timetable to remake Gilmyer since her room was beset by peeling paint and falling wall paper.  To work.  The steamer took care of the wall paper and the scraper did the rest.  A few days later and the room was almost ready for Viona.  She did help with the trim, but it was rather hot and open windows had no effect, so she asked to put on the ceiling fan.  A few more strokes of the brush to touch up and the job is done.  One last swathe above a window and done.  I turned back into the center of the room .... whack, right in the side of the head came the fan.  Those who were down stairs became very afraid at the sounds that came next .... but at least we were finished with all but the clean up.  Vacuum, roll up the tarps and son of a .... the paint can fell over thanks to my foot.  Now a half a gallon of paint to clean up on the wood floor.  Be afraid .... be very afraid.