Rememering Heather

The curtains closed for the last time and many of the cast members, the crew, the parents and teachers who helped put the show together were teary eyed on closing night. The wrap party was a lot of fun and none of my kids wanted to leave when it was time. The Blanco High School Addams Family: The Musical production brought a group of kids and adults together into a team; a cast and crew; a tribe. The energy generated by the collective effort was nearly palpable during the final evening together. The culmination of it all was some sort of group game that involved a lot of running and laughing, but not before one last sing-along of “When You’re an Addams,” as the celebratory cake was served. Not surprisingly, on the ride home, I heard someone say, “What am I going to do now that Addams is over? It’s sort of sad.” Without a doubt, there are nearly three dozen kids in Blanco who are feeling something similar. All of the time and effort that went into the staging of the musical (the practice and performances that have practically monopolized the last few months), is finished. The show is over. It’s really sort of a bummer; actually, more like a letdown. Emotional letdown is a natural phase that follows the accomplishment of something big or important in life, something around which much of life seems to have revolved for a period of time, something that has been anticipated with excitement and preparation, but is over now; and the exhilaration associated with it is gone, too. Most of you have probably experienced the letdown effect and you know exactly what I’m talking about. Remember, it’s wise to begin with the end in mind. At the end: Hang on to the people you worked with to prepare for the big event (whatever it was). Reach out. Do things together, once it’s over. Get together and talk about the fun times, and look for opportunities to make more happy memories together with the friends you made along the way. Always focus on the positives. If there were failures, learn from them. Determine to grow through the struggles and keep working, maintaining a positive growth-mindset. Know there will be an end when preparing for something big. Know the big day is coming and know it will pass. The excitement passes. Be ready for it. The sadness passes, once the show is over, too. Have a plan for what’s next. After all, it seems like someone once said that when one curtain closes, another one opens somewhere… maybe it was a door closing and a window opening… Who knows? Choose your metaphor. Be well.