I had the most fabulous weekend with my youth group kids. I am exhausted and achy but so glad I went. I found them all to be exuberant and talented and overwhelmingly mature in some cases. I feel like I somehow made 50 new friends, even though I am years older than these people. I'm especially lucky that my girls (our region is divided into boys and girls chapters by city) are such nice girls.
I come from a unique perspective when I'm at the group's events because I did this myself, for five years, from ages 14 to 18. Maybe that is why it is so easy for me? I relate to these kids... although I won't ever understand The Jonas Brothers or some of their made-up games. I mean, have you heard about "lap tag?" Horrid.
The weekend was like an Olympics of sorts. The chapters compete in mental, physical and arts challenges. Clever games like "Human Connect Four" (basically what it sounds like) and "Blind Mini-Golf" (a blindfolded golfer has to put with only the whispers of a friend, not allowed to touch them, to give them directions). On Saturday night, they dressed in themed costumes (my girls were the adorable nerdy girls that night) and performed song and dance routines. Even the boys get in on this-- one of my favorites was a boys chapter that painted themselves blue and banged out something quite amazing on pots and tupperware.
(the boy sans paint was the conductor)
Last night, I got home tired and happy and took some time to rest. And then I went with Ky to see Spring Awakening at The Ahmanson. I've been dying to see this show since I saw their breathtaking performance on the Tony Awards last year. I was probably exposed to too much hype and I wasn't really blown away like I'd thought I'd be but I really enjoyed it.
A couple minutes before the show began, I was surveying the room, scowling at late-comers who were disturbing entire rows of people to get to middle seats. And there was Martin Sheen, coming down my row. When he passed me and said "excuse me," I replied "Not a problem" and privately added "Mr. President."
In case you were curious- he participated in the standing ovation at the end of the show. Everyone turned to check.
