Made up

Dress rehearsal. It was successful.  On the way home he wiped makeup off his face with wipes. We had been home about 20 minutes when I came out of the kitchen  becauseI heard a crashing sound.  Duncan was on the floor.  He seemed disoriented.  "How?"  I asked what happened.  He didnt know.  He stood up and felt light headed and then he was on the floor.  

He was fine the rest of the day. 

Then the first performance for the middle school was today at noon.  It ended at 3.15.  I was across the street at cub scouts from 4-5 so told Duncan to walk over there to have supper and rest before he had to be back for evening checkin at 5.30.  Somewhere between 3.15 and changing out of costume and walking across the street..  he started feeling dizzy and having trouble with his vision.  

I sent him to lie down and drink water.  I found some tylenol and prepped some food. He fell asleep which was good.  But only for 30 minutes.  He woke up and ate but looked awful.....  and not just because of all his stage makeup.  

It was time to head back across the street.  He said he was better and returned to the school.   My plan had been to wait for Patrick to collect little boys from scouts and then go to the school to sit in a quiet room for the long evening ahead.  We have tickets for tomorrow's performance.  

I arrived at the school at 6.15.   45 minutes after Duncan. I decided to check in on him before I settled in for the evening.  As I crossed the auditorium to go to the locker areas I saw the director.  I asked how is Duncan?  He looked confused and replied.  Fine.  Isn't he?  Then the band director from the orchestra pit saw me and called up..  "Duncan is throwing up."

I looked at the director and said.. "and that's why I'm here."

I found Duncan back stage leaning over a garbage can with a dozen 1920s clad girls clucking over him.  "He's shaking".  "He looks pale"  no one looks pale with stage makeup on.   "Did someone feed him nuts"  "get him a cold cloth"  "he needs water"..  there were two cool wet cloths and a glass of water and a chair brought within seconds. 

Boys were all standing further away....  their conversations were as follows...  did he really just hurl?  What did he eat, that stinks.  Who else knows his part?  His mom got here quick.  

After weeks and weeks of practice, we didnt have time to be sick.  With 45 minutes to show time..  we found a quiet, dark room to lie down in.  Pure peppermints.. massaging his head...  some ginger to settle his stomach... we removed as much of the thick makeup as we could without changing his look... more water.. more cool cloths...   another tylenol...  at 10 minutes to showtime he was having trouble standing without feeling dizzy and his head was pounding.. light bothered him. (Stage lights??!)

I left him and headed to the audience.  I recognized a few men from church and approached them.  "We need a blessing back stage."   

7.00 showtime.  Duncan was in the opening scene.  He wasn't as vivacious as he had been in many of the rehearsals but after the evening was over..  friends and family from the audience were shocked to learn he had been sick.   I sat back stage for the entire show.  He looked better and better as it went on.  He rested when he could and sipped water and we kept the cool cloths ready.  The cast were concerned but the show went on.  

Bows and well wishes in the foyer and then changed clothes.  Finally on our way home.  He slept in the back seat.  His head was pounding again.  Finally able to wash his face completely.  He said he felt better with his face clean but all he wanted was dark and to sleep.  

Tomorrow night...  we think we'll forego the heavy makeup.  It's the only thing in common with each problem..   and I also don't do well when wearing heavy makeup in a similar manner.  Hereditary makeup aversions?

Photos taken an hour apart.  

Should have taken one when he was curled up in the backseat on the way home.

Petrichoral

Duncan joined two choirs this fall.  At first I thought it would be simple.  

Two times a week needing to take him to town won't be bad.

Two times per two choirs meant going to town four times a week.

Remember going to town takes 30 minutes; one way.

After only one month... winter arrived.  

Cold, snow and ice, dark by 5:30pm.

After almost four months his first concert date arrived.

This would determine if all that taxi driving and time in town had been worth it.

Now I may be biased, but the performances before this song were obvious beginner song groups and musicians.  They weren't awful, just not polished or confident.

This group of eight singers is not affiliated with the school.  There is not a teacher or advisor.  It is just a fun group of kids that love to sing and wanted to try something fun.

It was a definite hit!

They've since been invited to perform at the retirement center and at the community Christmas courthouse tree lighting.

After these performances we have a three week break and then practices will resume.  

They have some spring concerts lining up.

Oh.. and he's in the upcoming play, "Singin' in the Rain".

Taxi driving will resume.