A gift for my mom

Seven years ago, my youngest brother, David, did a high school production of The Fantastiks. My friend Kristen directed, and Kristen's mom and dad recorded a video of the production. After the play closed, David announced his retirement from acting. He's good and enjoys so many other things, he didn't mind giving up this one pursuit. It's a bit of a shame, since he was wonderful. Not many have that elastic of a face and such good comic timing!

Couldn't find a photo from his play, but here's
one of David and I from about that time.
Isn't he handsome?!

My mom asked Kristen's mom, Pat, for a copy of the video... but what with graduation and life happening, Pat never managed to give my mom that tape. I am fairly good friends with Pat and Kristen, and every time I'd mention to my mom that I had seen them (which wasn't very often), Mom would mention her regret that she never got a copy of the performance.

Last year, I did Into the Woods, and it just so happens that the young man who played Cinderella's Prince is Pat's nephew. Pat came to the show one night, and afterwards I asked her about that recording of The Fantastiks. I mentioned that I knew my mom would still like a copy, and right away Pat said, "I'll see if I can find the tape. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could give it to your mom for Christmas?!!"

(Please note that I did Into the Woods nearly 18 months ago.)

Pat and I have been in touch quite a bit since then -- mostly me pestering her about whether she'd been able to find the tape. I felt like such a pill, and am glad that I've run into her a few times during that time and she was as concerned as I. It was blisteringly difficult not to tell my mom each time I saw her. I didn't realize before how much I'm used to telling my mom pretty much everything that happens to me.

Well, November 12, I found a Facebook message from Pat saying that she had finally found the tape! She messaged me at midnight right after she found it -- she was too excited to wait to tell me, but was afraid it was too late in the evening to call. You can imagine how thrilled we both were!! She burned the DVD right away, and a few days later I met her at work to pick it up. She asked me to watch it and make sure there weren't any problems. Oh, I had so much fun watching!! I forgot just how funny and talented David was in that play. I'm so proud of the guy. Wish he'd do a show with me. The DVD looked great.... now I just had somehow manage not to mention it to my mom, or anyone who might accidently tell her. The last six weeks have felt so long!!

When Mom unwrapped the DVD yesterday, I knew she could see how excited I was to give it to her. It was so fun to see her face as she politely thanked me for the homemade DVDs (not the first time I've given her such a gift), and slowly read aloud the title. The look on her face when she realized exactly what it was was priceless. Her eyes widened, and she immediately started to cry because she was so overwhelmed. She jumped up to give me a hug and I laughed when she said, "I was really starting to hate those people!" Her reaction couldn't have been better!

I'm just happy that seven years after the fact, she finally has her DVDs and I don't have to keep this particular secret anymore. I don't like keeping secrets! It's so much easier just to tell the truth!

I should say that David probably won the "most thoughtful gift for Mom" award. Mom has been collecting vintage copies of the books in The Wizard of Oz series, and David found her a mint condition copy. Wish he could have been there to see how thrilled she was. Silly hospital needing him to work that day (thank goodness for health professionals working the holidays -- they are sorely needed and appreciated, though their families miss them). I'm glad Mom had such a good year. We do what we can to tell her how much we love her!

Haven't had a chance to tell Dave yet that I found a copy of his play. He might not be as excited as the rest of us -- I'm sure he's in no hurry to watch himself on camera. Still, since he is retired, it's nice to have a record of his onstage genius. I'm guessing that Mom told him about it last night after he finished work. Hope he doesn't mind too much!

Happy day-after-Christmas, everyone. I hope your day was as happy and fun and exhausting as mine. There was plenty of good food and even better company, smiles, tears, imperfection, and gratitude. I'm already looking forward to next Christmas and all that comes with it :) I'd better start thinking now about what to get my mom. It'll be hard to top this one.