random thoughts – Day 1,867 – (Sunday) – show day

Moody clouds, 4-27-25.

Whatever bodily system provokes sleep seemed to be on strike on the Saturday overnight shift. I went upstairs around 10:30, hoping for a good night’s sleep in preparation for performance day. At midnight, still awake, I mentally ran through our dances for the show but it stressed me out. There was tossing and turning and a whole lot of “what the effity-eff?”

At 1:30, there was still no sleep. Same for 2:30, then 3:00, before I finally fell asleep until 6:45. The alarm would be going off at 7:00, so I dragged myself out of bed to a cloudy sky morning.

Show day preparations began while the coffee brewed. The forecast was for breezy, chilly weather which meant dressing in layers, starting with black capri-length leggings and a nude mesh long sleeve shirt. A black version of the mesh top went over the nude, then an elbow length cotton and spandex dance top. These were topped with a black, long-sleeve wraparound dance top. The fifth layer, the chiffon and paillette costume top would be added at the festival venue. Sweat pants went atop the leggings for the drive and would be replaced with the purple and black 25-yard costume skirt.

Bundled up before show time.

Hair was put in a half-updo messy bun to minimize the amount of hair available to blow in my face. Fabric flower hair clips were added. Makeup was applied. 

At departure time, large rain drops splatted onto the windshield. It rained during the entire ride from Lowell to Townsend. It wasn’t heavy, just annoying, and slightly depressing. The sky was brighter closer to Townsend.

Hamming it up after the show.
Photo by Kevin Harkins.

We gathered and did final primping in the parking lot before crossing the street to the festival, bundled in capes, shawls, puffy jackets, and winter coats. Shortly before our scheduled time, the sun came out. We danced, and it was good, even the part where the music for the first song began several seconds into the song and we were a few beats behind for the entire dance. After that, the rest of the songs played correctly. 

A photographer friend attended the event and took photos of us while we were dancing and posed photos afterward. 

During a brief walk through the vendor area, the wind got blustery. Tents were taking flight and displays were blown to the ground. Mother Nature was running through the repertoire today with rain, sun, chilly air, and wind.

The drive home was accompanied by the seat warmer and heater on high. At home, the stage makeup came off, the hair came down, and things were put away in their designated storage bins and hung on the recently organized costume rack.

The rest of the day is a blurry mystery. I was tired, chilled, and the random and always inconvenient sciatic issue had decided to pop in for a visit. At 4:00, the power went out on my side of the river, likely wind related. The power returned at 6:00, beating both the initial estimate and the update. Thank you for your speedy repair work, utility folks. Much appreciated. Now I’m going to bed.