Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Ham It Up

My youngest daughter and I love the smash broadway musical, Hamilton. We listen to it, sing it, reference it -- all the time. It's clever, catchy, and educational. I especially resonate with its theme about the brevity of our time on this earth. The writer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, through Hamilton's life and his outlook on life, challenges us to think about what we are doing with the time given to us.

We are all running out of time.

I'm thankful to God for the gifts He gave to Lin-Manuel Miranda. And, I want to thank Lin-Manuel for sharing his gifts with the world.


Unfortunately, we didn't get tickets to see it,
but we stopped by the theater where it happens. 

My Hamilton loving Mary Grace is at camp, and there's nothing better than getting a letter while you're away. Last year when she was there, I sent her a letter written in French (well, Google Translate and I sent her a letter written in French). She was in the thick of studying that beautiful language so it seemed like a fun idea. This year, I didn't want to do the same thing. It took all of 1 second to decide what she was in the thick of this year --> Hamilton. So I decided to write my letter in such a way as to make her smile and remember the fun times we've had listening to Hamilton. Last night, I was definitely in the mood to ham it up. 

If you're not a Hamilton fan, you'll read my letter and probably think it sounds pretty strange. If you are a Hamilton fan, I think you'll smile...just like I know Mary Grace will.

Enjoy!


July 19, 2016

My Dearest Mary Grace, 

I thought it was time for a form of communication to rise up. I knew you’d never be satisfied with another email, so I’m sending a letter. I know you’re not an ocean away, but you might as well be, because you’re at camp. But know that I’m glad you are able to take a break, to take a break and sit by the lake. Aren’t you lucky to be alive right now? You're on your own! Awesome! Wow!

So, how is our senior, daughter, child of a doc and a suthn’r doing in the middle of a forgotten spot in Taney CO MO? I know you’re not throwing away your shot at a good time. I bet with it being this hot, though (nothing like summer in the country), you’ve got people asking you to “meet me inside” where it’s air conditioned.

Have you had a chance to really look around? Just look at where you are! Are you getting opportunities to play a fun game? I hope you’re not suffering through one where no one really knows how the game is played. That’s the worst. I do know that if you’re playing the game of tennis, you’ll blow them all away.

We’ve been super busy at home and you’re probably asking yourself, “What’d I miss?” So, I’m gonna be a lamb, darlin’, and tell ya. Unless you’re willing to wait for it? No? Well, all I can say is history is happening in BoMO. Dad’s busy with work, work! Work, work! He’s really a mind at work. And I’m always looking for a mind at work, so we’re a perfect pair. I’ve had my share of stuff to catch up on too, so I’m definitely busy, but I have had my moments when I’ve felt like I’m in the eye of a hurricane -there is quiet for a moment. I could even say it’s been quiet uptown (since we live on the north side of Bolivar, you could say we live uptown). I’ve spent hours in the garden, so there aren’t so many weeds anymore. For a while there I was feeling pretty helpless. I was down for the count and drownin’ in em. Did you know weeds are like rumors? Rumors only grow. And so do weeds. Now we both know what we know.

We had company the other night, and dad left everything up to me. I arranged the meeting. I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating. We had steak and the fixings. Hadn’t had that in a while. For dessert, we had ice cream and my homemade hot fudge. You know my hot fudge. It's so good. I don’t know how to say no to it! I wanna say no to it. But I can't. Ugh! (and Yum!)

Well, I gotta go. Gotta get the jobs done. I hope you get a chance to pick up a pen and start writing. You know we made  an arrangement when you went away. You don’t have to write like you’re running out of time, but at least one letter would be great:)

I have the honor to be
Your loving mother,
S dot Harris