There is nothing like getting nachas from kinder.
Huh?
That's a Yiddish expression (anglicized for our viewing audience) that means extreme joy/pride in one's children.
And that's me in a nutshell. This weekend I saw my son, the Drama King, perform the role that I have always said he was born to play:
That round-headed kid.
Yep, the title/lead role in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
If you have seen it -- or even never heard of it -- it is a collection of little scenes and songs based on the Peanuts characters of Charles M. Schulz. I saw it once, years ago, and have listened to and loved the music since.
And from the time he has been interested in theater, I knew my boy WAS Charlie Brown. It's a perfect part for him -- the self-deprecating, insecure, lovable loser with a permanent case of bad luck.
I wish I had a photo of him in his yellow shirt with the black zigzag on it. Maybe next weekend, when I go back and see him perform again.
The truth of it is that the show -- done in a 40-seat theater and produced by one of DK's friends -- was less than stellar. Some of the other performers are frankly -- ahem -- not endowed with talent. One, in fact, was unable to find the key of her song, picking one out of the air instead. The singer in me cringed noticeably.
But my boy? My boy shined bright.
This is not just mommy pride. He really is talented, having played lead roles in community theater and college plays over the years.
If only he would get over his fear of failure and actually go for the BIG productions.
Meanwhile, I'm just going to enjoy the glow of seeing him do what I KNEW he could do and, in doing so, making me -- and him -- happy.
After all, even Charlie Brown knows that “Happiness is anyone and anything that's loved by you.”
I love Charlie Brown! Yes, you need a picture of Drama King in the zigzag shirt. Definitely. As for the poor singer - Good Grief!
Posted by: Daisy | June 09, 2010 at 10:59 PM