Chicago Weekend

I spent a super fun weekend in Chicago with Brandi and Kimberly to...can you guess? If you said "See Wicked for the third time" you're right! This was Brandi's second time to see it, and Kimberly's first. I can honestly say, I enjoyed it just as much the third time as I did the first. It is arguably the best musical I've ever seen. The story is clever, the music is spectacular, the costumes and sets are intricate, colorful, unusual...it's just amazing. The two actresses playing Galinda and Elphaba were both very good, and we all agreed that this Galinda had some great comedic timing, and added a lot of her own personal touches to the character which was neat. Anything done by Stephen Schwartz holds a special place in my heart, because his musical Godspell has played a role in some life-changing experiences I have had (namely, NFK reunions and giving my law school days the old heave-ho). So a few years back, when my great friend Michelle raved about his new musical Wicked, I was already inclined to love it. She loaned Kevin and I the CD, and we listened to it over and over again for weeks.
It wasn't just the show that was great. This weekend was just what I needed. I really needed a little break and some time away from Urbana. I think it is hard for moms to admit that they need a break but I really did. Kevin is under so much stress right now, he is in the middle of an enormous project at work and also finishing a group project and writing a paper for his U of I class. I have felt really burdened down with chores and errands and all the daily tasks of a five-person family, along with several weighty issues rolling around in my head (#1: what is best for my kids once UPS comes to an end? #2: I want to move across town, but love our home and want to stay in our home, not to mention the housing market). Although it is usually a joy for me, this year the "stuff" of Christmas has been more of a chore. The gifts have been harder, trying to figure out what everyone wants, respond to all the requests for help buying gifts for the kids, sending out Christmas cards, putting up the decorations...all these things that I usually enjoy are feeling this year like just another item that needs to get crossed off the "to-do" list. It just feels like work. Eventually, too much is just too much and nothing is fun anymore. I was starting to feel like I wanted to stay in my pajamas all day and watch TV. This weekend we laughed so much and it was not only fun, but kind of healing too. It felt so good to laugh, and laugh at myself a little too. Lighten up and get some perspective on "real life." It is so refreshing just to have a short period of time where you don't have to do anything for anyone but yourself. What a wonderful feeling to sit at a restaurant and have nothing to do except choose what you want, and then eat it! To wake up for just one morning when your body is ready (not when your Boo is ready) and chat quietly with a friend, then shower and calmly get ready for the day. These two friends and I are discovering all the things we have in common and that is a real treasure, to find people who have been through some of the things you have and understand where you are coming from.
I think one of the best parts of going away is realizing how much you want to come back. And...Kevin and the kids had a wonderful weekend together. As we got on I-57 South heading back to Urbana this afternoon, I was so excited to come home and really happy to see the beautiful faces of my loves. Isaac had no troubles at all, he ate well (and I had 3 bottles of mama milk for him when I got home!), slept well, cooed, played, and was his same happy self. There were several games of Monopoly, some Christmas shopping, a Happy Meal lunch, a Christmas movie, reading time, all with Kevin's special touches.
It was a great weekend at the right time, and with the right musical!