Applause on a Saturday

To stand on a stage and receive applause is a very wonderful thing.  I remember working on a show once where I was dressed by a woman who had been quite the socialite in the late 40’s and 50’s in germany, and the gowns she lent me for the show were so beautiful. I wanted to steal them. Backless, draped, yards and yards of fabric. Halter necks, square necks, sheaths, golden fabrics. I was transformed from a little mother into a star.  At the end of the show, I would stand on the stage in front of a thousand people in a gored blue satin gown, draped and tucked in such a way that I felt swathed. My hair just so, my skin glistening from the lights. My waist tiny and long. I would take one step back, the small of my foot to the heel of the other, then back to my toe and drop into a stage sweeping curtsey.  I remember rising to a wall of applause and my arms rose up to the gods, both arms felt as though I could hold the vaulted ceiling up myself I was so strong. My feet rose off the boards as I reached up. My smile became a laugh of pure pleasure and the crowd roared again and laughed with me as I dropped into another curtsey of pure supplication and bowed to the people in the highest reaches of the theatre. The cheap seats up in the gods that were simple benches. Where  my students and children usually were.  Then I would reach out my long slim arms indicating the back stage and we would all clap for the critical back stage crew, and all who worked with me. As the applause drops to a simmer, there is a tiny moment when it is exactly right to leave the stage, at this moment, my fellow performers and I would link hands and bow as one, holding it for just a moment,  a bow of gratitude, of thanks and we would turn as one and with a kick of our slippered heels through the fairy dust of applause, we would swoop from the stage.  All this would come about again and again during my career in the theatre, but a little voice always said to me – remember this. Tag this moment. Do not forget…  Because who will applaud you for making the perfect meal for your family. Who will applaud you for getting the words right with a child. Who will applaud you when you manage to bring a lamb into the world and keep him alive against the odds competely alone in a barn.  Who will applaud you for spending hours with your mother as she dies and finding no words at the end.  Who will applaud you when you see the light finally shine into a students eyes. Or when you turn a basket of tomatoes into a jar of sauce. Or the perfect image appears on its photo paper in the developing tray. Or for stopping. Or starting. Or just not falling. Who will applaud when you hit a wall of weariness and depression and wish you could run as far as you can but don’t. Who will applaud when you put the final word onto a story and print it out just so you can hold the pages. Or take your brush from the canvas and say to yourself I have finished.  Or remember a dream. Or tell a teenager well done, Really good job and watch him try to hide his smile.

And who will applaud you? I will.  We will. You will. This is one of the most wonderful gifts we have to bestow. That simple clap. Those simple words. Well done honey. Your smile is most precious to you but when shared it is more powerful than the clapping of a thousand pairs of hands. A smile is not a smile unless shared.  Remember to applaud those around you. Strangers or not. Just saying -‘thank you, you did that so beautifully’ to a waitress will leave her smiling for the day. Just telling the lady across the road that her garden is gorgeous will be heard and appreciated more than you can imagine.

And for me, remember to applaud yourself. Look how far you have come. Look at how well you have done. Look how clever you are, then look in the mirror and see how beautiful you are in there behind your beautiful eyes. Just look at that one thing you did today that deserves applause and sweep down into a curtsy of acceptance and joy. Say thank you, you are right, I did do well. This is wonderful too.  If someone rises from their seat and says fantastic work. Remember to nod your head into a metaphorical bow, a gentle curtsey and say thank you. Receive your applause with all that generous dignity.  Accepting praise is magnificent for everyone.

There was a rule in my classroom. I taught drama remember and everybody performed. Even visitors to the classroom had to join the games. With all my might I would gently push and cajole and sweet talk every single child  and young adult out onto the tiny stage space in our ugly prefab in the  school grounds of this tough school. Again and again they performed. And The Rule was that you must applaud loudly and heartily every time for everyone.  Always. Every single tiny step was a success. Because my most powerful tool in the classroom was applause.  You are good.  Well done. To watch a child drink in that applause is a wondrous thing.

You have applause too. You have the power to bring good innocent applause into your life and their lives. It must be shared.

Good morning.  Even in our little blog world we share wondrous applause.  We share virtual smiles.  We say beautiful job. You are a fantastic farmy friend. I sincerely hope you know how much I appreciate you visiting, even though I do not get out to visit you often enough.   Thank you. I am clapping from way out here on the prairies, I hope you can hear me. Now take your bows.

Yesterday went smoothly. Though I have to admit to holding my breath every time I turned the pump on.  Every day is a good day and yesterday was good AND calm. Such a relief.  For Daisy as well I am sure. It is 6.02 am. Another clear day. Can you hear Daisy mooing? You are right, she is bossy. But at the end of every milking she gets a slap on the rump and a Well Done Boss. Off you go darling. Off you go.  Go eat your nice hay now.

celi

What happened on this day a year ago Puss and Gumboots.. the little kitty and my favourite beet salad.