quick clicks

dads today articles

dads today q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Rob's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 11/15/00 -------------------- 11/7/00 11/1/00 10/25/00 10/10/00 10/4/00 9/25/00 9/19/00 9/13/00 9/6/00 8/29/00 8/23/00 8/16/00 8/8/00 8/7/00 8/1/00 7/26/00 7/19/00 7/12/00 7/5/00 6/26/00 6/15/00 6/8/00 5/25/00 5/22/00 -------------------- Rob's Introduction

Introduction

Last Thursday, I had the thrill of seeing the world premiere production of my first play. We had a good crowd for opening night, and a critic in the house. The show went really well, and the critic’s immediate reaction was good (how well she speaks of the show in print remains to be seen). I felt dizzy with pride and relief. I had been nearly jumping out of my skin with nerves all day before the show, and it's lucky I didn't have to do any acting myself that night. I doubt I could have remembered my own name.

Following the show was, of course, the party. How wonderful it was to be back in Chicago with my good friends in the theater company and in the audience! I mixed salty-dogs for everyone in honor of the show ("The Dogs"), and we partied into the night. With Jenny and Rowan back home in Texas, I didn't have a thing to worry about but having fun. We got to talking at the party about my sense of accomplishment. I said that seeing my work brought to life on stage was the best feeling in the world. Except for being a parent, I quickly amended. The difference is that with a child, there is no moment of final success when I can consider all the work done, sit back and wait for the reviews to come in. A play doesn't soil its diaper right after everyone comments on how wonderful it is. A play doesn't throw a screaming tantrum if it can't have chocolate milk right now, and a play won't ever stay out after curfew. Yes, we concluded, the pride I could take in my play is unique and wonderful.

Unfortunately, even the best party has to end, and my flight back to Chicago was the next day. We all had lunch together and managed not to get too weepy until it was time for me to go to the airport. The sky and Lake Michigan were both the same somber gray, and I haven't felt so alone in all my married years. My sorrow deepened as I walked away from my friends and onto the jet-way alone. I realized that I had forgotten to bring a program for the show, or to take a single picture while I was there. The rest of the Billy Goat Experiment had another show that night, and had the whole run of the show ahead of them, but I was walking away with no tangible evidence of the experience whatsoever. I felt like I was waking up from a wonderful dream to learn that a dream was all it had been.

Then I thought of Rowan and Jenny waiting for me back home, and I realized: a play will never throw itself into my arms and say, "Hi, Papa!" A play will never snuggle between us in bed on a Sunday morning. A play will never give me a spontaneous kiss. It's true, there is just no comparison.

Rob