The Silver Lining

Sometimes I feel like my life is just a big storm cloud. I know that sounds ungrateful, but I'm just being honest.  Life is often a struggle and sometimes I just don't feel up to the task, That's how I felt today.Everything simply piled up -- missing Dasha, fighting so hard for Anya with no end in sight, thoughts of moving to Siberia, Nastia regressing, house falling apart....and then Zolishka dying. It's days like these when I have to hunt really hard to find the silver lining. But today, I didn't have to hunt for it....it walked in my front door.

The constant silver lining in my life is my work. I know that's rare, and I'm incredibly grateful for it. Not only is my job rewarding and fun, but my staff are the greatest group of people you could ever meet. Tonight I had a cookout for them. They have been working so hard for me this summer, without one word of complaint. They have had to find their own way without me for the first time, and they have done an incredible job.

So, tonight they came over, -- McKey, Deenah,Chris, Stef, Hannah, Adelaide, Catherine, Tory, Zoe, and Darcy. Even Chesky & Rozena stopped by!  McKey cooked burgers and hotdogs on the new grill; we had corn on the cob and potato salad and s'mores. We sat by the firepit and chatted. We listened to The Spring Standards, and talked about the amazing  kids of Rebel Shakespeare. There was jumping on the trampoline, and swinging on the hammock. There was gossip in the kitchen about budding romances, there was costume sorting, and sword-fighting, and prop list making. I felt a deep sense of contentment and joy all night. I love my work. But I love the people who work for me even more.

Thanks for a great night guys. I feel so lucky to know each and every one of you.

You are the silver lining to my current storm-cloud life. Thank you for that.


Cute must-read anecdote: The photos below are of McKey and Chris. The first one is from almost ten years ago when they were my students and appearing together in Hamlet. To the right is a current one I snagged off their facebook page. Yes, they are now a couple:) So cute...