Closing night of SF Opera's Macbeth

Last night was the close of SF Opera's Macbeth. I had my camera with me, but the time for taking pictures seemed to be over, and I just wanted to live completely in the moment and experience it to the fullest. It was a magical night: hearty applause for all, flowers for the kids from their dressers, more candy from Thomas Hampson, and warm congratulations all around. We gathered art materials and snacks from our locker and said goodbye to our all new opera friends. The children spent a lot of time in the dressing rooms together, and the parents spent a lot of time chatting in the hall. Sophie and I are both grateful for the good company that made each a pleasure.

And we left with some nice objects by which to remember the experience. As the children made their final departure from the stage following curtain call, some members of the orchestra handed them pages from the score.


Our opera connection, a friend of mine from work, procured for Sophie a program autographed by Thomas Hampson.



She also gave Sophie a copy of The Daring Book for Girls, which contains chapters on everything a girl could want to know from how to tie a sari to the rules for four square, appropriate contents for every girl's toolbox, and traveling to Africa (surely more on this later).



One of the mothers also made a poster from her child's drawing (lots of drippy blood), and the children collected autographs. And our the mother we carpooled with gave Sophie a kit of paints for her Crocs—pretty cool!

When all the memories of the not-so-good have faded (the over-tired kids, the Bay Bridge traffic), we'll remember all that was good, which is quite a lot. I know it won't be too long before as I lie next to Sophie as she falls asleep, she'll say "Mama, tell me about the time I was in the opera. . . . "