BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

another miracle

    So, I did a little redecorating--what do you think?  I felt like it was time for a change...


    Here is something you probably don't know about me: I love to paint.  At least, I loved painting my house.  I love the idea of straight lines and the paint staying within the perimeter of those lines; of something bland being made interesting by a vibrant color; of taking my time and making it perfect; of buying the tiniest brush I could find at Shinn's, the paint store, so that I could get the corners just right; of the smell of paint; of wearing my huge, painted-all-over overalls; of making so many trips to Shinn's that I started to feel like Norm when he walked into Cheers and everybody knew his name; to discovering that Benjamin Moore is the absolute best paint there is and feeling like a bit of a paint snob because I secretly feel sorry for someone when I discover that they are painting and did not use Benjamin Moore...

   Anyway, I figured since I can't really paint my writing space--it being virtual, and all--I could just change things around and get the same result that a good paint job does.   

   But, that's not actually what I was going to write about tonight.  

    Do you believe in miracles?  In inexplicable promptings, that once you obey, you are absolutely grateful that you did?  There are moments when I simply cannot deny the presence of a higher power in my life, leading me, showing me a better way, providing wondrous phenomena that bring alternatives to certain sadness. 

   Or embarrassment.  Which would have surely happened tonight, had I not listened to this prompting.  But, let me tell you what I mean.

   We were already at places, getting some last minute stretches in next to a dark stage that sat empty before a waiting audience.  I was ready, mostly.  Except, drat! I had to go to the bathroom.  Nothing too serious, probably just nerves.  Normally, I ignore this feeling, considering we are about to walk on stage.  And so that is what I did, ignored it--for a good minute.  But I did have to pee, and sometimes dancing with that...pressure...is just no fun--plus I just felt compelled to go, like something was telling me that I really needed to do this before the show started, so I ran up to the stage manager and asked her if I had time to go to the bathroom.  She said, you have three minutes--you can go if you use the one up here, on the side of the stage. Hurry! 

   With that last directive motivating me, I ran to the bathroom and got to business.  And this is when I realized how important that little trip turned out to be.  Without getting explicit, and with an attempt at sensitivity towards the male portion of my readers, I can only explain the next occurrence by telling you that in that moment I was absolutely positive that I am a). not pregnant (this is good news) and b). in need of something to, ah, keep the audience from seeing the proof, so to speak, that I am not pregnant (which was not good news).  Uh-oh, it had probably been about two minutes by now, and with one meagre minute to go, I ran back to my stage manager to tell her that the problem is now a little more serious and that I was in need of a few more minutes.  She heard the urgency in my voice and let me go.  Smart lady.  

   I tore out of there like I was running for my life and finally ended up in my dressing room, after pausing only long enough to hear a dresser ask, Do you need help?! I replied with a quick yell over my shoulder, Not to use a tampon, thanks!!! And got the job done. Without her help, thanks.  

   I ran back up to the stage manager, told her that I was back and ready, grabbed hands with Sterling and Jay, and walked on stage to start the show, now that my own little frantic pre-show had finally ended.  I couldn't help but feel overcome by gratitude; for the prompting to go to the bathroom from Someone who knew what was going on, and for the fact that I actually listened.  

   And this is just another small clue that leads me to the overwhelming evidence of miracles. Everyday.  In unexpected places.  And I'll take them, every time.  

8 comments:

Lady Leth said...

I love the new look. That is a miricle---that oculd have been VERY bad!

Anonymous said...

I think I speak for all the guys when I say . . . ewww.

Just kidding, I'm glad everything worked out.

Jonathan Latshaw said...

Jess, you should have just used toilet paper ;)! Or maybe tied a jacket around your waist?

Anonymous said...

laughed even harder than Josh's blog on post surgery. Jonathan's comment started me off again. Now I'm the one that has to rush to the bathroom. Please don't ever stop writing.

Michele said...

I just love you Jessica! :) That could have been very embarassing - I'm glad you listened to God.

Anonymous said...

Jess, love the new look...how did you do it?

I am glad and relieved for you that this (very funny) story had a happy ending!

Jenna Latshaw said...

i love the new look!! it's almost as hot as you!!

Jessica said...

Jonathan--I don't think the jacket around the waist thing would have gone over very well with stage management...

And Kathie--I just googled "cool blog layouts" or something of that nature, found this on one of the sites, copied the code, and then pasted it onto the html on my own site. That makes me sound super computer-savvy, but I really am not--the process was just THAT easy!