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Fun was had...during my writing intermission

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Greetings, it’s late November, snow is on the way, and my writing intermission has ended. On with the show! Grab a snack, favorite “bev,” and ease into a chair for a bit. Much has happened since I left the Timberjay’s rotation of columnists last winter. For one thing, my flash romance with Bill passed the one-year mark in August. We don’t smile with that spellbound look on our faces at everything the other one says all of the time and have achieved a great level of companionship. The relationship with my son Keaton, a bit strained as you may recall, has moved through its most difficult phases and it is good to breathe some sighs of relief.  

Looking back to a year ago, I now recognize the parenting woes I had have been carried away on a breeze...or was it an Alberta Clipper in this case? My son is living on his own and has been working with a local tree-cutting service, enjoying the seasonal work outdoors. I recall him explaining to me that with a weather related job, he wanted to be ready for work on a moment’s notice, so he would shower at night and sleep in his work clothes. Nothing like “wrinkled but ready!” I went from feeling like a crazy woman at times, trying to force him to do more, to realizing he is his own stubborn person and will do things in his own time. Now he is working, concerned about paying bills, doing laundry, cleaning and cooking. Such rapid change has sometimes been hard for me to wrap my head around, so I just smile and enjoy him!

One other thing I have enjoyed during my writing intermission has been expanding my home-based business, O’Hara Screenprinting and Design. Bill and I invested in some new equipment including a smaller conveyor-belt dryer and an outdoor event tent, referred to as “my circus act!” We set it up in Tower last Fourth of July and sold T-shirts and patriotic themed toys. We had a blast being “carnies”! It’s great fun doing new things although it takes a bit of a push at times to break out of the routines and “go for it!” 

Speaking of going for it...toward the end of summer I read that there was going to be a musical production in Ely about Dorothy Molter the Root Beer Lady. It was slated for Thanksgiving weekend. I twirled it around in my head and told myself, “Ah..hang it up already! You’ve been there-done that, why stress your memory? Keep your evenings free! Let the other local talent carry on!”  I had concluded, “I’m NOT going to do it.” Well, as I write this, it’s one week to show time and I’m in the show! All it takes is a conversation with a director or a choreographer and I get the energy vibe to be on the stage and DO IT AGAIN! After all, I’m not wrapped up in “Passport Hell” this year, or trips to Italy. Remember that?

In case you haven’t heard, Dorothy Molter, the Musical is being performed as a “staged reading” at Vermilion Community College on Thanksgiving weekend for two performances. It is based on the book, Root Beer Lady-The Story of Dorothy Molter, written by local author Bob Cary. His daughter, Barb Cary-Hall, has written and is producing the musical based on her father’s book with her original music and songs by other musicians.  

I was cast as the narrator, Ruth Molter, Dorothy’s sister. She tells the story and in addition, is involved in many of the musical numbers and has a delightfully funny solo in Act II. I’ve really enjoyed learning more about Dorothy Molter, the local Ely legend. Since early October, we have been practicing a few nights a week at the Ely Folk School on Sheridan Street. I had not ever been inside the school since its start and have really enjoyed being in the creative-learning atmosphere. There are ten cast members, a Director, Assistant Director, Choreographer, Music Director and the Author-Producer present at most practices, give or take. What a malleable group of merry participants we have! Over the course of the past rather political month, I have been pleasantly distracted and comforted by my involvement in this play. Let’s face it, this year’s election strife has been pretty overwhelming at times for most of us, but being able to walk into rehearsal and be surrounded by friends, maximum laughter and silliness is terrific. How can a person not be comforted by brightly colored quilts hanging on the vintage pine-paneled walls, crafts on display and even snack time?

The not-so-badly-out-of-tune piano at the school brings me back to Kindergarten days in Hoyt Lakes. We have routine vocal warm-ups, sometimes we move in circles practicing wild facial expressions as we sing to a makeshift audience. Great camaraderie and fun! How can this not lull me back to a simpler time of singing catchy tunes like “Peter Peter Penguin” in Hoyt Lakes Kindergarten! A time when my biggest concern was not losing my red plaid lunch box on the way to school.

Our time at the Folk School is drawing to a close. On Monday, for our final week of practice we will be moving up to the Vermilion College Fine Arts Theater for technical rehearsals. My involvement in The Root Beer Lady has reminded me of the important need for adults to have plain old FUN. Just play. I have so enjoyed getting to meet some new friends and reuniting with other theater people I haven’t “played” with in awhile. So this is some of what I’ve been up to during my intermission from column writing. Before I sign off, I invite you to come and see our musical over Thanksgiving weekend! Performance times are Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. There are no tickets, but a free-will donation can be made at the door. Maybe I will see you there, and until then I close with the title of our final song in the show...Root for Root Beer! 

Lynn O’Hara can be reached at scarlet@frontiernet.net