My son's school project this term is Puppetry. They are learning everything they can on the subject, ranging from the history of puppetry to making their own puppets in their classes for an Art Fesvital in Term 3.
Today, seeing that my son was not feeling all too well, I kept him home, nourishing him with good doses 0f hugs and kisses, Chicken Soup and a run of (one of) my all-time favourite movie Sound of Music, just for good measure! I figured, after an entire week's rerun of Horton Hears a Who and The Bee Movie, which by the way was fantastically entertaining and well enjoyed, I thought he needed a splash of culture infusion today!
Anyway keeping true to this term's Puppetry theme, I fast forward the movie to the bit where Maria and the children put up a Puppet/Marionette show for Captain Von Trapp, Max and Baroness Schraeder. My son was not as transfixed as I had expected (I was, always a sucker for classics and anything Jane Austen-ish!!) but he was entertained enough to agree to share the puppet show part of the movie with the rest of his class - one of these days.
Now I must add, there was a point in my teenage life where this movie was my weekend staple. Yes, the archaic VHS would get a thorough work-out each Saturday morning! The songs and the singing would always uplift me, the breath taking beauty of the Austrian landscape would captivate me each time. The romance, admittedly, would always make me blush. In short, this classic would move me each time.
Today I introduced this classic to my kids and re-acquainted myself as a mommy to it. Watching the part where Capt. Von Trapp eventually joins his children singing the magically beautiful "The Hills are Alive" for Baroness Schraeder, left me in tears. The Captain's turn of heart at that point, gripped and touched me at a level so foreign than at 16. Today, watching this as a mom, the notion of certain parents witholding affection and attention to their kids struck a different chord with me as a mommy - it made me is very sad.
The movie then proceeded to the Vienna Waltz scene, where Maria and Capt. Von Trapp danced in the courtyard while the children looked on. I told my son that during her highschool life, mommy did a little Sound of Music play/skit, where mommy was Maria and danced that very dance-scene. I experienced yet another rush of memories - memories that once again brought yet another smile to my face and the fondest of feelings ! I still remember to this very day, every dance step, every line! For that brief moment, I was transported into my final year of highschool - rehearsing with the girls, leading them through the play with their lines and dance steps, even fighting off "fans" of our own Captain Von Trapp! She was a certain hit, our Chia Yen - don't know if that's a good thing in an all girls school!!
Yes, I remember our Captain Von Trapp, Pang Chia Yen (wonder if she's on FB...I "found" June Wah, who played the part of Lisle in our little play!), I remember Samantha Wong , our Baroness, Betty Eber our Frederick, Fiona Jipiu our Kurt but unfortunately my good recollection ends there. My memory of who the rest of the "cast" were, are dismally vague, to say the least...sorry, girls.
And then highschool ended. College started and ended. University started and ended. Finally, gone are those carefree and worry-free life that you once thought would last a lifetime. Being THAT educated, you are happy thinking you finally have figured what life is all about and all its answers! You are then brought back to reality! Life's real lessons and learning truly begins. You are suddenly the unsuspecting student to the most prolific and unlikely life-teacher, packaged in the least suspecting form. So small and tiny, yet they rule your entire being. They teach you what it means to give of yourselves in every way. You learn what it means to have your heart live outside of you. You get weary but you become better. You are privy to witness the most innate God given potential unravelling before your eyes everyday. You don't have much for yourself but you are so happy. You learn that life is about the little miracles that happens everyday ,which in your previous life you would have deemed too insignificant to warrant your notice! You have dreams that you put on hold but your are so fulfilled. You truly are growing up, with them! You finally appreciate life!
Yup, memories. Gosh, I do get into episodes of sentimentalily and wheepyness, since being a mom. I think its the understanding that those days are never going to come your way again. It will always be a part of you and who you are, that comes knocking on your heart door every now and then....
PLUS, as I am blogging, the song by Air Supply "Here I Am" is playing on TV. Hows that for reminiscing galore? I love Air-Supply's songs..so 80s!!
(I am seriously thinking of upgrading my 4-disk VCD version to the more current DVD kind. I really should, seeing I have already upgraded my Anne of Green Gables Collection and Pride and Prejudice)
