Not As Planned...

Funny how way too often, things just don't seem to go as I planned them to.  Last May I purchased tickets for the family and I to see The Lion King at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.  As part of our family's yearly tradition, we always go see a play, the ballet, or musical to kick off the holiday season.  We've gone to the Nutcracker more than a few times, last year saw A Christmas Carol, and I was so excited to go to this year's performance.  After holding on to the tickets for 6 months, the day was finally here!  Last week I took the kids and Kent to purchase new outfits for the show, and our big night out was all arranged.  We'd be going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, then walk around downtown under all the lights before strolling over to the DCPA for the show.  Perfect.  Yeah, not quite.  The first blip in our plans began at noon yesterday, when my son called to tell me he was heading to his dad's early from work.  He was sick as a dog.  Being we still had a few hours, I told him to rest it up and we'd see how he felt later on in the day.  Four hours later, his fever was rampant.  Brandon was not going anywhere.  I called up my niece to see if she could come, and she could!  I was thrilled to have her come along with us, and a bit relieved that the ticket wouldn't go unused.  Kent and I got to the kids' dad's house, and I headed up to Brandon's room.  He was feverish still, wanting me to just scratch his back.  I felt terrible that he wouldn't be joining us for our yearly tradition.  He's never missed out before, and with him being 17, I know there's not a lot of time left before he's out and on his own.  I was bummed.

Marissa, on the other hand, looked amazing!  She was ready for the show, wearing a leopard print skirt and furry vest.  After kissing Fuzz on the forehead, we headed out of the door to go and pick up Amanda.  She, too, was ready for the show!  Amanda had on a brown scarf, with a giraffe print scarf, and looked great as well.  The four of us arrived at the Cheesecake Factory, were seated within 10 minutes and were then promptly forgotten about.  Luckily, we had plenty of time to spare because the waiter was MIA.  He forgot to bring us bread, forgot to refill drinks, and forgot half of Marissa's order.  Not exactly the perfect meal, but the company was great!  The girls had a good time chatting it up, as did we.  After dinner, there would be no strolling around town.  It was freezing outside with a breeze like none other!  Instead of picture-perfect moment I had been transpiring in my mind for the last six months, we sat in the car with the heat blasted trying to get warmed up before walking over to the DCPA.

We made our way to the show, got seated, and sat in awe as the animals filled the auditorium.  The music took me back to when Brandon and Marissa were little.  I used to play the Lion King CD over and over--at one point, it was the only soundtrack that would put Brandon to sleep.  We snuggled on many evenings under big old blankets watching that movie.  I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face throughout the entire first act.  I was mesmerized, and it was wonderful.

And then there was the intermission...  And I stood up...  With my black sweater dress somehow making its way up over my ass...  Clinging to my tights...  And I didn't realize this had occurred...  And I stood up...  With my entire ass showing.  I mooned the people behind me for a full ten seconds before I realized why there was a giggle from the girl behind me, and a slap to the man's head behind me.  My hand leapt immediately to my behind and I tugged my sweater dress down.  Immediately I took off to the bathroom, completely, fully embarrassed.  Seriously.  This crap only happens to me.

There was no way I was going back to my seat before curtain call.  Kent asked me what was wrong and I told him what had happened.  It was so quick that no one, other than me and the people I mooned, saw what had happened.  He laughed; I did too.  What else could we do?

So although my perfect evening didn't go as planned, it did make for a fun night--and a good laugh!