(Click on the title for link to the song Memory)
On Saturday afternoon Stacey and I went to a traveling production of Cats at the Gammage Auditorium on the ASU campus. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it, but on our drive to the production I started to reminisce about the time that my Mom told us about seeing Cats with Dad. I can’t remember if they saw it on a vacation or what, but I remember that Mom had purchased us all Cats related stuff along with the tape of the musical and the book of poems by T.S. Eliot. I think all of us read that book at some point and I know we all listened to the soundtrack so many times it borders on ridiculous. Anyway, as we drove to Cats I recalled Mom retelling the story of Cats to us (the kids) with vivid memory. I remembered her describing each of the various characters in specific detail and telling us about the different levels of cat names. I remember hanging on every word she uttered and loving the moment. We all asked questions about the story and really wanted to know more. Mom’s excitement about the show and her wonderful story telling abilities entranced all of us. As Stacey and I arrived at the production and the lights went down I tried to use the bathroom with moments to spare before the musical began, but I was not allowed out and I couldn't figure out why. But as I returned to my seat I remembered Mom telling us how the show begins in darkness with cats with glowing eyes running around the aisles. My spine tingled with the excitement I felt when I was a child. As the production progressed I continuously remembered different things Mom had told us about the different characters. Needless to say I found myself weeping with nostalgia on a number of occasions. How lucky we were to have a mother with such passion and enthusiasm. I would honestly never go to a show like Cats if it weren’t for Mom. Although the production was not exactly first rate, hearing each song and seeing the show brought to life for the first time was truly special and I owe it all to my Mom. Thank you Mom!
5 comments:
I remember that book of poems so well! And I too have never even seen Cats but know all the songs.
Thank you, Tye! I loved sharing things like this with you all when you were little (since we couldn't afford to take you along). I think you remember it all better than I do! I'm glad you got to see Cats and enjoyed it, and glad I got to be a mother to you children. I can picture you telling your little one stories, too.
That Cats tape was played over and over wasn't it?! We did love it as kids. I saw the play in London years ago and felt so connected to the music because it was so familiar--it reminded me of being very young too. Mom was (is) a good storyteller and I love that she read to us (remember the Little House books and that Mom would sit in the hallway at night and read so we could all hear from our beds?)
I totally remember listening to the music when we were young. Mom sent me to see the traveling show when it came to SLC (I think I was about 13) and I got to go with the Udalls. Then I saw it again on my study abroad in London because I was so homesick and I knew that hearing the music would help me feel closer to home. We bought the tickets for about 12 dollars and had terrible seats but I didn't care about actually seeing the performance again.
Mom is a great story-teller and I loved the days when she would read books to us. You didn't have that experience because you were downstairs (in the dungeon).
What a sweet story! Glad you both had a nicetime.
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