I’m Old Fashioned

Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  This week’s story is about life’s simple joys.  

I’m Old Fashioned.  Yes.  I would definitely say that is true.  While I love a good Real Housewives of whatever city is currently playing marathon, I also crave the nostalgia of The Wonder Years.  I miss I Dream of Jeannie and Clarissa Explains It All.  

Oh my goodness, remember those?  

I am 12 years old and my mom bought me a bunch of plays from the American Girl Doll company.  There were ones that were about each specific girl and then there were new ones that were original stories!  There was a mystery one and even a musical one about an alien.  

I am obsessed with these and immediately go to work casting my cousins and I in each play.  

I like to play the villains.  They are way more fun.  I relish in the opportunity to create and be on stage.  

It is always my escape and my safe haven.  

The first time I step on a stage, I am 3 years old.  

My dad works at a Catholic High School and a family at the school decides to put on a show with parents and faculty to help raise money for the theatre department.  It is the ultimate Mickey and Judy “Let’s put on a show and save the theatre” mentality.  One year, they decide to do a kid’s number.  Me and two other girls got to go up on stage and dance in a number.  

I will never forget the feeling.  

The jitters in my stomach, the heat of the lights on my face, and the applause.  

Oh the applause.  

I just love it and I am hooked.  I fall in love with oldies music because the shows we put on are original story lines and the song lyrics are re-written to fit in the show.  Those weekends in January where we perform are the absolute best.  My mom and I are giddy getting our costumes ready and putting everything we need from hair ties and makeup to our character shoes, into a laundry basket to drive to the theatre.  

To this day, laundry baskets are never just laundry baskets to me.  They are what we use backstage to carry all of our costume pieces!  

Those years on the Malvern stage have transformed my life.  I decide to live a life in the theatre because of Mae Osmon and her love of the theatre and her belief in me.  

Now I am so blessed to have two nieces and a nephew who love to put on a show, just like their aunt.  They can recreate the entire opening to Hamilton and every song in Six.  

They play and create together.  

They put on shows and think of every single little detail.  They even create their own Tik Tok dances!  They are currently working on their own personal zoom school with each other.  They each stream their classes to each other from their rooms.  Of course, I am asking to join in the fun.  I’m excited to take cooking, science and even a class about reptiles. I can’t wait to learn from these little creators.  

Here’s the thing.  Yes, all of these apps and iPads and phones and streaming services are amazing.  Yes, we don’t have to wait weeks to get those recently released cast recordings to come in the mail like we used to.  It’s all right in our hands, right now.  

But you know what?  Call me old fashioned, but I love just gathering everyone in the family together and putting on a show.  It’s magical.  

What about you, dear Neighbor?  What things from childhood do you still hold on to now?  Are you inspired to do something again?  Hit reply and tell me all about it!      

I look forward to hearing your stories.  

I’ve Got You in My Pocket,

Jackie