Today my 16 middle school students returned to school from winter break, and we already had a show on our schedule.  Actually, it was a show scheduled for several weeks ago but was postponed because of a snow storm.  I don't think I've ever had a show on the first day back form a vacation because many of the kids haven't  juggled for the nine days we're out of school.  But today we went for it, and I'm glad we did.

Unfortunately, on the way there, one of our vehicles (My aide, Amanda's) was rear ended at a stop light in Portland.  There was no damage to either car, but Zeb's shoulder was sore from his seat belt's shoulder strap.  I just got a text from his parents that he was bruised and nothing more, but we had to be flexible right on the spot and make substitutions for him.  He was clearly hurt, but stayed remarkably optimistic through it all.

Our show was at the Root Cellar, an inner city mission in Portland's poorest neighborhood.  Most of the families who live in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood are African immigrants or refugees.  Our afternoon started with meeting the kids in the Root Cellar's after school program in their game room.  Our students and theirs mingled over nerf basketball, air hockey and board games.  Then we all moved into another room for the show.  LOL did remarkably well for the first day back from vacation.  Emillee juggled tennis rackets in a room with unfortunately low ceilings, and she did great.  Our singers were spot on and confident when they sang "Were You There" and "He is Lord".  Sebastien filled in for Zeb in the wise and foolish builders skit and was terrific.

After finishing the show, the team packed up and headed home to prepare for the second day back to school.