A “Star?” Is Born

In order to tell these stories, I MUST start at the beginning. My beginning.

No, not my birth, although that was quite eventful, as most births usually are. It must start with my early theatrical escapades.

I was NOT really a star, but I did my best to stand out in the crowd. AND, my mother enjoyed, when I was older, reiterating the events of my younger years.

Nor have I ever been a star of either stage or screen. I have been, however, an avid theater-goer, a school and community performer, a musician, a costumer, a set designer, a director, a stage hand, part of the construction crew, a sound and lights technician, and a theater teacher.

As I go through the archives of artifact that my mother left me, I have found church bulletins identifying that I was to give the “Opening Welcome” when I was around five years old. But as a youngster in the church, I was deposited in the “Nursery” Sunday School group (kids aged 3–5) and we were included in the Christmas and Easter programs.

It was one of those early Christmas programs that my mother enjoyed relating to people. Let me paint you the picture.

Up in the balcony in the front of the church stood “Joseph” and “Mary” in Biblical costumes looking into the “manger.” I don’t know who portrayed “Joseph,” but my cousin Joanie played “Mary.”

On the main floor and in front of the altar, risers had been set up. Each Sunday school group would be brought up to recite something related to the story of Jesus’s birth and sing a Christmas song. Usually, the involvement began with the “Nursery” group and proceeded through the grade levels.

Have you ever watched a group of pre-schoolers in any kind of presentation? They can be totally UNPREDICTABLE.

The group I was in was no exception to unpredictability. Ok, I was no exception to unpredictability.

Let’s begin the program.

Joseph led Mary down the center aisle of the main floor of the church. They walked around to the back of the altar where there were stairs to the balcony. The congregation sang “Oh, Little Town of Bethleham.”

When they appeared in the balcony by the manger, Mary was holding “baby Jesus” in her arms.

I waved at Joanie and she smiled. (It is important to note here that she was probably smiling at the “baby Jesus,” but I thought she was smiling at me.)

It was now time for the “Nursery” group to stand up and get on the risers. I don’t remember what we had to recite, nor do I remember the song we were to sing. What I have been reminded of over and over again over the years is the comedy I added to the presentation.

Before I continue, I need to add here that as a pre-schooler I had problems with the arches in my feet. In order to develop my arches, I had to have build-ups in each shoe, so saddle shoes were prescribed because they were a sturdy shoe that could easily be adjusted.

Imagine a four-year-old’s excitement when she was allowed to have AND wear black patent leather Mary Janes with her Christmas dress. Yup, the excitement of a life-time.

There were maybe ten to fifteen four-year-olds in the “Nursery” group that year. The teacher got us onto the risers in two rows and since I was tall, I was in the back. (I’ve seen the pictures.) She probably had to do a bit of adjusting of our bodies. Crouched in front of us, she led us in the recitation. Then, the pianist gave an introduction to our song.

And,

wait for it …..

During the introduction, I turned around to my cousin who was playing “Mary.”

I raised my foot as high in the air as I possibly could, and called out …

“Look, Joanie, new shoes.”

Rebecca (Becky) spent 34 years in a teaching career, but when she retired in 2014, she picked up her pen and pursued her passion to write. As a high school English teacher, Becky held the philosophy that she wouldn’t give any writing assignment that she personally wouldn’t or couldn’t do. That philosophy strengthened and broadened her own writing.

In addition to publishing her writing on various platforms, Becky also blogs at Life is for Living, a blog to encourage, motivate, and help others live the best life possible. As an extension of Life is for Living, she also publishes a weekly newsletter, Let’s Chat. (Check it out HERE.) Life is for Living also has a social media presence with the group Coffee on my Porch. (Check it out HERE.)

After teaching writing for 34 years, Becky began Ink & Keyboard, a blog for writers at all levels. She supplements what she writes on the blog with a subscription newsletter, The Writer’s Notebook (Check it out HERE.) and the social media group Ink & Keyboard (Check it out HERE.)

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