It was Wicked!

So, my long awaited weekend came and went far too quickly.  I like to think I have wonderful ideas from time to time but this one was among the best.  Having seen Wicked twice with Mom and Kathy, I knew I wanted to share it with some of the other Wonder Women in my life and last Saturday, I did.  Now mind you, I really, really wish I could have taken every female (and Brock) in my life who has changed me for the better, but I limited it to Chelsey (mainly because it was her birthday that made me take the plunge), Desiree, Shelley and the surprise visitor, Kate.  Kate and Chelsey have been hanging out together in my world for almost all their lives.  They have done so by choice for the last 10 yrs and though they have lived in different states and had totally different lives, they are good friends and that makes me really happy.  If I were to begin writing about what wonderful young women they have become, this would get really drippy, really fast.  Suffice it to say, having them in my life has changed me for the better and for good.
The actual mechanics of getting Kate here and surprising Chelsey weren't all that complicated.  Making sure I didn't post on Facebook what Kate and I were doing was a little trickier.  Weather delay had Kate arriving in San Antonio about 8:00 Friday night.  Clayton came and got her about 9:30 and he, Curtis and Katelyn went to check out Friday night fun in New Braunfels now that they are all old enough to partake (legally, anyway).  About 2:30 AM, I heard Kate and Curtis laughing in the living room.  That was a common sound during the summers they were growing up.  I liked hearing it again.  Saturday, Kate and I went to The Quilt Haus so I could get some needed (yes, needed) supplies and after walking around the store by herself for a few minutes, Katelyn came to me and said "Aunt Laura, I need 3 more quilts."  At first I thought she had asked for quarters.  Ha Ha!  I told her to get in line.  She went to hang out with Clayton and Harris for the afternoon.  She wore her boots and rumor has it she got on a horse too. Once we were dressed and ready to leave, all we had to do was wait for Chelsey to arrive.  Desiree was there when Chels came in and as she chatted about her day and how excited she was, I told her to go look at the quilt top I had finished earlier in the day on the bed in the front bedroom (where Kate was hiding - ssssshhhhhhh).  To say that she squealed is to heavily understate her squeal.  The exact words of the squeal were "Shut Up!!!" It was priceless - just as I hoped it would be.  Chelsey told us that she had texted my boys to come to her birthday party the night before and the blew her off.  She was somewhat offended by that.  The boys were entertaining Kate so they couldn't play.  In fact, Kate and I were really scared that boys had inadvertently spilled the Katelyn beans to Chelsey but I heard that squeal.  She was genuinely surprised!!

We went to The Gristmill in New Braunfels for dinner.  Morgan was working in the kitchen but came out to say hello and take a group shot.  Shelley met us there and was wonderful enough to buy dinner!  Now we had everybody and it was time to go to San Antonio.  Here's what I learned.  1 hour is not enough time to get from The Gristmill to The Majestic Theater.  Well, it is, but just barely!  I dropped the 4 of them off in near the theater and went to park.  Around the block, on the 5th floor of the garage, in my high heels, I parked.  And then I ran/walked as quickly as I could, had my ticket out ready for scanning, got my playbill and sat down and before I could open the playbill, the lights went down!  Too close for comfort.  Mi compadres were all in their seats and had even had a minute to look at the shirts for sale before I got there!  The production was wonderful.  I cried in all the appropriate places and when it was over, Katelyn said "We need to go somewhere and talk about this!"
We went across the street to the pub (bar is such a harsh word) in the lobby of the historic Gunter Hotel and ordered a round of drinks.  Discussion occurred.  Shelley was the only one of us who had finished the book (I started it, didn't finish it) and she had more information on the plot and subplots but my favorite moment was when we had tackled all the intricacies of friendship and good vs. wicked and Chelsey said "Well, what was your favorite dress?!?"  It was a very Chelsey moment and I reveled in it.  Then, the waitress came back to ask if we wanted another drink and she told us it was last call.  You know what - that was my first last call - ever - in my whole life!  Mi compadres laughed at me - and by the way, so did my sons when I told them as family dinner Sunday night.  Hollis often says "You don't get out much - do you?"  I guess he means that rhetorically. . .

I talked Chelsey into staying at our house Saturday night though she had to be at training for her new job early Sunday morning.  She and Kate and I stayed up way too late.  Chelsey got up and left at 6:30 and I got up and went to teach Sunday School.  Katelyn and I went to see Gnomeo and Juliet Sunday afternoon and then , it was time to take her to the airport.  It all went so fast - much too fast!  I know they all had a great evening.  Des got a t-shirt to prove it!  I am so blessed to have these loved ones to run around with.  Because I know them, I have been changed for the better. . .and for good!
I wonder what my next good idea will be. . .