Fancy (But Not in a Country-Song Way)

I know what you’re saying to yourself: “Wow! That is one cheerful ballerina!” and “Wow! Is that a five-year-old wearing eyeliner?!”

Yes. She is cheerful. And, yes, her giddy grin is directly related to our recital ritual of globbing a bunch of black eyeliner on her young eyes.

Only in America

Only in America, where the song Fancy can be timeless hit, still played hourly on the Country Legends station. I’m here to admit I love that song, but it always makes me cry.

You know what else makes me cry?

Ballet recitals.

I’m not actually sure why I always cry through Elisabeth’s recitals. It could be the moment all the ballerinas prance onto the stage in poses like this. They look so confident up there. So happy. So different than the divas demanding “MORE LIPSTICK!” seconds before.

Ahh, here’s the diva face. 

It’s funny (sad, maybe? is that why I always cry at recitals?) how the super-hold hairspray seems to go straight to the ballerina’s brain. Every year, as soon as we start the pre-recital primping, Elisabeth becomes Estee Lauder herself. “Blend my blush more!’ “Can you find a brighter red for my lipstick?” “You call this a bun? It’s droopy!” Okay, so I’m kidding about the last one, but the other ones are (sadly) true.

Back to the mystery of why I cry through every ballet recital….it could be the drama of it all. There’s so much anticipatory energy in the auditorium, the music is good and loud, and the little ballerinas have worked so hard for this moment. It’s all so emotional. Especially when Elisabeth dances off-stage, into my arms, to recount the whole experience and accept her flowers. Sam always hands her the flowers. If if I didn’t cry a little at that sweet moment, I could hardly call myself a mama.

Or, maybe, the tears really are because it’s a little hard to watch her get so big. Elisabeth danced her HEART out this weekend. To this mama, her concentration, focus, and desire to DO HER BEST was written all over her (heavily made-up) face. 

It all made me sob, especially since she looked so fancy.

But, no, not country-song fancy. That would be tears for another reason entirely.

For my tears (but, hopefully, tears of laughter), check out my post over at Peanut Butter on the Keyboard. I’m guest-blogging there today about the lighter side of IVF.