What happens to me when I do what I do .....

Opening night is five days away.

I have two giraffe body suits to paint orange spots on, four pairs of elephant legs to run elastic through the waistband, 25 capes to dye black, and various odds and ends to tie off. Or velcro. Whichever is easier. I'm not really picky at this point.

And that's it.

On the subject of whether or not I've fallen (or jumped) off a cliff, the answer would be no, I'm actually having the time of my life. Yes, it is the most ambitious, creatively challenging, exhausting, stressful, ..... can I possibly think of any more adjectives?.......and exhilarating experience as well. I've made some new life-long friends among the parent volunteers that joined my army of seamstresses and costume helpers. I've worked with some really talented kids that have been very well mannered (which is rare to find among adolescents!) and helpful and positive and seriously good sports, after some of the costumes I've put them in. I've got boys wearing skirts (Egyptian ones, that is) and girls wearing African pajama-type outfits that look about as flattering as wearing a sack, and yet they don't complain. CMTO has become a second family to me, and one which I hope I will be able to work with for many years to come.

But not for a few months. I need a break. And a killer massage wouldn't hurt either.