This has been on our community calendar for literally months at this point, it was probably the first thing we decided to do when we heard about all the things to do in the park. Rachel, Megan, Eva, and I grabbed some sandwiches to bring as a picnic, and off we went to claim our spot for premium singalong viewing pleasure.
Little did we know, we were not the only ones who had this idea. We figured that our arrival 30 minutes early would provide us with prime real estate on the lawn, but we were astonished to see that there were already at least 200 families already there! When we had been to other events in the park, there were not this many people, and both times we arrived late. We couldn't believe how many people had beaten us at our own game! Luckily, we still got a pretty good seat, and we set up our camp.
For those of you who don't know or don't remember, The Sound of Music, while a phenomenal movie, is also about a million years long. 2 hours and 54 minutes, to be precise. We knew we had to be comfortable, and our sweatshirts, blankets and towels were exactly what we needed in order to set up a sufficient camp. We had plenty of extras to add padding as the evening went on, as sitting on the ground for that long can be somewhat uncomfortable.
Just as the movie was about to start, we were given little bags filled with everything we'd need- an invitation to the ball, cards to hold up during "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?", our own sprig of "edelweiss," and a piece of cloth from the drapes behind Maria for playclothes. My most favorite treat in the goodie bag was a party popper, which we were instructed to pull at the exact moment when Maria and Captain Von Trapp FINALLY kiss. We had a great host named Erin, who told us to hiss when we saw the Baronness, boo at Nazis, cheer every time Julie Andrews walked in a room, and bark when we saw Rolf, because he's such a dog. There were hand motions for "Do a Deer," and we all swayed back and forth singing "Edelweiss."
I remembered how much I loved this classic movie, but especially in the beginning, I drew a lot of parallels between Maria and myself and my experiences here (if I have to be compared to Julie Andrews, I'll take it), especially towards the beginning of the movie. When Maria leaves the Abbey, she's looking for something more, and while she ultimately had a lot of hesitations about leaving, she knew that this new adventure was God's will for her. If that doesn't describe my entire packing/driving to Texas process, I don't know what does. I was devastated to leave home, friends and family, and while my days in the hills had to come to an end, I know that I'm on an important journey, and it's a step that will help me to discern what's next for my life.
When she finally gets off the train in Salzburg, Maria is skipping down the streets with her guitar case, singing what might be my favorite song in the entire movie, "I Have Confidence." She has confidence in herself to do the work she's been asked to do, taking care of these children who need a positive role model in their lives. She may not have any experience, but she knows that she'll figure it out, because she has a good attitude. The whole scene is joyful and freeing, but when she arrives at the gate of the Von Trapp estate, Maria is suddenly a bit overwhelmed. I love when she holds on to the gate and just takes it all in, but I love her reaction more: "Oh, help." The whole way here and the days leading up to my first day of school, I was feeling slightly overwhelmed yet confident in my ability to do this work. I pulled up to Cristo Rey that first morning, and I said a similar prayer as I got out of my car and walked into school as a teacher for the first time.
Maria confesses to the Von Trapp children that she doesn't know a lot about being a governess, and is overwhelmed by the rigidity of the children's lives and their uniforms... sounds familiar. She does things her own way, and while it is different from what the children might be used to, it works. Maria forms strong relationships with the children, and earns their respect and love over time by sharing her love of music and performance with them.
So, am I as flawlessly perfect as Julie Andrews throughout this whole experience? Absolutely not. I have gone through a lot of the same experiences, but probably a lot less gracefully, and with more tears and exhaustion than Julie ever lets on, but we can't all be practically perfect in every way!
Speaking of... Halloween is coming up, and I'm pretty sure I'll be going as Mary Poppins. That's a different story for a different day, but I'm pretty excited :). My days living up to the Julie Andrews standard continue, as it's the end of the quarter and I'm scrambling to get my grades in! It's a challenge, but sometimes I sit back and think about the fact that I'm here, as a JV, working for justice every single day. It's a dream come true, and as hard as it is some days, I don't think I'd trade it for anything else. As the Mother Superior tells Maria, "Climb every mountain... A dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life, for as long as you live." I'm climbing the mountain, and while it's steep at the moment, it's also beautiful and fulfilling. I can hear the sound of music, and I'm singing along.
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