Mira and The Golden Ukulele

This weekend we visited Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.   We were there to see Mira's half sister perform in the show called Ukulele:  The Variety Show.   

At dinner before the show,  Susannah asked us where we were sitting.  When we said we had tickets in the front row, she said,  "Oh, good."    We asked her why and she wouldn't tell us.    Hmmmm?

Our front row seat was rather close to the stage.  If I stuck my leg out, I would be touching it.    

The show was amazing and joyous, created especially for the student body to enjoy during finals week-- all about ukulele's with some other variety acts thrown creatively in.   Susannah was part of a group of clowns, weaving the story line together with their silly antics. And she was excellent.

At one point, Susannah and another clown moved a heavy box and made it seem like it was going straight into the audience.  "Aha,"  I thought to myself, "that must be the funny thing about sitting in the front row."

Later in the show, a group of funny sheep herders moved silently to each edge of the stage and stared down at the audience (which was uncomfortably funny) before breaking out in a rousing version of Tea for Two.   It was pretty hilarious and I was sure that was the reason that Susannah had been so glad we were sitting in the front.

The last act was the entire cast singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  The shepherd's suddenly appeared and interrupted the song.  They announced that they had been watching the audience the entire time and had picked out one person that they would be giving a Ukulele too.    They started walking in our direction.

"Are they really giving away a Ukulele?"  I wondered.   "Does it seem like they are walking towards us? Wait, I think they ARE walking towards us."      Before long, we were surrounded not only by the shepherd's, but by the entire cast.   A golden ukulele was handed down a line of cast members and thrust into the hand of Mira. 

As for Mira, she looked shocked, horrified  and VERY puzzled.   I was laughing so hard I was crying.  Can you imagine being 4 1/2 and having this happen to you?    I know this is a story we are going to cherish and retell.

The audience burst out in rousing applause.   

When we arrived out in the lobby, people were coming up to her and asking to take her picture.  

She was starting to get a little comfortable with her beautiful Ukulele and her few moments of fame.   She was starting to feel proud and special.

On the back of the Uke is the following inscription:

Play it daily
Your Ukulele
Strum loud or soft
On Key or Off
No matter, just play
And remember that one day you
Must gift this Ukulele too.

I share this story only because it was so special, hilarious and sweet that I wanted to celebrate it.    It's these tiny moments that mean so much.  It was the feeling of pride and joy that I saw on her face.  It was that Susannah had made it happen, knowing that it would delight her sister.   It was the inscription--playful yet so true.    Play on key or off---be your shining self.   

And you never know, maybe one day a golden ukulele will land in your hands.