Little Reys of Light
I was walking in "Currents," a well-lit gift shop filled with new Howl-O-Scream merchandise. I was eyeballing a SeaWorld Spirit Jersey sweatshirt that was all black and said "Howl-O-Scream" in the back. I was hoping to add it to my stagehand black clothes when I realized the text was glow-in-the-dark and that would be quite counter productive. Then I heard it -
"Rey?"
I turned around slowly and lowered my gaze to the 5 or 6 year old before me. Her mom wiped away tears from the little girl's cheeks and told me I was the first person in costume she has seen all night she wasn't afraid of. I smiled to reassure her I was not one of the spooky characters from the pathway. The little girl sniffled her little sniffles at her shoes. Her mom nudged her closer,
"Did you want to say something?"
The girl looked nervously at the floor and then looked back up at me and waved sheepishly,
"Hi, Rey!"
I wish I would have asked her name. I wish I would have got down on one knee and told her, "Even rebels get scared." She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't crying and that seemed to be a large chunk of progress for her mother. I mustered up my best British accent, smiled and said,
"It's okay to be scared."
She sniffed a bit more, her mother thanked me and said,
"Say goodbye to Rey."
The little girl obliged, shaking,
"Goodbye, Rey."
They turned hand-in-hand and exited the store. I followed suit and as they walked ahead of me through the crowd, I heard a gentleman who perhaps was a relation ask if she was okay. Her mother smiled, "Oh, yes," she said, "She met Rey."
Today I learned:
- I love to set the stage
- I love to love
- I love to be in love
- I love love
- I love to fantasize and dream and wish
- I love to manifest
- Seeing my friends succeed and work and kill it brings me so much joy and genuine soul fulfillment
- I don't get scared at haunts anymore because I'm too happy to see craft in action. I just smile and laugh and greet them like the magical elf I am.
- I miss pathway work.
- I miss cool weather.
- I love wearing tall boots.
- I love being tall.
- I love all eyes on me.
- I love to be loved.
- I eat the audience response right up.
- I am enough.
- Whether or not someone likes me or my work does not inhibit my value or worth. But damn it's nice.
Messages
“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?” Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry’s ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure. “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows