Where beauty has no ebb,
decay no flood,
But joy is wisdom,
Time an endless song.

William Butler Yeats

I am in a play this week
Saturday Night
8:00
The Vagina Monologues

By Eve Ensler

I have been in rehearsal for three weeks, and this last week we are in tech
week on the stage at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

I cannot begin to tell you how important this has become to me. First of all
the proceeds go to the Fort Wayne's Women's Bureau for their programs
involving residential treatment and transitional living facilities for drug and
alcohol addicted women and their children, rape crisis hotline, assault awareness
for teens.......Secondly, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the
most talented women in Fort Wayne..teachers, actresses, singers..all ages...all
talents..all meet nightly for read throughs, for rehearsals...to listen to
each other...Thirdly, it has been such a professional stretch for me..to work
with a cast and a director..to take a monologue that I never would have taken
unless handed to me.

The Bishop of Fort Wayne is protesting this play..calling it
provocative...citing the ills of it..including child birth. During these next two weeks there
will be 2,500 shows performed around the world. Each state in the U.S. will
host at least one show.. most European countries and many third world
countries. It was performed this week on the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana.

He hath a person and a smooth dispose
Fram'd to make a woman false
The Moor is of a free and open nature.

Othello
William Shakespeare

I am proud to say that on Saturday night, 33 of my closest friends (and
sister and niece) will be attending in a block of seats to cheer me on. They were
be entertained with laughter...with tears of sorrow...they are women that are
close to me...my sister, Jessie with her daughter, Brandy. I will be wearing
a black dress that we have all worn. The dress is lovely but will represent
family to me as we have all worn it over and over for different events. My
college roommate, Sally, will be there with her daughter and friends. My
teaching colleagues are coming in droves along with others. Many are mothers and
daughters. They will see a stage lined with photos of us with our own mothers.
My Mom lives too far away to attend, but there will be a photo of my Mother
and all of her daughters on that stage.

At the end of the show...all of our children will come up on stage to be
with us. All of my sons are also too far away..but I will know their
thoughts...and I will know their presence with me.

My friend, Jane, that I haven't seen for so many years will be attending in
spirit. Her health keeps her close to home, but she cheers me on in all I
attend to.

On the childbirth piece, I will feel the presence of my daughter in law,
Karen, the mother of my two little grandchildren, Matthew and Jonah. I will
remember the birth of Jonah just a few months ago when I was so rapt with his birth.

Round and round the circle
Completing the charm
So the knot be unknotted
The cross be uncrossed
The crooked be made straight
And the curse be ended.

T.S. Elliot

So, Saturday night when the curtain calls...I will be strong, I will
represent all of the women in my life wherever you are, and when the curtain
falls...our lives will only be richer, be stronger, and our conversation will be more
open in all that we do. Thank you for your support.

Love, Lou Ann