Almost caught up!

Last week, we were in Irene-Wakonda.  The two towns are about 7 miles apart.  The elementary school, where we rehearsed, is in Wakonda.  And the high school, where we performed, is in Irene.

It was a really great week.  We had a little bit of a smaller group of kids, (about 30), but they were enthusiastic and fun.  At one point in the week, this charming conversation occurred: 

Student:  You guys have the same last name.  Are you brother and sister?  (A question we hear far

                more than we would like.)

Harrison:  Nope.

Student:  Are you best friends or something?  (Because best friends always have the same last name.)

Harrison:  Well, yeah.  We are married.

Student:  What!?!?!?!?  You are MARRIED???  I thought you were, like, 18.  

Carolyn:  Well, thank you!  In White Lake, a first-grader guessed I was 112, so I must be looking

                better this week.

Student:  No.  You definitely look like teenagers without all the acne.

You gotta love that.  It also reminds me of a student a few weeks ago who asked if we were married.  When we said we were, she replied - "I knew it.  You know how I knew?  Because your names kind of rhyme."  Apperently, this is a requirement for marriage.   

In addition to the show, we also did 5 theater workshops - 1st grade, 3rd grade, 6th grade, and two high school classes.  This made for a busy week, but it is always fun to go into the classrooms and just play without the pressure of accomplishing everything we have to in rehearsal.  The high school workshops were on Shakespeare as that is what they were preparing to read in their English class.  This was quite a mental stretch after being in elementary world.  (We primarily work with K-6th grade.)  But it was a fun challenge and it reminded me how much I love Shakespeare!

We also stayed with an incredible host family!  They had lived in Washington and Madison, WI, so we had lots to talk about.  They were generous and interesting and smart and we spent lots of time talking with them and their family.  They have a farm where they grow lots of their own vegetables and fruits, and make their own honey - delicious.  They also took us out kayaking on the Missouri River, or "The Mighty MO."  We paddled over to this little island.  (Well, I rode in the middle seat of a 3-person kayak while the men paddled me to the island like a queen.)  And we had a little picnic and explored a little.  It was really, really cool.

Oh - and their 12-year-old son's name is Harrison!  He is awesome and a lot like my Harrison.  (We have now met two Harrisons and a Chandler on our tour so far.  Pretty crazy.)  Anyway, the other Harrison lent us this pumpkin for a photo.  Their family also grows pumpkins, and apparently, if you carve your name into the side when they are still green, it grows like this!

Isn't that just the cutest thing you ever did see?

The correct answer is yes.

Happy Almost Halloween!  

LOVE,

C & H