My Soap Box

So I went to Attache tonight. I've seen bits and pieces of the show over the past week, but not all of it. Wow. It was a really good revue. I really can't figure out why some people in this town don't realize what an amazing program we have here. Or maybe they realize it, they just don't want to admit it because they're jealous. Which I don't get either. Stop being jealous and be PROUD! I know I'm biased - I was in Attache, Robert was in Attache, and he's been their pit director for the past 12 years. But I'm biased towards this town too. And anything that Clinton does that is successful, I'm proud of. I'm incredibly proud of the Clinton Band program. They've improved so much over the past 2 years. All of their groups have placed so well at their different competitions and I'm proud of them. Yes, I'm biased there as well, but so what? I'm also proud of our football team for making it to the playoffs. I have no connection to the team, but I attend the games to show my support. So why can't people be proud of Attache even if they're not somehow involved? There are even some parents who are involved or have been in the past who still just don't get it. It makes me sad that they are so blind. Those kids work their butts off to perfect their skills and Dave and Mary Fehr and all of their staff pour their hearts and souls into that program to make it what it is. Do you realize how incredibly talented they are? Have you ever looked at one of the girls' costumes up close? It's phenomenal what she is capable of. And the show design, the musical arrangement, the sets, everything, down to the last detail, is just amazing. And that is what makes your children look so wonderful on that stage. Are those kids talented? Yes. But every year, those people take these little blobs of clay and mold them into the polished perfection that you see every night. Do they make mistakes sometimes? Yes - they're kids and they're human. So you may hear a solo every now and then that misses a few notes, or see a set change that doesn't go quite as planned. And if you ask any one of the members of Attache if they messed up tonight, they'll so "Oh my gosh, Yes! I ________!" And they'll know exactly what they did wrong. But the amazing part about being in Attache is not singing, dancing, instrument playing, or crew skills that they learn. (Though knowing the many uses of duct tape is quite valuable.) It's the life skills. The ability to know that other people depend on you and you can't quit mid-stream. The ability to work with others, even if they're not your best friend. The ability to manage your time. The ability to know when you've made a mistake, admit it, and learn from it. They love those kids enough to tell them when they've screwed up. You don't say "I'm sorry." You say "I'll do better next time." And you do. That is so much more important than the activity itself. Yes, many have moved on to be singers, dancers, Broadway performers, musicians, etc. But showchoir itself is not real life. The true value of being a part of Attache is so much bigger than that. And I hate that many people don't see it. So if you're someone who doesn't have a connection to Attache somehow, love it anyway. Support it anyway. Help the kids with their fundraisers. Buy tickets to the revues and musicals. Enjoy the #1 Showchoir in the nation that's sitting in your backyard. They are an amazing group of kids who are learning more valuable lessons than most high school kids ever get to learn. And that's priceless.