ODE TO OPENING NIGHT

it lives in the chest
it’s a swelling feeling
warm
constricting, but not in a bad way
more like a hug
it’s tight in the throat 
and wet in the eyes
it shakes the hands
and legs
while the brain bounces
with each grateful thought

it’s opening night
and we put on a show
we told the stories of our lives
our happiest moments
our most embarrassing
the meaningful
and painful ones we’ve survived
our stories were received
in the vaults of all the hearts
sitting in the seats

and while i sat there in my light
a deep connection 
to my human roots flowed through me
as the audience’s energy fueled me…
we have been telling our stories
since the beginning of time
and the honor of being chosen
for even one night
as one of the story-tellers
touches me deeply

and the truth is
that it gives so much more back to me
a well of empathy and understanding
the ability to laugh at myself
to share with people who feel alone
and say, “you are not alone”
this is our history
these feelings
these stories
and at the end of the night
once we’ve made it through
together
the thing that fills me most
is love

it lives in the chest
it’s a swelling feeling
warm
constricting, but not in a bad way
more like a hug
it’s tight in the throat
and wet in the eyes
it shakes the hands
and legs
while the brain bounces
with each grateful thought

i am so lucky
and, if i may,
just these two last things:

THANK YOU.

And, my god, we’ve been through so much.