Happy New Year! Well, it's the start of a brand new year, so I guess it's time to let those of you who are interested know what's been going on. Here goes...
We'll start at the end of 2009, where on November 1st I ended a seven-month run with the Gazelle Company of Lion King. It was a fond farewell to a long and very happy time with my three Lion King families - at least for now. I will always cherish my time with such a diverse group of talented, expressive people from all around the world. They say you never really leave Lion King, you're just let out on parole, because you'll be coming back sooner or later.
I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in L.A. visiting and catching up with old friends -- not to mention taking advantage of a bit of down time before my January adventure, which we'll get into a bit later.
Last Thanksgiving we had a long-overdue reunion with our old director from my Army days. Vic Colletti and his beautiful family, whom I hadn't seen in some 25+ years, were gracious enough to let us join their very wonderful, very festive and very Italian celebration. We got to spend time with Vic, "the Girls" and their families, and also revisited some beautiful and memorable places from our past.
We were happy to spend Christmas in Massachusetts with my Mom and extended family. It's always good to get back to my roots -- and some great seafood.
On January 18th, 2010, I had both my knees replaced. It's amazing all the fun, hands on people you meet at airports around the country when you have Bionic Knees. Now we're talkin' about a good time. The first couple of weeks were pretty brutal, but once I got home and started working with a great P.T., whom I saw three days a week for about three months, things really started to look up. Recovery is slower than one would like, but the outcome is well worth all the hard work. My recovery went so well that by July I was back on the boards in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", play Jacob/Potifar at North Shore Music Theatre with yet another young, energetic and extremely talented group of kids. Miss you all.
Now J is the one who has been working her cute little tush off. She is now Co-Director of the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and last summer began a 3-summer stint as Director of Elementary Training for the Montessori Institute of Atlanta. Atlanta in the summer - for three summers!? What was she thinking?
Christmas and New Years this year were spent close to home because four days before the Holidays J had pretty major oral surgery. She looked like a cross between a very scary mutant elf and Cindy Lou Who. Currently, she is toughing it out, lecturing every day with a lisp that would give Daffy Duck a run for his money. You should hear her say "sufferin' succotash!"
That's it for this year. J continues to love her work and I hope to start booking some hot jobs! Maybe something in Atlanta for the summer???
Hope your year is filled with Joy, Good Health and Adventure.
-Bob