Publication: Freedom – OCR – Placentia News-Times; Date: February 9, 2012; Section: News; Page Number: 5

WHAT A DAY

Reminiscent for the crazy times

When Marcus left Valencia High School, I said a tearful good-bye. Not only was he was shaped significantly by his teachers and advisors there, I was welcomed as a parent and felt like part of the team. The school will always have a special place in my heart.

So imagine my delight when I was asked to be a judge at their annual Talent Show. After being a judge at the Miss Outstanding Teen Placentia/Yorba Linda Competition, I was thrilled to be giving my fair and impartial opinion to these young people.

I didn’t even mind being asked at the last minute, as a replacement for a judge who had to cancel.

The Talent Show was started at VHS years ago, but had been suspended for a few years. It returned in full force the year Marcus was a senior. I still remember some of the acts. There were great singers, musicians, and dancers, and I couldn’t imagine how the judges could pick a winner.

To my surprise, Marcus and his two friends from band won with their jazz combo. I thought they were good, but I’m no judge of my son’s abilities. After all, I’m his mom. My DNA requires me to love everything he does.

As a judge, I was instructed to be there a half an hour before the program began. I decided to walk over, instead of drive, since the school is mere blocks from our house. It all felt familiar, like being a choir parent again.

Walking into the auditorium was like going home. I can’t count the hours I spent there, listening to concerts, and running errands during rehearsals. I probably brought them more pizza and sandwiches than a delivery service. At the time, it felt like I was always trying to stay ahead of all the different tasks, like juggling an apple, a chainsaw, and a cat.

I had forgotten how much fun it was.

When I arrived, they were still trying to run through lighting, curtain, and microphone cues. Mrs. Arthurton, the choir director, was trying to get everything accomplished so she could open the doors to the audience.

The completion of tasks and opening of the house converged just before everyone lost all patience. It felt so normal, I got a little sentimental.

Once the audience was seated, the evening began. I sat with my score sheet and my fellow judges, Assistant Principal Rick Lopez and Mrs. Arthurton’s husband, Noel, who also ran the sound booth for the night. I listened to the first performer, a singer. She was very good. So was the next one. So were the dancers, the pianist, the girl who did the monologue, and the magician.

There were twenty-five acts, and all were all delightful, in their own ways. I found my score sheet covered in notes and numbers. How was I going to choose a winner from this bunch?

The vocal jazz group sang two songs while the three of us deliberated. We had all used different scoring methods to come up with our top three, but were very close in our final selections. There was a brief discussion of how to define talent for the purpose of this show. Were we looking for the raw talent to sing on key, or were we looking for a total package of skill and entertainment?

In the end, we selected three deserving acts out of the many wonderful performances. I wish we could have named them all winners.

I confess, part of me also wishes Marcus was still at high school. It’s good to have a little crazy in your life.