Christmas Traditions: Nutcracker Ballet

Many years ago, Auntie Kenna and I went with some friends to see the Nutcracker Ballet. Auntie was probably 8 years old. We had so much fun that we invited Daddy and Grumpa to go with us the following year. They enjoyed it, too. From then on, Christmas time was also Nutcracker Ballet time. We know the story by heart and can tell you if you're listening to songs from the ballet on the radio. Of course there were a few years when we couldn't go because it was BASKETBALL SEASON and there was no way that any coach would even consider letting a player out of a game to go to the ballet. I mean, really. What were you thinking? Anyway, basketball season is long gone for Daddy and Auntie and we started back up going to see the Nutcracker. We introduced this tradition to Mommy several years ago and she loved it. We introduced Uncle Dave to it last year and he's, ah, getting used to it.

This year the anticipation was up because it's such a fast weekend run that we do to go to San Francisco. (Yes, we have the ballet here but we quit going to it when Jabba the Hut was one of the principal dancers years ago. That guy was FAT and it JIGGLED. It was not a pretty sight. It was at that point that we decided to try San Francisco's ballet.) So we drove down on Saturday morning with one and all.

Yeah! We're on our way!!

I remembered that I FORGOT the tickets, had a heart attack, called the hotel's concierge, get duplicate tickets, arrive at the hotel, run to Will Call, pick up duplicate tickets, go back to hotel, get ready, jump into the limo and sit in traffic for 30 minutes for a 10 minute ride. Whew.

Arrive late for our dinner reservations, order the fastest food to cook, (some foods faster than others!)

guzzle our drinks, back into the car.....and now the anticipation is really climbing. Will Sammy be interested in the sound and the movement on stage? Will she pitch a fit? Will all the people around her frighten her? Will there be another earthquake like two years ago? We all knew that this night would be precident setting for her. And now you want to know. Did Sammy enjoy herself for her first ever Nutcracker Ballet? You tell me......

And the trip home Sunday? Oh, so much fun!!