April 19, 2005

Dear Diana,
The famous Dr. Kinder is come and gone. I have the "guest feeling" that you get when an honored guest leaves. We had restaurant Mexican food (Dad's idea). I don't know if it was authentic or not, but it certainly disagreed with Anselm, because he threw up! I had orchestra today. We rehearsed for Dido and Aeneas. We're going to be playing in that opera mentioned, and tech week is in early May. ??? I've never had tech week, I'm only guessing what it is. But I know Dido's story. It is taken from Greek mythology, as many great stories are. Dido (also called Elissa), the queen of Carthage, is loved by the Trojan hero Aeneas. He lives at Carthage for awhile. Then Dido invites her best friend Belinda on a hunt with Aeneas. Belinda accepts, and they start off, but not too long afterwards, a storm makes them "haste haste to town." But later in the wood, Aeneas is stopped by a spirit, but it's actually the witches' (furies) helper, who, along with the witches, we've been introduced to beforehand in the story. The spirit warns him that he is "bound by fate to seek Italian ground." Aeneas replies that tonight he will lift anchor and "sail with all his fleet away." The spirit then leaves, and Aeneas is left wondering how he'll break the news to Dido, who will be mad. When he gets back, he tries to explain, but Dido is angry. The next day, when Aeneas is leaving, Dido stabs herself, after serenading Belinda with "When I am laid in earth," "Thy hand, Belinda," and last of all, "With dropping wings." Aeneas, looking back, wonders what is going on, then leaves. He is really mean. Of course, the witches (or you can call them furies) have been doing stuff because they hate Dido. Don't know why, but they do. My very favorite piece is "Echo Dance of Furies." It won't go as fast, but still kind of fast, enough to suit. I also like the overture, and Triumphing Dance, even though the clap of thunder at the end does scare you. May will be a busy month. Tech week, operas (there are two; Dido and Aeneas runs two nights), moving, Xander's concert, and closing the house deal. In June, we'll just sort of collapse and relax. Finally, we'll get out of this infested house. Xander discovered a HUGE active centipede under the computer table, and I have a Secret Springtail Burial Ground in my room on the window sill. I've already chosen which room will be mine in the Normandy house. It has such a dear round window, and the closet door is mirrors! You can also get onto the roof from it, just like in my old room in Ada. Moving is a trying experience, but having stood it once, I'll stand it again. Only I'll make sure, Diana, that you don't get packed in a box, like in Ada! We'll actually have a turtle there! I wonder what we'll name it. I have the feeling we'll share it. I wonder if I can make some friends, maybe just one. Hey, maybe I could give them cards from the never-ending referral contest at TKD! Then I'd get a t-shirt to wear when sparring. Xander says only sparring. What about in summer? When it's so hot? But still, this is just hypothetical. But maybe I could! Now wouldn't that be cool?!

Kitty