First show!!!

I'm dead tired. I'ts 2:10 AM on Sunday, technically the day after the premier Up with People show at the Buell Theater in Denver. 2,000 plus people filled the theater (pictured above). I was amazed at how I was not the slightest bit nervous throughout the show, even though I had to stand on stage b myself twice throughout the show. Everyone seemed to love the show and we got a standing ovation afterwards.

The best part for me, happened after the show. I was talking with my ecstatic host sister out in the crowded lobby when Jessica, one of the staff, pulled me away and said, "I have something to show you." She took me back into the theater and pointed to a few ailes down and said, "Pink sweater." I had no clue what she was talkign about until my eyes fastened on a terribly familiar fuzzy pink sweater and I realized who it was. I screamed, burst through the small crowd of people still milling at the top of the stairs and nearly bowled my mom over as I threw my arms around her. I , laughed, cried some more and hyperventilated a bit before I even choked out a "hello." Come to think of it, I'm not sure I really said hello at all. I suppose after one cries as I did, with avalanches of makeup rolling down my cheeks and great, hi coughing gasps for air, "hello" would sound a tad cliche. I had to stay conduct an interview of a possible future "uppy" (an Up with People cast member) but, at 11:30, Mom and I went out to a 24 hour diner in Denver where I mainly stared at her in awe of her being there and tried to make conversation, but my brain hardly cooperated.

We leave Denver on Monday, bright and early at 7:30. I'm half looking forward to and half dreading the 9 hour bus ride to Lincoln Nebraska. We've been here for so long it seems and I'm ready to get out on the road. But, I'm going to miss my host family here very much. I feel like Denver is yet another place I can call home, so it's hard to leave it, not knowing when I'll return.

Bed time.

Love to all,
Marina