Music appreciation is in my blood. Unfortunately that talent for music is not. Sometimes I want to belt those high notes so badly I could cry. So I belt them. Greg cries.

In my heart of hearts, I wish I could perform. My acting/singing career began and ended with a large scale production of Saturday's Warrior at age 11. I think at age 11 people start to figure out that "kid singing" isn't that cute anymore. So I refocused my energy into an unhealthy love for musicals. I adore "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." Greg has seen "Guys and Dolls" more times with me than I'm sure he likes to admit. I know the music to lots of musicals that I have never seen. Last year I rented several musicals from the library in order to provide more "culture" to our family. I watched Unsinkable Molly Brown, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Singing in the Rain, Showboat, Annie Get Your Gun, Into the Woods, and Funny Girl. I have a dozen more in mind.

I had a roommate in College who had a gorgeous performing voice. I looked forward to her morning shower each day so that I could be serenaded by "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair..." It was like my own personal performance.

After my Freshman year at BYU I found out my parents had acquired tickets to see LIon King as a family...the day before I returned home for the summer.

Before I married Greg I had a 3 date rule. I allowed someone 3 dates before deciding whether or not it was worth pursuing. There was one person in particular who had asked me out on 2 dates and I wasn't particularly impressed. But for the 3rd date, he asked me to go see Les Miserables with him. I wanted to go. I agonized. I knew this guy would not be getting date number 4 and that ticket's were expensive. I called my parents.

I turned him down. And sobbed.

Many shows have come to Salt Lake or Portland...and went. We have either had children that were too young, or budgets that were too tight, or schedules that just wouldn't line up. So I have filled my life with community and high school productions. Some good, and some so very bad.

I have read about friend after friend after friend who has seen Wicked. It's gotten to the point that Greg will warn me in advance. "You probably don't want to read this person's blog today, they just saw Wicked." At least when he warns me I don't cry myself to sleep at night.

The very sad secret of my life is that despite my love for musicals, I have never seen a Broadway Show.

This Summer I will be living 40 minutes from Broadway. Actual Broadway.

Please, oh Please New York, have just one show for me.

**Greg wanted me to note that he has taken me to a Broadway show in Portland: "High School Musical: On Stage" While this is technically considered a Broadway show, and I did enjoy it, it does not, in my mind, qualify as a Broadway caliber performance.