Yesterday, in a fit of mild insanity, two friends and I piled into my van for a college-reminiscent road trip. Loading up on junk food, an iPod set to the driving tunes, and a full tank of gas and we were on our way.

After two and a half hours we reached our destination, Southern Virginia University. I slammed my van into the first parking space I could find and we took off across the lawn like the college-wanna-be’s we were. Three very gimpy wanna-be’s!

The drive and sitting about took us out, but the play we went to attend was well worth it. Closing night on the student production of Taming of the Shrew, both adapted and directed by Orson Scott Card, proved an entertaining experience for all of us.

We made it with only a minute to spare, but thankfully the play then started late! From the start, we were laughing and I’m not sure we really stopped. Of course, we were laughing from the start of the drive, so take that for what it’s worth!

Several of the actors showed extreme talent, others did not. The one thing the cast showed universally is a true enjoyment in what they were doing. Their pure joy overrode the slurred and inaudible words as well as any breaks in character. I’ve downloaded a copy of the script to enjoy reading at my leisure.

After the play, we went to see the cast. One of the women I was with had a sister in the cast who had no idea that we were coming. That was wonderful to be able to congratulate the cast and tell them how we enjoyed the play. We were then able to meet Orson Scott Card, and express our joy as well.

My Saturday was beyond packed, so I never returned home as I thought I would. I did not have any of my books for Orson Scott Card to autograph, however I did have my current read with me. A well worn copy of his book, Enchantment, belonging to my friend who’s sister performed. I pulled it out of my bag and gave it to her, and she was able to get it autographed. She’s never had a book autographed before, so this was a very special moment for her. Seeing her joy filled me with a joy of my own. I made sure to snap a photograph for her. In return, she snuck to her sister before we left and managed to get a signed playbill for me from Orscon Scott Card. Completely unnecessary, but that’s one to go right into the scrapbook!

We snagged some dinner and then took off through the newly falling sleet for home. Thank goodness as we reached the top of the mountain just west of Charlottesvile, the sleet stopped. The rest of the route held clear weather. I pulled into my driveway at 2:11 AM and went strait to my bed, collapsing with a smile on my face.

I’m so glad I went. It was entirely worth it!

–Lady O