For the band's playin' one of my old favorite songs from way back when

The exact date and even the year are both outside my knowledge, but on a certain day of a certain year, and in a certain theatre in the city of New York, my Grandmother took my mother to Hello Dolly! during Carol Channing's first run as Dolly. Fifteen years ago, in Houston, I treated my mother to Ms. Channing's performance in her last run as Dolly. My father was relieved not to be dragged along and Mom and I enjoyed our night of just the girls. I delighted in Mom telling me at dinner about her first Dolly experience with her mother. I felt part of a special mother/daughter club and very much enjoyed my standing.

Tonight, I am going to see Hello Dolly! without my mother. And without Carol Channing. I'm a bit nervous, to be honest. I know I'll be missing my mother terribly. I'm only beginning to adjust to carrying on alone with what my parents instilled in me, even with such a small thing as love of the theatre and musicals. But I also know that when I'm there, I'll have my mother in my heart, just as my mom had her mother in her heart when she and I went 15 years ago. And I'll probably sing out loud and disturb my theatre seat neighbors, but I'll want to sing because in a way this will be like visiting the past and being greeted with, It's so nice to have you back where you belong.