I intend to live forever - so far, so good

[ClingingToHope]

Uuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhh, long night.

Tonight was the third tryout of the school year for the theater group I got D12 involved in five years ago.

It's kind of become even more important to STBXW. It keeps her weekends occupied when she doesn't have the girls.

Still, it was a strain on time and money when D12 did all three plays. The past two years she did just two.

The difference this time was D8 finally tried out for one. She has a friend doing it so she tried out to be around her.

So it was a big audition night. It's my weekend and last night I get a text from STBXW asking if I was taking the girls to auditions because D8 wants her to take her.

I replied that I was going to take them to auditions, but she was welcome to meet us there.

So that's what happened. We were together from about 5:45 p.m. to around 8:45. STBXW spent most of the time talking to her friend on the sewing committee. That lady's husband just played solitare online and I read SI. But STBXW filled me in on some stuff from school. I just listened.

Finally, when it was time for the girls to go their singing audition we had to move to a waiting room for the parents. There were a couple new families in there so they were doing introductions, you know, hi, I'm xxx and this is my wife/husband xxx. When it was our turn I didn't know what to say so STBXW just said he, I'm xxxx and this is xxxx.

Anyway, the auditions went very, very well. D12 had rehearsed all week and nailed her part. I will be very, very disappointed if she just gets another ensemble part. This is her 11th play. She deserves to start getting some solo parts.

D8 sang "This is your land" and did OK for a first-time audition. She was soooo scared. She had to watch several others, who have been in theater for years, and she was a little intimidated.

After, she was so relieved she went back to her chair and said "I just want to go home now" and cracked up the room.

We'd made plans to go eat after and we asked STBXW to come along. She did and it was an old family meal.

The girls were excited. At one point D8 blurted out "we're eating together as a family. We don't do that anymore."

I'm being sentimental tonight. STBXW looked better. She's been on a diet and she looks better. Plus, she just feels better when she's around the theater group and when she's smiling it still melts my heart.

And that 1 percent that won't give up thumps loudly in my chest.