I hadn’t been to an assembly at Long Beach School since I retired from teaching twelve years ago.  But, as the teachers and students filed into the gym to take their places – adults in chairs, kids ‘criss-cross-applesauce’ on the floor, I felt right at home.  Some things don’t change much, even in more than a decade.

The adults all looked a little weary – after all, it was a Thursday afternoon.  I’m sure it had already been a long week.  It always is with elementary students.  The kids, too, looked amazingly familiar except that there were some new fashion statements among the girls.  Short, ruffly, bright net skirts over multi-colored tights seem to be de rigueur these days.  I saw one pair of spangled to-die-for cowboy boots and one second or third grader in high-heeled (what was her mother thinking?) strappy sandals.  The boys are still wearing clunky, too-big-looking walking shoes…  Oh well.

We were there to see the Seattle 5^th Avenue Theater’s production “It Happened at the World’s Fair” – a back-to-the-future musical presented by s handful of young, energetic actors.  Among them was Heather McQuarrie, daughter of Laura Creekman and Don McQuarrie who moved away from the Peninsula just before or after Heather and her siblings were beginning school, themselves.

Don taught in Ocean Beach School District ‘back in the day’ but, as I looked around, I saw only one or two others (besides myself) who had been his colleagues.  Of course, I reflected, they were just young whipper-snappers back then and no wonder they are still teaching.  On the other hand, so was Don and so is he…

My companions for the afternoon were Pat and Noel Thomas who are Heather’s Godparents.  And, the occasion was beginning to feel like an annual event.  Last year we saw Heather with the same 5^th Avenue outreach program, different play, at Ocean Park School.  In spite of this year’s new venue, it all seemed familiar and welcoming.

What came as a total surprise was teacher Dan Schenk’s introduction to the entertainment.  He told the audience that one of the actors was the daughter of his sixth grade music teacher!  Wow!  How did THAT happen?  (But, truth to tell, I did notice that Dan is getting a bit gray.)  Another full circle…

The performance was fast-paced and filled with fun characters.  Elvis made an appearance as did seven-year-old Bill Gates and if the youngest children in the audience didn’t get some of the references to “Star Trek” and “walkie-talkies” it didn’t matter a bit.  They were mesmerized throughout.  The best part of all was when one of the actors threw an imaginary (as in there wasn’t one) balloon high over the heads of the audience and every single kid swiveled around on their bottoms to ‘see’ it.  Now that’s an engaged audience!

I wished Don and Laura could have been there.   Heather told us afterwards that this was the 75^th performance the troupe had done this school year, so perhaps her folks were able to attend somewhere else.  Meanwhile… we were proud in their stead.  Way to go, Heather!