As a little girl, I can remember watching the Sound of Music at my grandparent’s house every year around Christmas time.
We lived in Pennsylvania and my grandparents lived on a dirt road in the middle of the woods.
I remember that house with nostalgia.
Cold wintry nights, cuddled up in their Lazy Boy while my parents, Gram and Gramps talked in the kitchen, as I watched the Sound of Music.
I haven’t watched the musical in years and was very excited when I saw that Carrie Underwood would be the star of the show as it aired live on NBC.
Just like the old days, I got in my jammies, curled up in my favorite chair, and started it.
From the first song, my husband and boys put their hands over their ears as if the songs were painful to hear.
I thought the singing and songs were beautiful.
What I didn’t like was the acting in between the songs and felt myself disappointed at the production.
For a little while, I even considered turning it off and tweeting my disappointment, but then the next song would come on and then a realization…
…the songs took me back.
Took me back to the little girl so excited about the holidays.
To the little girl who looked forward to the Sound of Music every year because of the feeling it brought.
Coziness. Warmth. Wintry nights. Hot chocolate. Imagining what it would be like to walk across the mountains to Switzerland to stand in the Truth of one’s beliefs.
(OK, so maybe I didn’t realize at the time what “standing in one’s Truth meant,” but I do remember thinking how incredible it was that they’d rather walk across mountains then succumb to Hitler’s army).
I found myself singing along to EVERY song!
And, unlike that little girl years ago, I found myself crying to “Climb Every Mountain.”
I cried at the message. I cried at how true it was to Climb every mountain. Ford every stream. Follow every rainbow, until you find your dream.
So, even though the live production wasn’t everything I wanted it to be, it was even more perfect than I could expect.
It gave me a chance to reconnect with my inner child.
It brought me joy to sing along and remember a time that is so special to me.
Even thought it wasn’t wintry and I was in warm, San Clemente, I found that watching the Sound of Music was…
….perfectly imperfect.
So, here’s a little reminder to you to Climb Every Mountain!