Tara Wisdom

[Drunk Monk]

T's new school does a major production of the Ramayana every year. It's epic - over three hours - with lavish costumes imported from India. T didn't have a fight scene but she sang and did some stunts. She was cast as a goddess, a belly dancer and a monkey. She did a back walkover as a belly dancer and a flip as a monkey (which made it easier to spot her under the monkey mask).

[Drunk Monk]

"Dad, I hope you're still friends with Tom* when I turn 21."

*Tom is one of the brewmasters at Anchor, who puts on the tour for us.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

That is one smart kid. Takes after Stacy.

[Drunk Monk]

Takes after Stacy.

Thank goodness.

[King Bob]

Not too late for her to follow in your footsteps. I think you got more wild in the college years and beyond. She can't follow the Dead though.

[Drunk Monk]

On the way home from the Ramayana, I told Tara to swap out the CD because we had already listened to it.  It was a Dead CD.  I had a Bob Marley CD in the car and she put that on.

DM: "So you're still not a Deadhead, huh?"

T: "I appreciate their musicianship, but their songs are too long."



This year, T played Ram's mother Queen Kausalya in which she had an early singing solo, as well as a monkey that busted an aerial and had a few lines.  Next year is her senior year and the seniors move into the lead roles.  It is an amazing rite of passage with her school, Mt. Mad.  The seniors are profiled in the program, with photos of their first role in the production, some of which go back to their preschool years.  The Ramayana has become such an epic part of our lives. I read it in India, as we visited some of the locations, like Rishikesh where Lakshman crossed the ganga in penance.  It continues to teach me each time I go experience it with its layers of symbolism.  Coincidentally, T's previous school did a Ramayana in the early grades.  It was a low level production - she was a monkey one year, and Lakshman the second year.  

I've donned my Hanuman pendant for this year, the Year of the Monkey.

[Drunk Monk]

Tara returned from her India mission last night.  Here's the blog - she has two entries and appears in the videos and photo galleries: http://dc.mountmadonnaschool.org/categor...ndia-2017/

The India program was a large contributing factor to us placing her in Mt. Mad.  

And for her final Ramayana, she is cast in the role of Mandodari, wife of the demon king Ravana, a part she is very pleased with.  She told me last night that being cast as Mandodari won her many accolades in India, particularly with a women's shelter community they visited, because those women identified with having a demon husband and worshiped Mandodari.

[Greg]

That was quick. Probably, too quick. Glad she's back.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

+1. Glad she's back home and safe.

[Drunk Monk]

It's UCSD.  

How am I going to afford this?  How much can I get for a kidney nowadays?

[Greg]

I'm thinking they might not want your kidneys.

At least she isn't going to an East Coast school where the cost of tuition can be $65k

Plus, aren't you going to be a big time reality star soon?

Congratulations!

[cranefly]

I was to San Diego once for a science fiction convention.  The downtown had a wonderful vibe to it.  I always felt I'd enjoy living there.

Congrats.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

I hear that it is a relaxed campus, culturally. We have sent many a fencer there over the years (still have an NCAA program, bless them!). See if she can be a walk-on on the women's epee team!

[Drunk Monk]

Tonight was the first performance of Tara's final Ramayana. I worked concessions for act 1 and caught all of act 2 in which Tara has a major solo. I marvel at how the Ramayana has woven into our lives. I read it in India as Stacy and I walked some of the very footsteps of Ram. Then Tara's elementary did it.
Now it's a major part of her high school. And this is the finale for now - Mandodari is a major role, the second to last bow with Ravana, followed only by Sita & Ram. 

It struck me as funny that the two lead demons were both hapa. Both Tara and Akio (Ravana) thought that was amusing too.

Two more shows - Saturday & Sunday - and then we close a chapter on this epic tale.

[Drunk Monk]

The Ramayana was an incredible journey and I'm sad to see it end for now. I don't know how we'll get back to it, but it will always be a part of our lives.

My daughter swept the academic awards for her class. Here are her awards:
CCS, outstanding scholastic
Best in Spanish
Best in English (tied with Caroline)
Best in science
Best in world religions
Best in art
3 pillars award for academic achievement 
There was only one other class award given - yearbook - and that was a tie between two other students.

Tomorrow she graduates high school.