They gave me their hearts...

" A sunrise is a wondrous thing. And it's there every morn, just for the taking."

And so began my weekend of wonder.

They gave me a moon tree. I cried. After final dress rehearsal when they surprised me - and opened their hearts to me. And I cried opening night and closing. Two casts, two openings, two closing, a waterfall of tears. They gave me a moon tree. And I gave them caprese-on-a-stick.

And a lot of sweaty hugs. They put me on their set.

And with such an emotional week, I couldn't cook. I could spread Mostarda (various fruits preserved in a mustard syrup - also delectable with cheeses) on a pork loin and call it a day. Mostarda - sweet and spicy. If you could bottle my cast - they would be Mostarda. Light, color, fruity, a touch of bright,a touch of heat.

And when the temps soared to over 100 degrees F - I didn't bother with any heated food and ate my way through a loaf of bread spread with fresh ricotta and the same Mostarda.

I opened a cookbook last Sunday for inspiration. I cracked open some crab legs and added it to cioppino.

Cioppino from the Rose Pistola Restaurant in San Francisco. I made some substitutions. Nobody minded.

And then it was tech/dress week. The youngest -

And the "oldest" -

..came on stage after final dress. My wonderful (and manipulative) scene designer played the Beatles "In My Life" from the lighting booth. And with center stage lit, the students entered one by one and shared a memory they had of me and put gifts - all memories of past plays with me - by a moon tree. (A magical moon tree created by an eccentric girl from Belfast is a cornerstone of the play.) They gave me their hearts. I shall hold them with care.

Look at the tenderness these young students brought to this play.

David places a belonging of his brother Sam - who died in Vietnam-  under the moon tree and finally begins the grieving process.

After the moon landing, David gives Madrigal his brother's dog tags - to be buried in the Giant's Causeway in Ireland - a place of giants and faeries from the days of wonder ... a place of eternity.

My Madrigals say good-bye after the final show.

But I won't say good-bye. Not to them. I have plans. Promises to keep.