Stage & of & Hope & & By :& Liz & Valerie & Moerman &
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Darkness ...& The & first & thing & I & see & as & I & shuffle & up & the & steps .& The & murmur & of & the & crowd & dances & through & my & ears .& The & warm & glow & of & the & lights & surrounds & me & like & a & blanket .& My & heart & pounds & as & hard & as & an & elephant & walking & in & the & jungle .& I & was & about & to & see & an & area & unexplored & by & many & others & and & myself .& I & took & a & deep & breath & and & wondered & what & would & happen & on & the & Stage & of & Hope .&
I & took & a & look & around & and & thought & about & why & I & was & even & doing & this ,& I & could & be & the & one & watching & other & kids & have & heart & attacks & on & stage .& Why & did & I & have & to & be & the & one & about & to & go & onto & the & stage & of & Wilmette & Junior & High & School ?& Why & did & I & have & to & feel & like & a & frail & antelope & being & chased & by & a & hungry & jungle & cat ?& But & my & heart & knew & the & answer & before & my & brain & did ;& I & had & a & talent & that & nobody & knew & about ,& and & it & was & now & time & to & release & it & to & the & world .& As & I & came & back & to & the & real & world & I & realized & that & I & was & being & pulled & to & center & stage & with & the & curtain & opening & any & second .& I & wanted & to & shout & in & protest & but & it & was & too & late .& It & was & time & to & embrace & my & fear ...&
The & curtain & opened & and & there & they & were .& Each & pair & of & eyes & was & eagerly & waiting & who & would & be & next & to & take & on & the & Stage & of & Hope .& Each & pair & of & eyes & staring & at & me & as & if & I & was & the & last & slice & of & pizza & on & the & dinner & table & of & twenty .& The & jerking & heads & kept & on & thinking & who & would & be & good & enough & to & succeed ,& or & bad & enough & to & fail .& I & slowly & opened & my & eyes & took & a & deep & breath & and & let & the & words & flow & out & of & my & mouth .& I & was & officially & singing ,& I & sung ,& and & sung & as & if & nothing & could & stop & me .& And & nothing & could ...& I & was & as & free & as & a & bird & being & released & from & its & cage & and & into & the & wild .& The & shock & and & excitement & of & the & crowd & gave & me & power & to & keep & going .& As & I & finished & the & song & the & audience & erupted & with & applause .& I & felt & as & happy & as & a & superstar & receiving & a & Grammy & award ..& I & could & even & hear & my & friends & cheering & my & name & through & the & noise & of & the & crowd .& I & raised & my & hand & and & took & a & wave & as & I & departed & from & the & stage .&
So ,& I & guess & my & encounter & with & the & Stage & of & Hope & wasn ' t & a & total & disaster ;& actually & it & wasn ' t & a & disaster & at & all .& Even & though & I & was & as & scared & as & a & mouse & upon & waiting & to & go & on & stage & and & felt & like & having & heart & attack & on & stage ,& I & feel & this & was & a & moment & to & remember .& And & I & think & I ’ ll & be & doing & this & again & very ,& very & soon ...&