The night before the morning after LOL! Oh man. Tonight was, by all accounts, meant to be a crap show: I was tired, pregnancy related I assume, because after an entire day taking it easy I do not understand why I was so sleepy – so sleepy I couldn’t even focus on my notes. I could not  force my brain to comply.  Secondly, I only had six people in the audience. It did not look promising.

The first thing I told myself before I got on stage was this: They may be six but they are six paying audience members who came to see a good show. Give them one. I had a box of chocolates Mpho sent me ( My God I love that man!) with me backstage, and remembered there were 12 in the box, enough to share with six people.  Show started. I acknowledged them, made fun of the big house we had tonight and proceeded to share the story of receiving flowers and chocolates sent by my husband thousands of miles away in Africa.  We shared the chocolate, and went straight into the show.

Ladies and gentlemen, we literally had a super-charged tea party. Six people laughing comfortably because I introduced them to each other in a manner of speaking, by interacting with them. We laughed together like old friends – none of that painful theatre etiquette-oppressed polite laugh. I weaved in and out of the set, like the consummate host, entertaining guests in her home. There were big enough laughs in so many moments where I had to wait for them to enjoy it, before I continued. I felt awesome. They applauded with gusto. As I was leaving, I received thanks for an excellent show. I knew they meant it. The results are beginning to show. I am growing, I am understanding my audience, and I am now working from both a place of maturity, and a place of true professionalism. Connecting with people is a calling, a gift you cannot take for granted. I am not even disappointed I had that six. They were perfect for my energy in that moment. I may have, for the first time, truly lived in the moment. I was there, then, with them, and no other time before or after mattered. No amount of stars could give me this feeling ( but I would KILL for some LOL!)

After my show I had a quick bite and hooked up with my new friend from Botswana (bless her, she watched my show, found me on Facebook and adopted me lol!) We went to a Brazilian Bar and burnt the dance floor. As I write this I am in bed, sipping my rooibos and preparing to dose off for what I know will be a mini-eternity. I go to bed grateful, thankful and lighter.  I will use my day off tomorrow in the most effective way possible: Sleep, sleep and more sleep. I have earned it.