The Christmas Thank-You Note

Alright, kiddos: it's that time again.

Last year, I compiled a ginormous thank you note to 50 people--from acquaintances to dear friends. A couple of them found it, I imagine most of them don't know it exists. Regardless, it's just a giant virtual thank you to all of the people who have done something spectacular for me. There are a lot of you out there.

I'm not going to repeat any from last year, so if you wanna check out the 2008 Rendition, go here: http://katharinesmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/totally-random-for-christmas-part-1.html

This year's will inevitably be a bit shorter. Last year was my first one, so it was 19 years of thank you's. This is just from the last year and I'm not repeating unless absolutely necessary, so here are some of the individuals who greatly impacted my lovely 2009.

The Reason for doing this? A friend of mine from high school--Brendan Court--wrote something he loved about every single one of his friends when he was a junior and senior in high school. He was the most compassionate person I have ever known and had the most incredible zeal for life. He passed away in a car accident his senior year, and it broke all of our hearts. But at his funeral, his sister mentioned that he had a list of almost 500 friends and what he loved about all of them. That has always left a remarkable impression on me. I'm definitely not Brendan, but I do make an effort to let people know how much they mean to me on occasion. If my love for you seems excessive or copious, I apologize. I absolutely adore people and human connection. I really, really do. And this is (hopefully) a testament to that.

EDIT: I re-posted the 65 from last year. Scroll down to the bottom to see this year's additions.

Christmas Thank You List: Heroes, Best Friends, and Notable Folks
1. Lola Dill. Piano is my greatest stress release, passion, and channel for all things musical. Without my ability to play piano, I would go crazy and so much of my life thus far would not have happened. More than this, thanks for spending endless hours hounding me about musicality, the curvature of the fingers, and the placement of the body on the piano bench. It’s making my career.
2. Kyle McLaran. For taking risks, for embracing differences, and for continually surprising me with how wonderful your quirks and crazy ideas are.
3. Emily Gray. For teaching me so much about Shakespeare and dramaturgy, for how to truly direct a show, and for being such a brilliant model of what an actress should be.
4. Matt Gray. For the one time you watched Shrew rehearsal and perfectly verbally communicated all my thoughts/critiques and more in a way the actors internalized and understood. You taught me so much in the thirty minutes you spoke, you have no idea.
5. Ed Long. For being a crazy brilliant genius who taught me an insane amount about conducting, musical theatre, classical music, art, the history of Hockaday, and how to tell a story. Even more importantly, for teaching me to capitalize on my passions and pursue them all.
6. BonnieJean Coleman. For setting a goal for me as a pianist to be able to transpose anything, and to hear someone sing and immediately know what to play for them, how to play it, and in the correct key.
7. Beth Wortley. For being a second mother, being the ultimate supporter, being an older version of my endlessly overcommitted and multitasking self, and for appreciating the true class and wonder of a good old fashioned musical. Also, for being a remarkable choreographer and teaching me the importance of a real vision in theatre and dance.
8. Susan Hubbard. For teaching me how one woman is capable of running an entire show and there is no excuse not to complete a task in theatre. One person really is capable of running lights, sound, costumes, backstage, crew, cast, auditions, rehearsals, blocking, musical direction, and choreography.
9. John Weeden. For being a dreamer and helping me realize that’s a part of me and having those huge dreams is more than okay. For embracing and helping me build up my passion for the arts, arts advocacy, and arts administration. For causing me to desperately go live in London.
10. Mr. Maloney. For starting up Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination, and starting this crazy theatrical journey. For helping me write, as a fourth grader, a crazy Holocaustal version of Macbeth and teaching me the difference between intelligence and wisdom. I’ll never forget it.
11. Trigger Butler. For basically being a theatrical character 24/7 and turning all things English into great theatre. For having faith in me. For making me strive to be better in an environment that was almost too easy. For teaching me how to properly shake someone’s hand.
12. Dr. Venable. For giving me passion in language. English, French, Spanish, German, it doesn’t matter. Because of your classes in elementary school, I knew I loved written and spoken word and would enjoy the study of it forever.
13. Mrs. Lee. For being the most kindhearted person I know and for practically crying when I gave you a build-your-own-gingerbread house. You taught me the importance of a thoughtful Christmas gift, 1000 Chinese characters, and the greatest smile I’ve ever seen.
14. Brendan Court. For being a guardian angel and probably subconsciously being inspiration for the list I’m making right now. A few months before you passed, you made a list of all of your friends and your favorite things about them. At your funeral, I remember Abby mentioning that list and how crazy it was seeing how many friends you had and seeing how much you really cared about them all. It’s an incredible thing, truly. I still think of you all the time and wonder what your crazy, kindhearted spirit would do in certain situations in my life.
15. Ginny Seeley. For teaching me how to be a best friend.
16. Katie Specht. For teaching me that I would never be the mature one of our group of friends, but that it was okay cause you totally had it covered!
17. Roseanne Blair. For sitting on the Circus Wagon and writing and plotting crazy schemes and analyzing the social nature of fourth graders. For introducing me to Sixpence NonetheRicher, Rocket (the computer game), incense, Hairspray (the original one that we watched at your fourth grade birthday party) and pretty much being my literary soulmate.
18. Robbie Kessler. For being my first boyfriend and for (ever so appropriately) dancing ballet with me on our first date when we ate parfaits (which recipe came out of an American GirlDoll cookbook) at my dining room table. And saw Harriet the spy—a movie which changed my view of composition notebooks forever.
19. Elizabeth Moran. For enduring the crap that ridiculous eleven year olds put you (and the rest of us) through and for turning out to be a really awesome person while they’re still pretty clueless.
20. Abby Lichliter. For that time when you visited Hockaday and I introduced you as my friend and you quickly corrected me that you were not and the subsequent lesson of how to introduce people. Particularly those with a particular view of themselves. Also, for hours of Mario Kart and dancing to the Dixie Chicks in socks. And watching PG-13 movies in the workout room.
21. Ms. Gwen. Who taught me that dance was not worth it if it was going to be totally and completely utterly miserable. And that really, it’s not dancing if it’s not joyous. Also, to never, ever lock up a fourth grader post-mono and put their recital music on repeat in a rehearsal room until they learned it. Reflecting upon this ten years later, I kind of want to tell you that it scarred me and wasn’t okay. Hmm. Moving on.
22. Katie Powell. For having amazing stage presence and charisma and truly causing me to want to tap dance and be in DBC tap company.
23. Karen Stanford. For teaching me how to tap—utterly and completely. Best tap teacher I’ve ever had and I’m immensely grateful.
24. Hockaday. For beating me down to nothing only so I could rise up completely.
25. Meredith McAlister. For forcing me to be a director and giving me an incredible actress to work with. Last Five Years is still one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life.
26. John Glass Aldous. For making me feel remarkably stupid for not knowing 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in Mockingbird Station at the beginning of junior year. You and Lizzie Cochran were the catalyst for my modern/contemporary musical theatre freakout. And for being my gay Scottish husband.
27. Allison Klion. For INFIABSIA and teaching me to love the Beatles and classic rock.
28. Bayla Gottesman. For being my other half for the better part of my time at Hockaday, and for being the most inspirational dancer I have ever seen in my life. You light up the stage when you perform, and I hope to be half as charismatic and passionate on stage as you are.
29. Julie Smith. For being one of the most kindhearted people I know—genuinely.
30. Sarah Satinsky. For never letting the bad stuff get you down. It’s really unbelievable and is quite remarkable to a drama queen like me.
31. Kim Starfield. For taking me to France and for being the ultimate best friend. For teaching me maturity and patience. For being my counselor.
32. Nicole Bullock. For unintentionally gearing me up for what Hockaday would be when your mother started quizzing you on the capitals of countries in the Middle East in seventh grade on the way home from school.
33. Mrs. Rose. For letting me know at a very young age that it’s perfectly alright to be friends with a teacher.
34. Mrs. Westfall. For informing me of the importance of makeup.
35. Mrs. Kohl. For informing me that I never want to take Latin, and it’s not worth burning bridges out of bitterness or making students miserable over trivial matters.
36. Mrs. Case. For taking so much time to help a munchkin with the spelling bee.
37. Mrs. Snow. For teaching me to write fiction creatively.
38. Mrs. Cunningham. For being the most patient teacher I ever had.
39. Mrs. Broussard. For listening to musical theatre in advisory and being patient in listening to my middle school woes.
40. Bess Milner. For being an incredibly patient friend in the worst phase of my life, teaching me what great writing is, teaching me about Catholicism, and being a B*Witched enthusiast.
41. Will Arbery. For being my first love and teaching me more than you’ll probably ever know. My love for classic film and appreciation for great movies completely stems from what you taught me in 8th-10th grade. For spending hours every night talking to me and wondering about the world—religion, politics, and our place in it. With you, my tiny existence as a fourteen year old broadened immensely. You taught me to love letter writing. I never really got to thank you the way I wanted to and you probably won’t ever read this, but thank you.
42. Stephen Fox. You are, hands-down, the most sincere person I know. You care about people so much and absolutely deserve unbelievable happiness. You stayed friends with me despite all middle school and high school shenanigans, through the times we ignored each other, when we dated (the first…sixth…eight…tenth…however many times) and after we broke up. You’re a great musician, totally brilliant, a wonderful friend, and a remarkable guy. You’ve given me more lessons in forgiveness and compassion than you’ll ever know.
43. Elizabeth Stevenson. You unintentionally taught me to be nice to underclassmen, regardless. Condescension is totally useless, frivolous, and frustrating.
44. Skylar Harrison. You taught me how incredible the power of determination is. You are truly remarkable.
45. Monroe Lacerte. To this day, I think you might be the happiest and wittiest person I know.
46. Lauren Valletutti. You taught me sass.
47. Jourdan Hurst. You are such a kindred spirit in so many ways. We’ve been through so many of the same things and I love that you maintain the sweetest disposition ever despite what life throws at you. You’re one of my real-life heroes.
48. Maxey Whitehead. For giving an unreal performance in the Crucible several years ago and really making a huge impression of what a great actress should be to me when it was still a totally foreign hobby.
49. Rachel Tamez. For teaching me about college.
50. Sarah Endres. For teaching me that I am not cut-out to be a roommate but that you can be wonderful friends without living well together!
51. Leah Taylor. For introducing me to lez-rock. And for giving me a reason to chase you around Glassell for twenty minutes.
52. Tracy Leigh. For teaching me to be a diva.
53. Darius Anthony Robinson. For teaching me passion.
54. Buff Shurr. For casting me in Thoroughly Modern Millie when I auditioned for it completely on a whim. And for having patience with a remarkably slow 17/18 year old.
55. Rachel Harpool. For showing me true ambition.
56. Laura McLain. For being the best, best friend in the world. For spending hours into the wee morning discussing life and playing the piano. For sharing a passion in music. For being the sweetest person on earth. For having faith in me. For letting me be your friend and accompanist. For staying friends with me since I’ve been home. For still making an effort. For being just plain awesome
57. Jason Villareal. For being a fabulous Indian/Asian and just being a dear sweetheart.
58. Samantha. For teaching me that hostility is never the answer and some drama just isn’t worth the energy.
59. Andrew Campbell. For teaching me that it’s all gonna be okay.
60. Kevin Vichyastit. For being a buddy I know I’ll keep forever and travel with when we’re both rich and famous!
61. Allie Hayes. For being an over-analyzer. For being a brilliant writer. For being a friend.
62. Ben Kitchens. For enduring my quirks and spending a whole summer with me. It’s still a summer that hasn’t been beat.
63. Allen Pierce. For teaching me that it is possible to have a straight male platonic best friend! And for being a darn good one at that.
64. Joshua Doss. For Nemo.

2009 List

1. Southern Methodist University (Meadows School of the Arts)--for giving me enough money to attend, for letting me transfer, for kicking my butt daily. For challenging me--something I craved after a two year hiatus from challenge post Hockadaisy graduation.
2. Kristin Dausch--for being a fellow true Cancer, for being one of those people you meet and know immediately that you will be friends, for giving your everything to everything. Your passion is so inspirational to me.
3. Baby Heidi--for teaching me to absolutely love babies. This is something I certainly never imagined occurring. Thank you for making me second guess the fact that I don't want children. (I think.) You have brought so much love into my life that I didn't even know I could have.
4. Patty and Buff--for teaching me how much politics should play into casting. For thoroughly educating me on what the bounds and limitations of a producer are/should be.
5. Jay Gardner--for being my FB chat buddy, for gabbing and arguing endlessly about all things musical theater, for always encouraging me.
6. James McQuillen--for being a flat-out genius and for being someone I greatly look up to.
7. C Nicholas--for teaching me how a choreographer should run a rehearsal.
8. Paula Morelan--for being fierce. Toughest broad I know.
9. Jackbear--for being my best friend for sixteen years. And even though you're a deaf, blind grandpa of a gay dog, I absolutely adore you and don't know what I'll do without you when you go. You're my oldest and dearest friend.
10. Abbey Siegworth--for setting a standard is so impressive that it seems unreachable. For giving me a terrifying and deliciously intimidating goal.
11. Madam Buckley--that some people can view the same performance of a highly respected performer and gather COMPLETELY different opinions/thoughts about it.
12. Bill Lengfelder--for being one of the sickest badasses I know, and for teaching me fascinating habits and aspects of my movement in performance.
13. Kelly McCain--for giving me the gift of modern dance this year. I have so much gratitude that I currently cannot express!
14. Kevin Moriarty--for taking the Theater Center in a brilliant direction, for getting people excited, and for teaching me how to introduce a new idea to a community.
15. Stan Graner--for being so passionate about what you do--even after it's not something new. Sounds fundamental, but that was a real revelation to me, and I think it says something very wonderful and telling about you as an actor and a human being.
16. Willy Welch--I am ecstatic we got to do a show together. You really are family, and I love you dearly.
17. Sonny Franks--You can play more instruments than any individual should. So much to admire in you.
18. Cayman Mitchell--prodigiously talented and intelligent, and all-around good guy. What's not to love?
19. Grandmama--for loving so much and for providing me a hero. I love you more than anyone else in this world.
20. Summer Kenny--thank you for your ridiculous extension.
21. Truett--I was the worst kind of new student--the latch onto your side, insecure, nervous type. You were the absolute most generous and lovely friend I ever could have asked for. You are simply amazing and I love you.
22. Lindsey--The development of our friendship has been one of the highlights of the last two years. While it was lovely having you in the same city, our friendship has turned into this fantastic disembodied old-school penpal thing. Somehow, the distance enriched our friendship. You provide incredible advice and listen to every complaint I ever have. I love you to the moon and back and am so grateful for your friendship. You're the best best friend I could ask for.
23. Steve Jones--for your enthusiasm, and for the conversation we had immediately following my first TheaterJones piece. You have my dream job, and you do it awfully well.
24. Bruce Coleman--I've never seen a director commit to a concept or visual image quite like you do--it's absolutely inspirational. Thank you for taking me on in Breathe--it was such a wonderful experience.
25. Wendy Welch--You've absolutely changed my life. There are people you meet or encounter who by happenstance do something that changes you forever; you have been one of those people for me. I never would have pursued theater if it hadn't been for you. You have been a mentor in every sense of the word and I have endless amounts of respect and affection for you. Thank you.
26. Marianne--You are another one of those beautiful people who quickly changed my life. You re-introduced the director in me and you encourage me in the craziest myriad of ways. I genuinely feel as though I've found a bit of a soul sister in you and I am terribly grateful for that. Also, you're a genius. Just thought I should re-remind you.
27. Thomas Renner--Your capacity to love is mind-boggling, and I am terribly envious of it. I love you and your excessive compassion for others and life--it's something I aspire to!
28. Adam Wright--for being the insane, brilliant genius of a pianist/arranger that you are. For being someone I can look up to. For being adamant about your convictions.
29. Abigail Leslie Gentsch--for being the best darn sister a girl could ask for. I am thrilled that we are starting to become friends rather than just fiendish sisters.
30. Elaine--for possibly being the most unlikely heroine and friend I've made this year. There's a great deal I've found to admire in you--wit, sarcasm, honesty, ballsiness--and I am terribly grateful that you've given me several TJ.com opportunities. You should keep pushing the book. Your writing in the blog is very different from your criticism--and it's really just wonderful. Anywho, thank you, thank you, thank you.
31. Cheryl--Words cannot adequately express how thankful I am for what you gave me during Sanders. Like Marianne said, I learned so freaking much from you watching you direct this show...it was so brilliant. I (like most of this community) am a bit awestruck by your abilities and passion for them, and awfully grateful to have had you in my life. You're a lovely spacepod mother.


That's all for now. I'll add as more come to me. Love you all. Merry Christmas