2022 Reflection -Carpe Diem
Elizabeth McClary-Wolford
Fractional Sales Leader | Outsourced Sales Solutions | A Sales Leader that sells and will help your team sell. | Increase revenue through assessment, process and coaching
2022 was a year full of loving experiences and heartbreak…challenges and adventures…the joy of new friends and the rekindling of old relationships. As we bid farewell to 2022, I am filled with mixed emotions---a combination of anticipation for a new year and new experiences but also melancholy. As I reflect, I remembered this wonderful Alfred Lord Tennyson line of poetry---"Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
2022 began with an audition for "Little Women, The Musical "and the honor of playing Marmee with 8 wonderful young ladies, Jamie 's stage wife, be dressed by one of the best dressers in the world and share the stage with new talented friends. I am forever thankful for this opportunity. It is especially meaningful because I was able to dedicate my performances to one of the best mothers and friends I have ever known, Vena Champion, before she died. On the many nights that I sat with her, she would ask me to sing "Days of Plenty" to her as she would dose.
My spring was filled with efforts to "age gracefully" (thanks to the care of an amazing doctor), helping my clients build their teams and produce incredible growth and praying for the strength, peace and recovery for a dear family member (who has made an amazing recovery).
The summer was hot but produced a bountiful garden (which resulted in pints and pints of Christmas Relish) and beautiful flowers. I didn't spend as much time on my paddle board as I had wanted but I did enjoy my pool time at the Common House with family and friends. So my time with water to rejuvenate my soul and capture rays was more than sufficient. My early mornings were spent sitting with my beautiful friend, Vena---it might sound strange but on her good days we were like 2 teenage girls staying up all night…talking, dreaming, crying and laughing. I would try to get her to sleep and she would tell me she had looked forward to me coming all day. I miss seeing her amazing children every day and hugging their necks . Most of all - I miss her. I am so honored that she asked me to care for her and so thankful for the new friends she shared with me. I would not trade these special memories for anything.
At the end of June, Wolfdawg finally got to see Def Leppard after a 3 year wait followed by a visit to Monticello and an active 4th of July vacation in Washington, DC followed by a quick visit to Harrah's Cherokee on the way home.
As summer ended, I learned that my favorite director was directing "The Sound of Music" and although I wasn't a fan, with the encouragement of Vena---we decided that I could not pass up the opportunity to audition and the possibility of learning more from him. Following my heart and Vena's advice never disappoints and it also prevents me from wondering "what if"---and much to my surprise I was cast as Mother Abbess---one of the most challenging vocal roles I have ever had. Vena told me that she wasn't surprised and promised to watch me from Heaven. We had just begun rehearsals when Vena passed away.
It was so special to spend the remains of the summer and my birthday month rehearsing with some of my favorite people, sharing the stage with Addie Counts and so many new friends while portraying such a warm and beautiful person. My time at CTC always comforts and sustains me. Our cast managed to make it through most of the run without sickness---then on our final weekend , our outstanding soprano-Sweet Annalee was diagnosed with COVID and I came down with what my doctor called "Adult Croup" not the flu, not COVID. I managed to stumble through Annalee's opening notes (she was missed) and sing my high note every performance (I am sure my Guardian Theatre Angel was watching over me and helping me) and tried very hard to keep my germs to myself.
We kicked off Fall in Tampa at a Legal Collection Conference and attending the Georgia Florida game and festivities with family. Uncle Ray and Aunt Susie always out do themselves ---always a joy to share football with awesome family. It was the perfect way to recharge after Sound of Music and refocus. Our Georgia Bulldogs are having another wonderful season and I have enjoyed spending quality time with my children almost every Saturday.
The end of the year has been a whirlwind of sorrow, joyfulness, focus and love---finally seeing 'The Snow Queen", the shock of losing a member of my CTC family to suicide, dressing 2 talented actors in "Tuna Christmas", singing with the Signal Crest UMC Choir and on Christmas Day, starting to work on "The Housekeeper" with Jerry, preparing for 2023 and spending the holidays with family and friends.
I believe that I have lived up to my 2022 word of the year---Carpe Diem…Seize the day! So as I close this chapter and begin to write the next, I am content.
In honor of Sweet Vena and Julie, I leave you with these lyrics---
I never dreamed of this sorrow,
I never thought I'd have reason to lament,
I hoped I'd never know heartbreak,
How I wish I could change the way things went!
I wanted nothing but goodness,
I wanted reason to prevail,
Not this bare emptiness.
I wanted Days of Plenty.
But I refused to feel tragic,
I am aching for more than pain and grief.
There has got to be meaning,
Most of all when a life has been so brief.
I have got to learn something,
领英推荐
How can I give her any less?
I want life to go on.
I want Days of Plenty
You have to Believe,
There is reason for Hope.
You have to Believe
That the answers will come.
You can't let this defeat you.
I won't less this defeat you.
You must fight to keep her there,
Within you!
So Believe that she matters!
And Believe that she always will!
She will always be with you!
She'll be part of the days you've yet to feel!
She will live in your bounty!
She will live as you carry on your life!
So carry on,
Full of Hope,
She'll be there,
For all your Days of Plenty
Thank you for your love, support, encouragement and the honor to call you my friends and family. Remember that "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." Wishing you "Days of Plenty "in 2023 and beyond...Much love and many hugs!