Break a leg, Eli!

"Break a leg?"

The Meaning

Said to actors for good luck before they go on stage, especially on an opening nights.

Origin

Theatrical types are well-known for their belief in superstitions, or at least for their willingness to make a show of pretending to believe them. The term 'break a leg' appears to come from the belief that one ought not to utter the words 'good luck' to an actor. By wishing someone bad luck, it is supposed that the opposite will occur. Other superstitions are that it is bad luck to whistle in a theatre, to say the final line of a play during dress rehearsal, or to say the name of 'the Scottish Play' in a theatre's green room.

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Today I am headed to Conrad to meet my friend, Lori. We are going to attend BCL-UW's play, "Once Upon a Mattress." I have no idea what this play is about other than it is based on "The Princess and The Pea." Lori's son will be acting today and I'm excited to see him. Dave and I attended a musical two years ago that Eli was in and he is a fantastic actor. Today, I believe, he plays a mime and has no speaking part...which, I think, would be harder than speaking!

I'm sure I'll take my camera and take pictures even though his mom is as much of a camera-snap-happy-picture-taker as I am. She is the reason I got my new camera in the first place, remember?

Anyway, as much as it will be great for the parents and friends to see their kids in today's play, there will be many heavy hearts, I'm sure. Just a few days ago, three classmates of Eli's were in a horrible automobile accident. One boy was killed and two were injured. Lori said that a meeting was held and it was decided the play must go on, that it wouldn't be any easier no matter how long it was postponed.

So, today, I believe know there will be tears of sadness mixed with tears of happiness. It doesn't matter if it's your child, a friend's child, a child of an acquaintance or someone you don't even know - I'm a mom and I will feel the pain of those moms who recently lost their child.

So now, I'm off to Conrad! Break a leg, Eli. And if you're a mom, give your baby, no matter how old, a big ol' hug. You never know what tomorrow might bring.





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