Mountain Festival 2014

   Hi Sidra,

Today is the end of the Sandy Mountain Festival for 2014.  The conclusion is the same for you as it was last year.  You won the Bike Derby for your age group and Talent Show for your age group.  This is the second year in a row that you scored that double.  

The bike derby seemed like it was meant to be.  We didn't practice for it, really, but used the same strategy as we did last year. You started in lane 2 and by the time you got to the corner were in the lead.  You stayed on the inside lane around the corner and no one could catch you.  "No one else in the picture" is how I titled the post last year when you won.  It was the same this year.  As I said, we didn't practice on the track at all, but you remembered the strategy and performed it to perfection, again.

Today was the talent show where you performed 'Let it Go' from the movie Frozen.  We've known for months that you would perform that song so we had plenty of time to prepare.  It was quite a process.  I had the song without vocals on my phone so you could practice.  Your mom ordered you a dress and a wig.  The wig was being shipped from China and we were unable to track it.  So we had some contingency plans in place in the event that it didn't come in time.  We bought a CD with all the instrumental versions of the songs because we thought that was the format we would need.  Ultimately the sound engineer had the music on his phone.  We bought shoes and some snowflakes for you to throw around.  Your mom brought the microphone and amplifier home from the Community Center so you could practice on that. 

We gave you the tools but on the stage you were a master craftswoman.  You step up without a shred of fear and immediately own the audience.  You are absolutely in your element when you perform.  You'll see in the video(link) that I became a little overwhelmed and lost you from the viewfinder.  I was so awed by the performance that I lost my concentration a couple of times.  

Your mom and I had a couple of similar observations.  First, while your rehearsals were good you turned it up a notch when you got on stage.  You're a gamer.  Second, there was a moment in the show where you underscored your cool.  You began standing at the mic, then threw off your cape and took the mic in your hand.  As you took the mic off the stand you glanced down and noticed that the cord was wrapped on the stand and would pull the stand down if you stepped away.  Without hesitation you passed the mic around the front of the stand so it wouldn't tangle.  Like a pro! Like you'd been doing it for years.  

I didn't include the video of the bike derby because it wasn't very good.  It was too shaky. 

You had a very good week.  You also passed a level in swimming.  

More next time,

Love, Aba