I find a sense of healing and affirmation watching mothers and daughters confront difficult issues; we learn that answers are not always simple and that we are not alone. Blessing explores how both family and education shape the individual. He uses flight on so many levels it makes me dizzy. Dorothea says at the beginning, “The secret of flight lies in the assumption that we are worthy of flying.” I love that; the choice to fly is ours…Blessing deftly leads us to this issue of choice…We choose to fly or remain grounded, we choose to love as finally Echo chooses Artie: “I am your daughter. That’s what I choose to be. Someone who loves you.” [In response to my 2006 notes, dramaturg Angie Balsamo reminded me that choice isn't the last step. After choosing, we live with the consequences, and as good, bad or terrifying as the consequences may be, where there is choice, there is opportunity.] From this there is a certain hope that for once we will take responsibility for our choices; there is always hope [and growth]. This circles us back to the beginning of the show and Echo’s first words:

“Eleemosynary…of or pertaining to alms; charitable. It’s from the Latin, of course, but it’s our word now. We’re responsible for it. Eleemosynary.”

I’ve never dedicated a show before – it never felt appropriate. I dedicate this show to my grandmother, Thelma Mae (she had three daughters), my mother, Vona Mae (she has three daughters), my sisters, Leah, and Lisa Mae (she has three daughters); and my nieces, Hannah Mae, Sarah Lily and Olivia Francis; for their love and support I am eternally blessed.