One of the Students

Perhaps with my new University of Michigan sweatshirt, I’ll fool people into believing I attended school there.  In many ways, it seems like I have.  Over the past three years I’ve been accepted as the honorary member of the senior class at the U of M.  With my surprise visit last week, I made my fifth, and possibly last, visit to my second family.  In a matter of months, they will migrate to the city to pursue their musical theater dreams, and I am starting a countdown. 

Three years ago I made my first trip to Ann Arbor and fell in love with a city and an entire group of people.  As one of my closest friends, Jessica, likes to point out, it makes complete sense. Michael and I have been inseparable since we formed a jump-roping club at recess in first grade.  Even with miles between us, he is the closest I will ever come to having a brother.  All of the people that love Michael so dearly in Ann Arbor, welcomed me with open arms.  It’s the transitive power of friendships. 

About two weeks ago, I made the decision that I would go to Ann Arbor and surprise all of my friends who were performing in a show over the weekend.  Despite the grumblings from my mother, and my wallet, I knew I needed something like this to lift my spirits.   I told one person, Marc, and kept my fingers crossed that he wouldn’t get swept up in the excitement and blurt out the news.  He was the perfect choice, because he got even more into the surprise than I did. 

My trip began much like my very first trip to Ann Arbor.  After Marc picked me up in my least favorite city on earth, Detroit, we stopped at the gas station and headed into Ann Arbor.  I was having complete deja vu of my first trip; the only difference was that this was a stealth mission. 

We toiled around Ann Arbor for a few hours, avoiding all of the campus hot spots that might blow my cover, before setting our plan into action.  If the cast of the show was called at 6:30, we knew we needed to arrive at the theater to hide at least thirty minutes early.  The plan we hatched was to stow me in a deserted dressing room and then Marc would lead all of my friends in there and I’d be sitting naked with a bow on screaming like a banshee when they opened the door.  It seemed perfect.  Only, it meant that we had to wait for each and every person to arrive.  Michael decided to show up about thirty minutes later than we expected, so I started to feel like a child waiting in line for a Santa Claus who was just out of sight.  The past three weeks built up to this moment and I needed it to come off flawlessly. 

As Valerie Cherish would say, “Well, I got it!”  From the moment Marc opened the door to my hidden room and let the flood of my friends in, I was overwhelmed with the excitement of the surprise.  The best part about my position at the University of Michigan, is that I get all of the wonderful benefits of going to school there (except a fantastic education) without the drama.  I also don’t think many people getting reactions like I got, on a day to day basis.  I thought all J.Lo and I had in common was an enlarged booty, but it turns out we can both rock the diva arrival. 

David called me shortly after my arrival, and asked how the surprise had gone off.  He noted that with a group as animated as musical theater performers, he couldn’t fathom the excitement I would elicit.  Hope it didn’t let him down.

(I didn't expect this to come across quite as much as an "Oh my god, everyone scream for Matt" video, but...I can't tamper with reality.  That's Michael standing with his jaw on the floor.  Sweet Victory is mine!)

Comments

[liz]

aww, that's so cute!

[Natalie D]

I am convinced after watching this video, that everyone at some point in their life, should experience such a warm and exciting reception. I can feel the love.

[M]

I'm with you Natalie. After the past 8 months, nothing warms my heart as much as watching this video over and over again :) I have some fucking fantastic friends. And Marc and I planned one fantastic surprise.