It really does take a village...

sometimes.

My amazing sister called me Tuesday with an offer of two free tickets to see the Paris Opéra Ballet
perform Giselle Thursday evening.

My lovely husband turned me down... flat.

So I did what any mother thirsting for culture and a night out does... I rang up my "ballet bitch" Morgan. A former ballet dancer herself and fabulous friend all around, she said yes and we planned our night out.

Our dear friend and neighbor, Lin, agreed to not only watch Ani but to come over early so I could complete that most elusive of tasks for (I'm guessing) most mothers- showering... alone!

My (still) lovely husband replete with guilt (I'm guessing), drove me downtown on the hottest day Chicago has seen in some seven years.

My "ballet bitch" Morgan was a fabulous cocktail reception schmoozer, audience member and friend.

And Ani, wonderful Ani, came down with a 101.1 fever just to send me on my way full of worry and guilt at leaving her.

Amazing. Lovely. Fabulous. Wonderful. Giselle was all of these adjectives and more.

Sometimes it really does take a village.... and 154 Parisian ballet dancers.