Anything that implies to me that it's okay my body's ugly/doesn't work because I'm closer to god. "But you have such a pretty face." "Everyone's disabled, in some way. I wear glasses and can't be an airline pilot, etc.etc." There is a social worker out there who tried to lay a meaning-of-Christmas trip on me that should thank her narrowminded God that a. I can't drive. and 2. She's not in front of my car.

But usually, opening night doesn't require the effort dress rehearsal does. Opening, you're running on adrenaline and feedback and NEW! It's like (to switch metaphors) gunning down a straightaway, opening up the throttle all the way. Dress, you're consumed with making sure everything is perfect and precise, like dealing with switchback upon switchback. You're thinking/worrying/working a lot more.

Omg, I thought I would whizz through my work today, so I went to the grocery after dropping off mac this morning and then took a long shower. Welln everything with work took forever and then people kept emailing needing new things RIGHT NOW. Grr. I did not eat lunch, did not get anything I needed to do in my personal life done and in reality I should do more work when I get back home but my guess is mac is going to want at least an hour of one-on-one play. At least the weather is nice, maybe I can convince to play outside with me rather than with pokemon.

So I do get the platitude--rock each night like there's a paying audience, not like anything less.

yes, but it suggests that dress rehearsal isn't important, which is not correct. Sure, it's not as important as a performance, but it's not nothing.

it's not as important as a performance

That's really all I take away from it.

In the nuclear business, you do a lot of emergency drills and spend a lot of time ending every communication with "This is a drill." This is why "This is a drill. If it were your real life, you would have been given better instructions." makes me laugh and laugh.

My (Midwestern) exposure to Judaism was working for a neighbor family when I was about 14, 15. They had a big extended family, and would hire me to help prepare and clean up after Seder dinners, but they invited me to share dinner with them, and it was neat.

My little sister took over the gig when I went to college, and was pretty close to them until they moved.

And my bf in high school was Irish Catholic, but really, everyone else was mostly some flavor of Baptist, Protestant or Lutheran. Mid-town Missouri in the 80's wasn't terribly diverse. Two Indian kids, maybe 5 kids of some type of Asian variation went to my high school of about 2500, and they were all 2nd gen American; no idea what faith they followed, and if there were any Muslim kids that went to my hs, I certainly didn't know. A couple of mid-sized temples in town, and a gracious plenty of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Since alcohol is my religion, I post the following (which J just suggested for before our next opera):

Bourbon and Branch Fall Menu

"William Won't Tell" by Jayson Wilde
Black Maple Hill, Smoked Apple Calvados Liqueur, Carpano, Benedictine

"The Golden State" by Darren Crawford
Sazerac Rye, Germain-Robin Craft Method Brandy, Pear Shrub, Lemon Juice, Egg White

"Cloak and Dagger" by Ryan Hazen
Bushmills Black Bush, Dolin Blanc, Maple Liqueur, Cinnamon Pear Gomme, Old Fashioned Bitters

"Plum Line" by Tony Devencenzi
Plum and Tarragon Infused Gin, Benedictine, Honey Syrup, Lemon Juice, Old Fashioned Bitters, Soda Water

"Lolita" by Ian Scalzo
La Gitana, Lemon Juice, Bartlett Pear and Mission Fig Syrup, Peychauds, Egg White

it's not as important as a performance

That's really all I take away from it.

Me, too. But, not an actor, so what do I know.

but it suggests that dress rehearsal isn't important, which is not correct.

Doesn't it mainly just imply that there isn't an afterlife? It's not that the dress rehearsal isn't important, it's that there isn't one. There's only the (metaphorical) performance. (Which is presumably one-night-only, though I suppose if you believe in infinite reincarnation it could be read differently.)