Why was Mom not there for the big show, you wonder?  When buying tickets to see this dance extravaganza back in May, Hubby didn't know whether or not he would be in town to see the recital.  Seeing that the tickets were $15 apiece, and Birdie's dance was all of two minutes long (and that's being generous), I couldn't bring myself to buy a third ticket, not knowing if we would use it.  So I bought only two-- one for Princess and one for the lucky grown-up that got to accompany her.  By now you've guessed that wasn't me.  The reason Daddy went instead of Mommy was simple:  I had seen the dress rehearsal the weekend before.  It only made sense that Dad should go to the live show and watch his little girl perform.

Boy, did Dad get screwed.