For good

Our family has been to many graduation ceremonies this spring, as you know---each had its own flair and interesting moments. At my daughter Emily's graduation, this morning, the choir sang the song "For Good" from the musical "Wicked". As I'm certain you know by now, the story is a twist on the Wizard of Oz. It's kind of a "prequel", actually, telling the back story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her unlikely friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The story gives a fresh perspective on what shaped Elphaba's choices and how she became misunderstood and reviled.

The music is amazing and moves the story along beautifully. Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist known for "Godspell", among other Broadway hits, wrote the score. In "For Good", Elphaba and Glinda celebrate the impact each has made on the other. The song resonated with us this morning, as we all (parents, teachers, siblings, students) stopped to recognize that our relationships had changed us "for good."