<a href="http://www.aledo.k12.tx.us/hstheaterarts/theatre%20home%20page.htm" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4375" title="drama_masks" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/drama_masks-300x260.gif" alt="" width="300" height="260" /></a>I have never watched <em>American Idol</em>.

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I know, I know.  What kind of American am I?  And I'm a <em>singer</em>, no less!  Shameful!

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Of course, the American Idol celebrities are so thoroughly ingrained in our culture, that I obviously know who they are.  I don't live under a rock.

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So...I believe that JLo is the new Paula, correct?  In my mind, the iconic female judge will always be Paula.

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Poor Paula.

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Anywho, I was invited to judge drama events for a high school Speech and Debate tournament on Saturday.  I thought it would be great fun to be Paula for a day.  Although technically, this was drama, not singing, but who cares about details?

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Talk about a step back in time.  Back in high school, I was a drama dork and lived in the theatre.  I don't think I ever attended a Speech and Debate tourney.  That was reserved for the Speech kids.  (Lorie &amp; sis, help me out here.  You know that my memory is spotty.)

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The pressure was on for Day 160 because this was a qualifying tournament for Nationals.  Yikes!  Good thing that I have a degree in Theatre and a background as a drama teacher.

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I judged two events:  <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duo_Interpretation" target="_blank">Duo Interpretation</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorous_Interpretation" target="_blank">Humorous Interpretation</a>. </strong>

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The kids were absolutely amazing.  I really wanted to expand my role as Paula and gush over them.  Perhaps even get choked up and shed a tear.

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But interaction was prohibited.  So I kept my mouth shut and ranked the kids.

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Which nearly killed me.  In my former life, I was trained in the Montessor philosophy, so I'm all about process, process, process.  I don't want to grade kids.  I don't want to rank them.  I don't want anyone to be left out.  They are all stars in my eyes for bravely getting up there and putting their hearts and souls on the line.

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But I had no choice.  I ranked.  And gushed on the inside.

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And wondered what the heck the other judges were judging when I heard the outcome the next day.

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Too bad the judges couldn't confer while we were together.  A Paula &amp; Simon-esque brawl would have been even greater fun.

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I ended my day feeling grateful for a nostalgic and rewarding experience.

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What were you passionate about as a teen?  Is there some way you can reach out to a child or a teen who shares that passion?