that musical everyone loves.

I have this knee jerk reaction to anything that is overly popular.

I don’t like it.

Sometimes before I even give it a chance, I’ll just automatically have a distaste for the popular thing.

It’s how I felt about Hamilton – ages ago when my kids came home singing the songs because their friend had told them about this musical.

I didn’t care.

Too popular. Too everyone loves it.

Pass.

And then along came good old Disney Plus with its free streaming service.

And THEN along came good old free Hamilton on my screen.

(My new TV screen – did I tell you the kids saved their own monies collectively for probably almost two years to buy a bigger and better television than the one I purchased with my monies?)

Anyway. The Disney Plus announced Hamilton was going to be free and all, in my living room.

And then we took a forty plus hour road trip to Colorado and back and pretty much the only music every single person in the car agreed upon at the exact same time was the Hamilton soundtrack.

So – I’m in a car, listening to the soundtrack all the way through (multiple times, mind you), and I’m kind of loving it.

It’s witty, it’s clever, it’s beautiful.

And so that’s what led me to say yes to watching Hamilton on July Fourth.

In my living room, in the middle of the day, watching this stunning musical – goose bumps, tears.

YOU. GUYS.

I don’t care how popular it is. I don’t care if you think I’m a bandwagon kind of person. (Well, I care a little. But I’ll get over it.) I don’t care if the entire world loves it too.

It’s worth all that love.

I’ve watched it two times in about three days and that is not something I do.

I will watch it again.

Next time, I’m adding in subtitles so I can read all those fast and expertly written lyrics.

I now join the world (apparently) in my adoration of Lin-Manuel Miranda. He’s won a lot of awards. And that’s exactly as it should be. Also – he’s forty but was born in 1980 and somehow, I just can’t reconcile a person being born in the 80s AND being forty years old.

But whatever. I love him.

I also will join a fan group for the men who played Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson.

I’m literally beginning a special savings account to watch Hamilton in real life whenever that becomes a possibility again. I’m prepared to mourn for the fact that I cannot see these original actors in these roles.

I mean – every single last one of them – incredible incredible incredible. The actress playing Angelica Schuyler? Goodness gracious she’s talented. And King George? One of the highlights for sure. And the expression of sorrow on Hamilton’s face when he is asking for forgiveness from his wife? Heart. Wrenching. The rewind scene? Stage magic at its finest.

I know I’m just joining a chorus that’s been singing the praises of this stellar musical. I know I’m late to the game. I know I have only ever seen this performance on a TV screen.

But I’m a fan. Diehard and in awe.

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