Gratitude and Longing Thanksgiving 2019

Gratitude and Longing

I wrote this a while back. But my thoughts and feelings remain the same.  I wish all of my family and friends, all of the world, reasons for gratitude and thanksgiving. 

As Thanksgiving approaches we live in a world with much outrageous violence, evil, discrimination, lack of attention to the need for healing our society, our endless affront to our Earth.

 And yet, and yet… I still have tremendous gratitude. Here is why: 

• Seeing how concerned all of my family and friends are about the world and each other. We don’t always agree, but we always care.  That is life and hope affirming.  
• I witness so much love on a daily basis. (The movie Love Actually resonates for me).  
• There is a wondrous resilience of the human spirit. I know Holocaust survivors, recall the wisdom from my parents and grandparents, who had been in: wars, pogroms, the Depression, and suffered unspeakable losses. I see that same resilience in people living and dying with cancer, with Parkinson’s, strokes, M.S., and so many more tribulations. 
• I read and listen to the efforts of Gabby Gifford, Malala Yousafzai, Elie Weisel (of blessed memory) and I believe there is great ability to transcend. Because they have all experienced some of the worst humans can do to one another: they offer us the best humans can give. 

To all of you, my friends and family, I send a wish for a Thanksgiving filled with  love, laughter, good food, and gratitude. And I long for a day when peace, justice and love will be a reality for all.

Grandma, When Do You Think World War III will Start

Six years ago: My granddaughter, Sophie, 11 and I were in the car having a conversation about Downton Abbey. "They're in World War I now", she said of the British T.V. series.Her insights and interests are extensive, from Shakespeare to politics. I take her thoughts seriously and responded not to reassure her alone, but myself as well. "Oh, Honey, I hope never." "Oh come on Grandma, you know how people are!" I do indeed. I was driving and needed to focus on getting us home safely, so I repressed my all too at the ready imagination about the possibilities of a World War with nuclear weaponry. I repressed my memories of hiding under school desks as a child, believing that I'd be safe the way I believed I'd ever see my family again; never! Night terrors about walking home in a devastated landscape without a single recognizable landmark haunted me. Airplanes overhead sometimes made my heart race thinking it might be the "Russians". They were an enemy then. This morning we had an achingly beautiful sunrise, good coffee, and I am happy to have a family I love, a beautiful place to live, good food, and to know people who feel the way I do and try to make a world of peace and justice. But when I look at how many wars are raging, how many cruel decisions are made in our own country, let alone everywhere else, when I hear about yet another heinous act of terrorism, I have to admit, yes, my darling, all too wise. granddaughter, I know how people are. Some of us are good, they are our hope, and some......

Updated Nov 13, 2017, 9:08 PM

Nov 13, 2017, 9:08 PM

A SUITCASE WITH A HISTORY, THE GEL BOMBER AND 5 SECONDS OF FAME (originally a note on Facebook)

I own the Riley and Briggs man's suitcase. The maiden voyage for that piece was when we landed at Heathrow 2006 all planes just landing were delayed on the tarmac. Security/intelligence had just intercepted the gel bombers, but not all of them. Naturally every plane in that airport and across Europe was grounded, and thousands of pieces of luggage went missing. When we finally got to the carousel to pick up our bags, Paul got his. We had our carry ons and I had some extra underwear and light weight clothing, just in case...Good thing. Going around on that carousel was a filthy older version of mine. The name tag was a guy named Borenstein. I knew he'd grabbed mine and hightailed out of that airport. I hope he found my size 51/2 shoes comfortable, but all I had were some sandals. 

And it was a nightmare finding a place to stay. London lodgings were totally booked. There was a booking desk with long lines; I told the agent to book us somewhere in Richmond Upon Thames, site of Turner's famous paintings of Richmond Hill and Hampton Palace. In 1989 I'd taken students on a tour where they studied theater at Richmond college and we took the tube into London every night for theater. I figured we might as well act as if we were already on vacation and be somewhere pleasurable. I also was an ignoramus thinking our travel insurance would cover that amazing hotel on Richmond Hill, which it did not. We were delayed because of terrorism. Not covered by travel insurance. 

After going through the hell of having to search in a hall the size of Portland, where luggage was stacked top to bottom in a three story high pile on each wall, I kind of knew, no luck. So we waited in a very long line for taxi. I turned to Paul and said: Let's phone our insurance agent. Tap tap tap on my shoulder. I turned to see a very nice woman who introduced herself: "Hi I am Debra Amos with NPR; do you mind if I interview you?" We of course are such NPR geeks, you would think we'd met a Hollywood star, or a rock star. ( I almost never recognize them when I do; like the time I sat next to U2 in another airport delay; but that's another story. Or the time on Santorini when I heard someone talking about Portland, in a small food market, and asked that handsome Ice Cube if he was from there, not recognizing him). Back to Debra, she finished interviewing us and said: "You are going to be on All Things Considered tonight. The one thing either Paul or I said that was aired: Me, "And as soon as we get to our hotel, I am going to get a cocktail." My 5 seconds of fame. 

That was an awesome martini! I visited with some very down-to- earth appearing Brits, who chatted with me about Dodi Fayed and Princess Di, who were in the yacht next to theirs on Sardegna, and how nice Camilla really is. And I thought: Oh , how much is this place going to cost us! But we did enjoy our time in Richmond. At Gatwick, I purchase a rhinestone -studded one-piece bathing suit (I don’t do bikinis and that’s all they sell in Italy; I don’t do rhinestones either, but that was the only one piece in my size). I couldn’t find shoes for walking. All I had were flip flops and a pair of sandals, which were fine at our beach villa on Sardegna, but not so good for hikes, or walking cobblestones. Near the end of our trip we took a train to Trieste. That’s where I found size 51/2 Pumas to walk about in. I still own them. I got my luggage when we returned home a month later, delivered to the wrong address one block away. I am still traveling with the same piece of luggage.

Updated Aug 31, 2019, 9:11 AM

May 30, 2016, 2:20 PM

CLOSING NIGHT AT THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2019

As Paul and I walked into the Bowmer theater on the last night of the 2019 season, we were still savoring the profound meaningful productions we had seen this past week. How to Catch Creation, written by Christina Anderson, and marvelously directed by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s new Artistic Director Nataki Garrett, was still something we were processing. It was a bittersweet night because it was the last night of a fabulous season, so we were glad the play would be fun and a bit goofy.

It was that but then also, soooooo meaningful. Here’s why:

The Bowmer was full. A woman who worked at the counter in the Member Lounge at the OSF Festival sat next to us. “This is the fifth time I’ve seen this production,” she said. I asked if she attended other of the repertory shows more than once. “Oh yes, but this is my favorite.” The House was buzzing with excitement, people who work for the Festival  were greeting each other, the lights were up full when a cheer arose and became a roar. The Director of Hairspray, Christopher Liam Moore walked in and took his seat in the center of the House.  We were all on our feet giving a standing ovation, BEFORE the show.The applause continued and a spotlight focused on him. Finally he stood and acknowledged the crowd with a bow of his head and wave to each side of the theater. 

Another roar from the crowd: Christopher’s husband walked in, former OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch entered to join Christopher and now we were again on our feet applauding and with tears on our cheeks. We’d loved the superb theater experiences and the vision of Bill, along with his and Christopher’s superb directing of so many plays. We’d miss them. The Musical Director and keyboardist,_____, received cheers and applause. Then our tears were to continue along with standing ovations prior to the show.

Actors Eddie Lopez (Corny Collins)& Safiya Fredericks (Estelle/Dynamites), came down front stage center and each took turns speaking:

They spoke of the death of Congressman Elijah Cummings on the preceding week. They mentioned that he was from Baltimore, the locale of the play. They spoke of how at age 11, Rep. Cummings took action to integrate the public swimming pool in Baltimore; how Cummings was severely beaten by racists, how he still had that facial scar at his death. They announced that that evening’s production of Hairspray! was being performed in honor of Cummings. The entire audience rose and gave a thunderous standing ovation to the memory of Representative Cummings, many of us with free-flowing tears. 

The theme of Hairspray! is based in the civil rights movement of the early 60’s. Trudy, the lead female is overweight, so fat shaming was also addressed in the script. The mother is always played by a male actor in drag; and the differences of all sorts were beautifully integrated into this production. The inclusiveness of the OSF production brought actors of different abilities; Cerebral palsy and Down’s Syndrome among them. 

So this “light-hearted” musical replete with Motormouth Maybelle’s (actor Greta Oglesbe) solo, sung as a powerful spiritual, encouraging people to march for justice and integration on the “Corny Collins” teen dance t.v. show, moved the entire house to it’s feet: yet  another standing ovation.  The play was profoundly meaningful, gorgeously sung, danced acted and directed.  Thanks to the entire Production team, singers, actors, costumers and crew, along with authors of the book for continuing the belief and hope that we can, YES WE CAN make a difference.