And now the time has come. That common life moment. Some dread it, others relish it, and still others scoff at it. I tend to embrace all three of these reactions. But, in all honesty I believe it is an essential life moment that all of us should welcome. And since I have space times infinity on the internet, I decided to share it. . .lucky you.
It is that time honored moment of nostalgia--a reflection of the past year. . .doing so creates laughter, sadness, and lots of "oh yeah, that did happen this year!" Feel free to discontinue reading at this point. . .but I will continue writing, and I look forward to seeing what comes out. . .and what my year was made of. . . .
The year started simply--in Boston, drinking tea and wine with Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman and Sxip Shirey. Performing as the carnival barker for the Jane Austen Argument at the Boston Pops, and listening to my lovely friend Tom Dickins play his heart out on the piano in the enchanting attic of the cloud club. The days following this extraordinary moment were filled with walking in wintry streets, on frozen ponds, and inside a world globe. . .drinking coffee at the Cafe Pamplona and catching up with an old friend.
And it only got better from there. . .
I went back home, jobless, and started working at my favorite greek restaurant. . .where I found new friends, and indulged in delicious food. . .in my spare time I went up to New York and gallivanted around the city as well as intensively worked with Patsy Rodenberg, who taught me everything there is to know about my breath and how it affects every facet of my being and performance. She taught me a lot about Shakespeare too.
I also rediscovered Greenville, and it's sweet spots. Enjoyed many concerts, including Drive-by Truckers (twice), Lucero, Ingrid Michelson, and a variety of local Greenvillians strutting their talents on the teeny tiny stage of Smileys Acoustic Cafe and the rather large stage at The Handlebar--my two favorite bars.
I then packed up and moved to Daegu, South Korea, not really knowing why I should go, but knowing it was an important move. Life certainly continued to delight me, especially as it kicked into high gear during the staggeringly hot summer months. I was privy to some of the best moments life has to offer. These moments included (but are not limited to) hiking to buddhist temples, swimming in my clothes in a rather filthy lake during (what I think) was a music festival, wandering to strangers homes at wee hours, getting excessively drunk with some of the loveliest Koreans in the world, watching/hearing Steve Leaf mellifluously perform at Communes, and enjoying the culinary artistry of Kayla F. Warrens. All the while, teaching English to very precocious and adorable Korean children.
And in the midst of all this gratifying chaos. . .theatre remained with me. I managed to create a theatre program--complete with an original script--for my hangwan. I also performed with the Daegu Theatre Troupe, which involved a variety of loud rehearsals as well as late night rehearsals on the schoolyard steps.
As summer waned and fall approached life became considerably calmer. I began to focus on running and writing. I found a pen pal in the lovely Bridget Farr, a fellow actor, and surprisingly reconnected and mended two failing but precious friendships. And I swam with sharks--literally.
I also welcomed a beautiful new nephew--Joseph Sadat--into the world. Talking to my sister who was surprisingly calm while in labor was definitely a highlight of the year.
I read a few books (not as many as I should've), read some plays, saw some plays, saw a few movies, and was introduced to a lot of good music.
As I reflect on these moments, many more come to light. . .but so does the thought that I find myself once again away from my family during the holidays. My life choices do this to me. However, I can't help to think how grateful I am for every one of the above mentioned moments as well as the ones in between them.
In the days leading up to the holidays, this fear of physical pain rises in me. How will I physically survive not hugging my mother, cooking with my sisters, and laughing with my entire family? And every year, I am delighted to discover that there is no physical pain, there is only the mingling of traditions and people, which results in a charming splendor that I've secretly begun to relish. My Christmas Eve was raucously splendiferous and my Christmas Day was blissfully calm--both full of good people and my favorite holiday movie--A Muppet Christmas Carol.
Of course, technology helps all of this. . . .It worked diligently to connect me with the people who make my life great.
All in all. . .Life is good. (an aside: Why did some company find it necessary to market, mass produce, and profit off this simple saying? Now whenever I say/write it, I feel superficial and trendy.) Life is very good. (there I feel a little better)
In the coming year, I will once again set no resolutions, but hope for and work towards many wonderful things. There are a few artistic endeavors on the horizon that make my heart all a flutter when I think of the possibilities.
I must leave you with the list. . .
The List:
Top 5 Books (I may have only read 5)
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larson
Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
(developed a slight obsession with Murakami this year)
Top 4 plays
Aliens - Annie Baker
The Vibrator Play - Sarah Ruhl
Cymbeline - Shakespeare (re-read, so fun)
The Train Driver - Athol Fugard
Top 5 Movies
Inception
Iron Man 2
Resident Evil 3D (more for the laughter involved)
Shutter Island
Harry Potter
Top 5 Albums (not sure if they all came out this year or not--just what I found myself listening to. . .and can I just say, this is extremely difficult, and ever changing. . .)
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
This is It - The Strokes
Jonsi - Go do
Daisy May Erlewine - Mother Moon
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
(and so many more. . .so many more.)
And of course a quote. . .
"Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: I'm with you kid. Let's go." --Maya Angelou
And you get a poem. . .
once a snowflake fell
on my brow and I loved
it so much that I kissed
it and it was happy and called its cousins
and brothers and a web
of snow engulfed me then
i reached to love them all
and I squeezed them and they became
a spring rain and i stood perfectly
still and was a flower
---Giovanni
Now furry friends. . .you should reflect on your year--at least your Top 5 lists--and share them with me.
ps. . .I think I will start adding pictures to blogs. . .but I have to do some figuring out/cleaning up on this silly computer.
