Got a few bucks?

*Okay, folks-blatant solicitation forthcoming. You are warned*

So, a friend emailed me about a local theatre company needing money. If you have been a long-time reader of my blog (from my myspace days), you may remember my mentioning Margaret Lewis, and my esteem for her work (go hit the link to your right for the myspace blog if you need a refresher). Margaret has written some fine plays for a company called Stage Left Theatre, and I have a lot of respect for these people and the work they do. And they are currently strapped for cash.

And yes, everyone is strapped. I get it. The animal shelters are popping at the seams with relinquished pets, friends are getting laid off, my Starbucks partners are having their labor hours cut, things are tough all over. It ain't easy to try and find money for the arts when you are worried about your mortgage, your retirement, the food on your plate and the plate under your food.

But the arts are important. Crucial, even, for in times of both prosperity and strain it is through these expressions that we relieve our stress, look inward for peace, outward for guidance, and find ways to connect to one another, recognizing both the uniqueness and commonality of the human experience. Is that worth a few bucks to you? Can you scrounge a bit together to help these artists? Even if each of you out there can spare just a little, than that's more than they had a few days ago. Together, it can make all the difference in the world, both to those needing to express something, and to the audience who needs to experience that expression.

And hey, some day I'm hoping to not have to work two jobs and go to school all at once, and I'll be writing more than just a blog twice a week, and if Stage Left isn't there for me to submit my scribble to, than I'm going to be up a creek. So, you see, I'm being a little selfish here in my solicitation. (Why don't you write in the "memo" line of your check that yours truly can turn a word or two, while you're at it?) :-)

Find information at www.stagelefttheatre.com

-C.

I wonder...

From the wall of A Taste of Heaven cafe/bakery:

"What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?"

Discuss.

-C.

Finding Your Self Online

Lately, I've been acutely aware of the fantabulousness of networking websites. Are you on Facebook? MySpace? Friendster? Do you blog at Wordpress? LiveJournal? Blogger? Hell, just do a Yahoo! search on someone & chances are you'll find a little tidbit about their life. Unless, of course, they have a stupid common name like Christopher Burgess, who still owes me money in addition to being impossible to Google effectively. (Are you reading this, Chris? Do you remember how much you owe me? Well, I do, I surely do, so why don't you do a little Swiffering of your karma here & send me a check already? It's never too late to repay a debt, you know?).

Anyway.

My point is, the vastness of the World Wide Web has made it possible for me to touch base with many, many people that I would not have had the chance to otherwise. From high school through college, to my early days in Chicago, to different jobs I've held, different circles I've navigated, there are a plethora of rekindled connections, all neatly bundled up with pictures and contact info and insights into the persons that they are now. And with each new email, friend request, message in the "inbox", I find myself getting back in touch, too, with the person I was when I knew them, way back when (but not so long ago to be forgotten).

Another blessing. Another line on my "grateful" list. It just keeps getting longer and longer.

-C.

More Randomness...

10 Random Things:

1. I do not use speed dial unless I programmed the phone myself. It's a leftover neuroses from my days as a telemarketer. I dial my own numbers, every time.

2. My first moment onstage was in a Christmas play at my church. I was in second grade. My brother played a teenager learning about the meaning of Christmas, my sister was an angel (who quoted from the New Testament), and I was one of a dozen caroling children. Neither of my siblings remember this, though our father does.

3. When I like a movie, I will get the DVD and watch it over and over and over again. For example, I saw BATMAN BEGINS in the theater 3 times, and nearly 20 times on DVD at home before I got sick of it. Same with TV shows.

4. I have no tattoos, and only one piercing in each ear. I do, however, still want to streak my hair bright blue. Right before I shave it off and go bald.

5. I have a phobia about hypodermic needles, and had to force myself to touch them the first year I worked in vet medicine. Every now & again, I still stop and get a little nauseous in the middle of a blood draw.

6. I can fall asleep just about anywhere. In every class from junior high through college, on several bus and train rides in the city, at the opera, in the middle of a good book, at my night job at Kinko's 10+ years ago. The amount of caffeine in my bloodstream has made no difference in this propensity. Trust me, I've tried.

7. Ice cream is my favorite sweet, and I will eat just about any flavor that doesn't have chocolate. If I crave chocolate, it is the ultra-dark, 85% cacao, high end stuff, and that I only eat by itself. Ice cream and chocolate don't mix for me.

8. As the child of a mixed-race couple, I am mind-boggled by people who feel at home with their own "kind". I have never felt that way and have no frame of reference for that mentality whatsoever.

9. I love classical opera, but not so much contemporary musicals, the symphony, or the ballet.

10. I still believe that I can have it all. Just not all at once.

-C.

Christmas Carding

I'm getting together my list of recips for my annual Christmas card list. Last year, my plans were somewhat thwarted by my zapping my computer in an attempt to upgrade its memory. (Yes, I can draw blood on multiple species, but cannot install simple computer cards without evoking lethal channels of static electricity. It is good to remember one's place in the world.)

Anyway, I'm hitting everyone up for current addresses, etc. Getting ready to type out a letter, which I no doubt will also post here when the time comes. What pictures to paste into the document, how to approach the narrative, who to send it to and in what manner, who gets what card out of the dollar store options I've brought home. It's always such a chore, getting it all together. But it is also so fun and uber-rewarding to sit down & take stock of all the people in this world who mean so much to me.

That includes you, by the way. I'm glad you show up at this blog.

-C.

Giving Thanks

What I am grateful for:

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Pets
4. Work
5. School
6. Fortitude
7. Clarity
8. Art
9. Sustenance
10. Hope

-C.

Memorial

Joe's memorial was Saturday. There was prayer & Bible readings, Scottish bagpipes & Irish songbirds. My sister compiled a wonderful montage of photos of Joe throughout his life & put together the music. A very kind pastor talked about the celebration of life.

Then we got to a part called "A Brother's Thoughts":

For the past few weeks, I have been trying to get my thoughts together enough to make an acceptable memorial service for my big brother. Let me start by first giving my thanks to all of you present here for this service. I want to express my appreciation to Pastor Greg Ralston for his kind words and support to our entire family. I also want to express my gratitude for the support of my wife Tokuko, my daughter Regina, my son-in-law Sherman, my granddaughter Caitlin, my daughter Colleen, and the rest of our family. They provided the highest degree of what "family" truly means, both to me and my brothers' children. Thank you.

Most of the people here knew my brother as George---not me. He has been and forever will be known to me and my family as "Joe". Joe was born Nov 4, 1931, the first-born of the family. He had it pretty good for the first 6 years, than our sister Mary Jean came along. Then 2 years later, his life changed forever!! The "baby" of the family, his little brother, was born. THAT'S ME!! No more going out to play with his friends----he had to watch "the baby", or else take "the baby" with him!

Joe was a story-teller and I know many of you have heard a lot of stories about him and me. No one could tell a tale like him. Believe me, they were all true! Most of the stories ended with him getting a spanking from Mom, because in Mom's eyes, the "baby" could do no wrong! (THAT'S ME AGAIN!)

We had what I would call a special brother to brother relationship. We were there for each other on many different occasions. Even though I was gone from New York, spending 20 years in the Navy before settling here in the Springs, we knew we could count on each other for whatever assistance was needed. As an example, my wife became pregnant with our first child in Dec 1965. Since I was deploying to Vietnam for an unspecified time, I called Joe in New York and asked if he could care for her while I was gone. Understand, my wife was from Japan and they had not met yet. Without hesitation, Joe said "Of course I'll take care of her. That's what brothers are for." I took my wife to New York, introduced her to her brother-in-law and left. I returned to New York in Oct 1966 and met my 2-month son for the first time. "That's what brothers are for".

In 1998, Joe called me. He had entered into a disastrous second marriage and he found himself alone, saddened and just about to give up on life itself. He said "Tommy, I need you." I immediately went to New York. We talked for 3 or 4 days...that's all we did was talk. I convinced him he should relocate to Colorado Springs, where he could live with me and my wife and our family. He agreed, and in May 1999, he became a member of our household. After all, "That's what brothers are for."

For the past 9 1/2 years, we were together almost every day. Joe got involved in meeting some fantastic people here and truly enjoyed his new life (except he continued to rout for the Buffalo Bills and not the Broncos!)

As much as I truly believe that Joe is in a better place, with his beloved wife Regina, our Mother and Sister, I still am feeling a deep loss. Joe was my hero when I was growing up, and although his passing was rapid, he showed an uncommon sense of pride, dignity and class.

"Big brother, thank you for who you were. I love you and miss you. We'll be together one day. Put the coffee pot on."

-C.

The Crime of Surviving

I just read a very depressing article in The New Yorker about a 90-year-old woman who tried to kill herself when her home was foreclosed upon. I'm filing it away with a depressing article in Harper's from 2 years ago about a woman in her 80s who had to glue her own dentures together because Medicare doesn't cover the replacing of dentures even though she cannot eat solid food without them. And another one that I saved but couldn't finish reading (from the Chicago Tribune) on elder abuse in nursing homes.

These people were not deadbeats. They were hardworking people who lived good lives, raised good kids, paid their bills, and expected better from the systems that they contributed to for years. What is wrong with us? Why does the richest nation in the world take such shoddy care of its elders? Forget talking about the economic downturn; these problems have been here for decades, and it is reprehensible. Why do we punish our own people when they have the audacity to survive?

And what exactly can I do in light of all of this? I'll have to get back to you on that.

-C.