December: the good kind of chaos

We saw a thought provoking play Sunday last, I’m still trying to understand the impact it had on me. We talked about it all through dinner and all the way home, and still we’re left with questions.
That’s the power of the arts!
Aren’t we blessed to live in a world in which we experience the arts in so many fashions!?!
The play is an old one, but re-staged in the last twenty or so years. It reads timeless and current at the same moment. And the comment on society is as applicable now as it was then, especially in this country where the divide between the haves and have-nots continues to grow.
Every word we speak or write, every action we take or choose not to take has a ripple effect. Goes out from us into the world around us. Creates an impact. Most of us are immune to that awareness.
None of us should be.
An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley at Shakespeare Theatre Company
It will sit with me for a while.

Last week at school started at about 68% and ended Friday at 80% Lord of the Flies mode. The kids, faculty, and staff are all waiting for the ‘Man with the Bag’ so we can have a little break.
Nine more days.
We can do anything for nine days, right?

This Friday night, YBW and I went to the Lincoln Theatre for a conversation with Bob Woodward. Kojo Nnamdi moderated questions from the audience, with many of his own.

(excuse the pic quality, I broke my phone’s camera lens recently…Santa’s going to bring me a new one!)

Mr Woodward discussed his most recent publication, as well as sharing stories of George H W Bush, Gerald Ford, Mark Felt, and his time during Watergate. He spoke with a frankness, elegance, and sharp sense of humor.
Bob Woodward is one of my life-long ‘folk heroes’.
After all Watergate, Katharine Graham wrote him a letter, in which she wrote, “Beware the demon of pomposity.” He shared with us that he took her words to heart. Her words helped guide him through his career. One he’s spent just doing his job, reporting and writing the information he continues to work hard to collect.
One thing he said that struck me was we need to learn the value of silence. To sit in the uncomfortable silence is the only way to learn what others have to say.
It’s interesting, I’ve been practicing that skill over the last couple of years and it really does work! It’s changed the way I communicate with my daughters.

Saturday night, my darling friend Beccca and I went to The Strathmore to the All These Poses Tour.

(It’s signed!! and please hear that in an excited sing-songy sort of voice)

Rufus Wainwright is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his career with a show dedicated to his first two albums. Poses, his second album, is one of my favorite records.
The Strathmore is a wonderful venue, not a bad seat in the house, and has excellent acoustics!
Rufus was sublime!

YBW just came home from our winery. We chatted up folks in the barrel barn, drank some wine, and enjoyed a lunch of ham biscuits and brunswick stew. A lovely way to spend this cold and dreary Sunday afternoon.

While I’m enjoying the fullness of my calendar, I’m beginning to become concerned that I need some quiet time to do homework and wrap pressies!
And rest more.
This evening my plan is to be firmly planted on the floor, Christmas movies on the TV, wrapping gifts. What will most likely happen is I’ll lie on the sofa curled up under a blankie binge watching Mrs Maisel.
Y’all wanna take bets?

However overwhelmed I’m feeling (just a smitch), nothing can contain my joy at this season of Advent!
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Yall!
It’s snowing outside!
I’m putting my jammies on inside out, and flushing ice cubes straight away! This little Robynbird wants a snow day! I could get loads of wrapping done if I didn’t have to go to school!