The fifth anniversary of Katrina came and went. I didn't post anything. It's not because I wasn't thinking about it. I woke up that morning and put on my fleur de lis necklace and earrings, as small tokens of my heavy heart.
It's odd not to be there. I haven't been watching news coverage. I haven't even watched the Spike Lee movie on HBO, although I am debating recording it. I'm not sure I have the heart to watch it right now.
It has been five years. It is no longer the only conversation in town. It shouldn't be. But it is so much a part of the fabric of the city. Lives were changed. When a community struggles though something like that... it changes you. Forever. It's good to stop and recognize that.
Nearly every New Orleans musician has written a song about Katrina. You really should check out the CD Feeder Bands on the Run for a small taste. Here is one of my favorites...I actually wrote about it in 2008, but this video wasn't made until last year:
Past Katrina Anniversary posts:
2009: Remember
2008: Flashback 3 Years - Hurricane Katrina an edited (but still quite long) rundown of all the e-mails I sent to family and friends during our evacuation from Katrina
2007: I Know What it Means to Love New Orleans a love letter to New Orleans, complete with pictures
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
my 2009
I did this last year, and decided to do it again.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Taught a drama class with my daughter in it.
Was thrown over someone else's head on stage. In front of a live audience. And we all lived to tell about it.
Lost 20 pounds without giving birth to another being.
Adopted a kitten.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made no resolutions last January, although this summer I decided to buckle down and stop whining (to myself, I never really did it outloud much) about my weight and lose some... and I lost over 20 pounds. I'm immensely proud of myself. I've also managed to stay at this weight through the holidays, which is no small feat (she says, as she takes another swig of mimosa...) Now that I've lost the weight I'd really like to exercise more to tone up... but I dare not think of that as a new year's resolution or it will never happen.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Oh yes. My best friend from college gave birth to twins, and a dear friend from days in LA gave birth, after many years of hoping and praying and medical help, to a beautiful baby boy, for whom I will be a godmother.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not in 2009, knock on wood.
5. Where did you travel?
Cabo. Michigan. The mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Orlando for Disney.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More organization and less clutter. (oh my, even I can't help laughing at that one...)
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 21st. The inauguration. This year has not been all I'd hoped it would be, and President Obama has not done everything that I had hoped he would, and yet I still believe that we are heading in a better direction than we were, and that we would be if a different president were in office.
There are moments, too, that don't need a specific date, but that are dear to me. Like the sound of my daughter's laughter the first time she saw me on stage.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing over 20 pounds. Yippee!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Oy. I am going to keep this one to myself.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
I have to agree with Aunt Becky, and say my iPhone. How did I live before I could check my e-mail from ANYWHERE, and answer just about any question with a visit to google? That Lose It! app came in pretty handy, too. I also have this fabulous scarf that I get complimented on every time I wear it. Oh. And skinny jeans. Because I CAN.
11. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I'm going to have to go with Single Ladies by Beyonce. From the cast of Beast learning the moves backstage to my terrible rendition at a Mardi Gras parade to the football team on glee dancing on the field, Single Ladies seemed to keep reappearing in 2009. 10 years from now when I hear the song I will think of these things, and this year.
12. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Scrapbooking. I'm now over a year behind.
13. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Snapping at my child.
14. What was your favorite TV program?
glee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I love it. Can you tell? oh please, please, please don't cancel this show!)
15. What was your favorite movie?
probably Julie and Julia
16. What was the best book you read?
I really should keep a list of what I read, because I can never seem to think of what I've read, let alone what was the best. Maybe The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver.
17. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
The answer I gave last year still holds true, unfortunately: Close friends nearby. I have lots of friendly acquaintances, but not a close friend nearby, and I really feel that hole. I keep wanting to cultivate it, but it just never seems to happen.
18. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Concept? How about... trying not to look too old but at the same time trying not to look like I'm trying to look like a teenager.
19. What kept you sane?
Diet Cherry Coke.
20. Who did you miss?
Again last year's answer: Way too long of a list... I have too many friends and family that are scattered about.
21. Who was the best new person you met?
It's so hard to answer this one, since I meet so many great people working on shows. If I have to whittle it down, I might go with my director for Proof. He was a wonderful director, one of the best I've worked with, which was such a pleasant surprise at this small suburban theatre. He has continued to be very supportive of my work, and I hope to have the chance to work with him again.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Taught a drama class with my daughter in it.
Was thrown over someone else's head on stage. In front of a live audience. And we all lived to tell about it.
Lost 20 pounds without giving birth to another being.
Adopted a kitten.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made no resolutions last January, although this summer I decided to buckle down and stop whining (to myself, I never really did it outloud much) about my weight and lose some... and I lost over 20 pounds. I'm immensely proud of myself. I've also managed to stay at this weight through the holidays, which is no small feat (she says, as she takes another swig of mimosa...) Now that I've lost the weight I'd really like to exercise more to tone up... but I dare not think of that as a new year's resolution or it will never happen.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Oh yes. My best friend from college gave birth to twins, and a dear friend from days in LA gave birth, after many years of hoping and praying and medical help, to a beautiful baby boy, for whom I will be a godmother.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not in 2009, knock on wood.
5. Where did you travel?
Cabo. Michigan. The mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Orlando for Disney.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More organization and less clutter. (oh my, even I can't help laughing at that one...)
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 21st. The inauguration. This year has not been all I'd hoped it would be, and President Obama has not done everything that I had hoped he would, and yet I still believe that we are heading in a better direction than we were, and that we would be if a different president were in office.
There are moments, too, that don't need a specific date, but that are dear to me. Like the sound of my daughter's laughter the first time she saw me on stage.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing over 20 pounds. Yippee!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Oy. I am going to keep this one to myself.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
I have to agree with Aunt Becky, and say my iPhone. How did I live before I could check my e-mail from ANYWHERE, and answer just about any question with a visit to google? That Lose It! app came in pretty handy, too. I also have this fabulous scarf that I get complimented on every time I wear it. Oh. And skinny jeans. Because I CAN.
11. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I'm going to have to go with Single Ladies by Beyonce. From the cast of Beast learning the moves backstage to my terrible rendition at a Mardi Gras parade to the football team on glee dancing on the field, Single Ladies seemed to keep reappearing in 2009. 10 years from now when I hear the song I will think of these things, and this year.
12. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Scrapbooking. I'm now over a year behind.
13. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Snapping at my child.
14. What was your favorite TV program?
glee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I love it. Can you tell? oh please, please, please don't cancel this show!)
15. What was your favorite movie?
probably Julie and Julia
16. What was the best book you read?
I really should keep a list of what I read, because I can never seem to think of what I've read, let alone what was the best. Maybe The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver.
17. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
The answer I gave last year still holds true, unfortunately: Close friends nearby. I have lots of friendly acquaintances, but not a close friend nearby, and I really feel that hole. I keep wanting to cultivate it, but it just never seems to happen.
18. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Concept? How about... trying not to look too old but at the same time trying not to look like I'm trying to look like a teenager.
19. What kept you sane?
Diet Cherry Coke.
20. Who did you miss?
Again last year's answer: Way too long of a list... I have too many friends and family that are scattered about.
21. Who was the best new person you met?
It's so hard to answer this one, since I meet so many great people working on shows. If I have to whittle it down, I might go with my director for Proof. He was a wonderful director, one of the best I've worked with, which was such a pleasant surprise at this small suburban theatre. He has continued to be very supportive of my work, and I hope to have the chance to work with him again.
22. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2009.
I can turn down offered parts, and other stuff will still come along. (The jury is still out on whether that theatre will ever cast me again or not, though)
_____________________
Your Monday Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a performance review (inspired by Heather at In Te Domine's clever Year End Self Evaluation (hint: feel free to steal her format. She's given us permission!). See you then!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
"Friends are friends forever:"Daily Gratitude 24
I'm grateful for a day spent with my oldest friend. I'm grateful for our 22 years of friendship, and the freshmen cheerleading squad that brought us together.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Cats and parents: Daily Gratitude 1
Every November I look on in horror as bloggers all around me sign on for this whole posting every day craziness that is NaBloPoMo. Because every year I seem to be up to my neck in rehearsals and/or performances for something and I know my reader is about to explode.
This year is no exception.
And so it is that I cannot believe that I've just felt the urge to TRY.... to TRY to do it myself.
The first 15 days of November promise to be insane. Insane.
But for that very reason it seems to me that it might be a good discipline to post something that I am grateful for every day. Even if it's just a few words. So I'm gonna give it a shot. For me.
Ack.
Today I'm feeling very grateful for parents who took me to plays as a child. This afternoon I took The May Queen to see Cats... it's the triumphant return of Broadway touring shows to NOLA after Katrina wiped out all our big theatres. I first saw Cats when I was 11 or 12. I remember my mother reading us the T.S. Eliot poems the show is based on from a library book as we drove to the theatre. I remember the thrill of intricate set (the May Queen and I peered at it through binoculars and challenged each other to find certain details - "do you see the paintbrush?" - before the show), the incredible dancing, the cat that prowled so near to us in aisle. When the lights dimmed and the orchestra began today I felt that same rush I felt as a child.
I watch any show now with different eyes... trained eyes, experienced eyes. I look for what works and what doesn't... and why. But there's no denying that inside... my heart was leaping and spinning, just like the dancers on that stage. Just like it did when I first saw it. BECAUSE it did when I first saw it.
Because I had parents who took me to see it.
(and I am grateful that I have until tomorrow to come up with a Monday Mission... because even though I usually get the ball rolling on Sunday night... I am coming up dry at the moment)
This year is no exception.
And so it is that I cannot believe that I've just felt the urge to TRY.... to TRY to do it myself.
The first 15 days of November promise to be insane. Insane.
But for that very reason it seems to me that it might be a good discipline to post something that I am grateful for every day. Even if it's just a few words. So I'm gonna give it a shot. For me.
Ack.
Today I'm feeling very grateful for parents who took me to plays as a child. This afternoon I took The May Queen to see Cats... it's the triumphant return of Broadway touring shows to NOLA after Katrina wiped out all our big theatres. I first saw Cats when I was 11 or 12. I remember my mother reading us the T.S. Eliot poems the show is based on from a library book as we drove to the theatre. I remember the thrill of intricate set (the May Queen and I peered at it through binoculars and challenged each other to find certain details - "do you see the paintbrush?" - before the show), the incredible dancing, the cat that prowled so near to us in aisle. When the lights dimmed and the orchestra began today I felt that same rush I felt as a child.
I watch any show now with different eyes... trained eyes, experienced eyes. I look for what works and what doesn't... and why. But there's no denying that inside... my heart was leaping and spinning, just like the dancers on that stage. Just like it did when I first saw it. BECAUSE it did when I first saw it.
Because I had parents who took me to see it.
(and I am grateful that I have until tomorrow to come up with a Monday Mission... because even though I usually get the ball rolling on Sunday night... I am coming up dry at the moment)
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