The Aftermath of a Hurricane

While the rest of New York City is going stir crazy waiting indoors for Irene, I've been enjoying the quiet time and the chance to bid Manhattan an almost reverent farewell. Commenting on my recent attempts to do and see everything before I left, a friend said, "You do know that New York City will be around once you're gone, right? It'll still be the city that never sleeps." Well, guess what? The city that never sleeps is officially sleeping! Broadway is dark. The streets are deserted. New York has settled into a solemn two-day silence--whether in observance of my departure or Irene's arrival, it doesn't really matter. ;-)

I always look forward to the chance to reflect--to synthesize what has gone before and to prepare myself for what is coming (and I'm not talking about a hurricane here!). Otherwise, events just fly by without seeming completely real. Ironic, isn't it, that I'm finally dealing with the aftermath of a figurative hurricane of experiences just as an actual hurricane is setting in?

So much has happened this summer that I still haven't been able to fully wrap my head around it all. So much is coming, too! Just next week, for example, an eight-week workshop of my musical, The Weaver of Raveloe, will begin at BYU. (I'll be tuning in for the weekly sessions via Skype.) I've been slowly re-working the first act, but it still had a long way to go before I felt like it would be ready for a serious reading. So yesterday, I decided to take advantage of being stuck indoors with no piano lessons to teach (my students had to cancel since mass transit was out of commission). I hunkered down with a gallon of water, some granola bars and applesauce, and a single can of black beans (don't ask--it was 69 cents at the grocery store!), and I spent the entire day revising.

It's amazing how much clarity distance can bring sometimes. I had set aside the script for long enough (and seen enough Broadway shows in the meantime) that I knew exactly what I needed to do to improve the flow and overall dramatic impact. There are still miles to go--and I'm a little nervous about placing my baby on the chopping block in front of a roomful of critics!--but I'm excited about the experience.

Lest I become too focused on theater-related pursuits, a new semester at Longy will begin in just over a week, providing me with lots of classically-based opportunities. I'll have the chance to compose works for two pierrot ensembles and a chamber orchestra this fall. The dean and one of the professors of voice at my conservatory will also be performing one of my art songs as part of the upcoming Septemberfest. In addition, I'll be tutoring students in keyboarding and theory, volunteering at the Cambridge Center, implementing an Experiential Education project, teaching several piano students, and working long-distance with Charles and Richard. One hurricane is always followed by another! It's a good thing I enjoy weathering the storms.

*****

I just had my final room check and received back the money that I paid for my initial deposit from Sister Antonia. When I asked if I could take her picture, she became very flustered, removed her apron, and began smoothing her hair. I told her she looked lovely. "Give me a second to look for the camera; I'm not sure which bag it's in." "If you don't find it, that's okay. . ." she said. To my satisfaction and her disappointment, I did find the camera. I'm also hoping to take pictures with the other nuns and with the lunch ladies sometime.

I love those cafeteria workers! Last evening, I went down to the basement to throw out my trash. As I passed the cafeteria, two workers ran out and started gesticulating and speaking in 100-mile-an-hour Spanish. I shrugged helplessly, wondering if I'd done something wrong. One of the ladies (she couldn't have been over 4 ft tall) finally put her fingers together and pretended to bite. "Comida? Food? Sand-vich?" I smiled and nodded, and they bustled into the kitchen to get me a sandwich. Someday I'm going to learn Spanish!

I'm lucky that I didn't purchase any show tickets for Saturday since Broadway was dark over the weekend. Luckily, the Friday finale of the Mostly Mozart Festival went forward, and I was able to hear truly stirring performances of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony and Mozart's Requiem. I also went to Billy Eliot earlier in the week and came away absolutely floored by the talent of the 11-year-old lead! The only shows that I wanted to see and was never able to were War Horse and Wicked (I waited in the lottery line eleven times for Wicked and never got tickets!). I don't mind, though; it just gives me all the more reason to return to the city!

In conclusion, New York, I know that splitting up is going to be hard on both of us. Try not to miss me too much, okay? You've shut down this weekend, and that's alright, but please get back on your feet soon.

Watch for me. I shouldn't be gone too long.