I took my plants back home with me last weekend, hoping to lighten the load that I’ll be dealing with later this week when I move back home. This shefflera was in the aqua McCoy pot – which I loved – but I thought it looked pretty in this Guy Wolff pot. And somehow it needed to be on the French bistro table in the living room.

Done.

I drove back to Hartford yesterday afternoon and watched the show last night. For a Tuesday night audience, this group was wild! They laughed and laughed and had such a good time. I think that, especially in this time of political upheaval, hurricanes and earthquakes, people need an escape. Theater offers an escape. For 2 or 3 hours, one can be transported to another time and place. When that production is just plain funny, what a joy it is to have the opportunity to release in laughter. It is for me, and I know this production very well. Escape to Margaritaville  will be much the same. An escape for those who need one. I’m proud that both Don and I are part of productions that provide that. Laughter helps to heal. In our own way, we’re part of a temporary solution.

Speaking of Don, he’s settled in and is now managing the trip from Jersey City to Manhattan quite handily. He catches a bus a block from his apartment. It gets him to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (the same terminal we use when we take the bus from our neighboring town) in twenty minutes. Rehearsals are a block from the terminal. All good. They worked on music on Monday. Yesterday was what we call the Meet & Greet. When you’re doing a big Broadway musical, the Meet and Greet involves literally hundreds and hundreds of people; producers, publicists, agents, investors, cast, crew, writers, etc. Jimmy was there, as well. Now they’re doing table work. There are script changes and song changes and new cast members to bring into the fold.

That hollyhock is still blooming. In fact, when I left yesterday, there were even more blooms.

I might be leaving tomorrow but all of that depends on Darko and his assessment of the show. If he ‘freezes’ it, that means no more notes from him to the actors and I will freeze my notes as well. We’ll see. He’s rehearsing some sections this afternoon and we’ll see how it goes tonight. It’s a wonderful production, wildly funny and touching and beautiful and magical. As it should be. Once again, Darko has outdone himself. He’s amazing.

Last Saturday, there was a historical preservation tour going on in Hartford and the building I’m in was on the tour. There is a penthouse apartment that sits on the top of the building – all glass – and I’ve always been curious about it. It turns out it’s two apartments and since one is empty at the moment, we were allowed to see it. I’ve always been curious about it so I grabbed the chance. Unfortunately, you take an elevator to the twelfth floor and then you have to climb up three flights of stairs (and there are a lot of stairs) to get there.

In other words, in order to live there you have to be young and in great physical shape.

Nevertheless, I arrived – panting –  and viewed the apartment. It was smallish, same floors as I have here, same sort of kitchen, but the light and the windows and the views! Goodness.

From one of the windows – this view of the Capitol and part of Bushnell Park. Imagine watching the fireworks from here! You can see all the way to the Connecticut River from the other side of the apartment. Beautiful.

Okay. Have to go and send some notes to the actors.

Happy Wednesday.