A view from just inside the front door since I haven’t shown you many house pictures lately. That always happens when it’s garden time. I tend to neglect the inside of the cottage because my focus is on the outside.
Speaking of the outside, I weed whacked early yesterday morning, did some more chores and then, after looking at the weather forecast for the next week (temps in the high nineties through Friday) decided I should mow the front lawn.
Completely exhausting in the heat and humidity, but at least the front of the property will look good this week. I watered everything about 3 times and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about tomorrow when I’m in the city and the temperature reaches 100 degrees. Instead of going in today, I’m going in early tomorrow morning, so I can water everything before I go. I’ll move plants on the porch to a shadier place (if there is one) and hope for the best. I’ll either come back tomorrow night or early Monday morning as Don and his cast mates take the train to Washington DC that morning.
Escape to Margaritaville story: about a week or so ago, a patron arranged a surprise. During the curtain call, he came up onstage and one of the cast members called his girlfriend up (she was completely surprised) and the entire theater got to witness his marriage proposal and her acceptance. Romantic.
I’m sort of numb now, just keeping it together until I watch tomorrow’s closing performance. I know I’ll be crying. It will be sad and beautiful and a bit of a relief. It’s been looming over the cast for a month now and that’s a hard thing to deal with, day after day. One of Don’s fellow cast members said it was like ‘being in hospice.’
It’s also surreal that the show closes and the cast immediately travels to Washington DC for A Capital Fourth. They are performing a medley of songs from the show with new choreography. I don’t think Don has a solo but he’ll be there, my dancing boy.
This is the milkweed growing in front of the porch. There are at least 12 different plants. I’m hoping I can see a monarch butterfly caterpillar. I spotted one last year. I must be diligent and check the stalks every day.
Okay. Have to go. I will probably take tomorrow and Monday off as they will be travel days. And full of emotion. I’ll see you on Tuesday.
Happy Saturday.
Safe travels, there and back. For Don and the cast, too. Wrapping all of you in hugs. Don’t know what to say to make it better. The show touched the lives of so many people, even if we only got snippets of it on YouTube and other social media. It was an amazing adventure!
It was.
I am thinking of you Don and the whole cast/crew and wishing all a smashing last show. Much love and hugs!
Thank you.
Just know that we all will be with you in spirit…and for moral support. Comforting words escape me. Lawn looks great….fingers crossed for monarch caterpillars. Safe travels my friend! ;)
I have no comforting words, either!
i’ll be watching for your tall man on the 4th!
I always stay home and usually watch the Capitol 4th.
only THIS year it is special!
stay as cool as you can. this is dangerous heat.
and before you know it … it has affected you. be careful! xo
I’ll do my best, but I have to water here and I definitely have to be out on the streets in NYC tomorrow.
All I can think of to say is very trite [but true]:
1 – Try to stay as cool as possible. Tis gonna be beastly.
2 – Hang in there. You WILL get through the final ETM & you’ll survive this loss/change too. But I wish you didn’t HAVE to. I never realized that theater/show folk took the closings or cancellations of jobs so hard. I always thought it basically bounced off them, because it was so common. Especially because virtually NO work in the performing arts is really long term & even less is permanent. So my sympathy to the whole ETM family. Better things ahead for everyone!
Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
When you’ve worked on something for a year and a half and you think it will run at least a year – you take it very hard. And this cast is a family.
Having a job end never bounces off actors. They’re out of work. And that’s scary.
True enough, Claudia. Out of work is scary for everyone. My apologies. I thought – erroneously – that because there’s so much of it in the creative arts that people gradually build up a defense against it. So I learned something – as I so often do here. Obviously “This job is over” is much harder to hear than “No, you can’t have this job…” Here’s to better days for all. Very soon.
Thanks so much, Janet.
Chin up, Claudia ! We know you can get thru this. “This too shall pass” is so true.
Your lawn looks wonderful – what a huge, time consuming job.
Looking forward to seeing the cast in DC – from my CT LR, that is.
Thanks, Connie.
I haven’t been able to find words since learning of the show’s closing, either. Knowing firsthand how good it is and knowing what a letdown for the people involved is gut-wrenching. And the music is still playing in my head.
I did have a sort of funny E2M encounter at the marina, though, while launching our old boat, the ‘Smoking Loon’. Mr. Wizard had talked to the owner and his wife earlier in the season and learned that they had also just seen the show—and loved it, naturally. They remembered as I was paying the fee, the wife telling her husband, “Oh, she’s the one who knows J.D.!” Don’t know just what Mr. Wizard had told them, but that’s the way they remembered it. (I also thought it was cute that they remembered Don’s character’s name.)
Love that story, Shanna! I’ll be sure to pass it on to Don.
Will truly be an emotional time for you both. It’s hard to think about now, but some day you’ll appreciate the memories of this play and your times together in NYC. Safe travels, Claudia.
Thanks, Kay.
We’ll be with you there in spirit and support, Claudia.
The yard looks so well-tended; the house so inviting. Nice homecoming for Don.
Be careful with the running around in all that heat; stay hydrated.
I’m doing my best, Vicki!
Take it easy when in the city. The temperature is going to be brutal.
Marilyn
It sure is. I’m worried about my plants back home. I’ll water in the morning, but there’s nothing I can do after that.
Yes, take care in this heat. After all the stuff on the news about how many people are impacted, and that it will last for at least another week, I had a dream that we realized that we actually were in Hell. And sadly, it then all made sense.
Very very sad, indeed, for Don and his cast-mates. I am happy that they will stay together for a few more days for their performance on the 4th. Not sure if dispersing immediately after the last performance in NYC would be easier, or having “one more time” together will help. It just shouldn’t be happening at all. It is, indeed, one more thing making life more difficult right now. We need some JOYOUS NEWS right about now. I think that once upon a time we periodically all shared in joyous news and proud moments. That once happened, didn’t it? It has been so long, maybe that, too, was just a dream.
Safe travels tomorrow!!
I don’t know either. It almost seems like it would be better to just end it after the show. But they’ll have fun together.
I’m overwhelmed with all of the bad news – in this country – and with the show closing. I’m on the edge of tears all of the time.
I’m thinking of you both as you go thru this difficult phase. You both have a right to morn the loss and it can be good to do so.
The heat and humidity are awful here in Normal, IL :( I’m only going out for short bursts and only if I have to. How did we ever enjoy this as kids? It never bothered me when I was young but then I spent every other day at the park pool with my friends.
Remember to wear a hat, light clothing, sunscreen, and hydrate hydrate hydrate!!
All the best to you and Don. :)
Terrible here, as well. I can’t imagine how brutal it will be tomorrow. I think it’s going to be hotter here than in the city.
I never enjoyed it as a kid. Heat and humidity combined sent me indoors to read!
To Don and all of the cast, everyone else involved…and of course Jimmy…without his talent for making sweet music it never would have happened and that would be even sadder…you have given a lot of happiness to a lot of people…that is always a good thing and they will remember…As the amazing Dr Seuss said: “Don’t cry because it’s over…Smile because it happened!” Hugs to everyone and you too Claudia!
i agree with all the wise words and support in the comments so will just leave it at that … and to say i will be praying and trusting for even better things in your futures. they are there (even though it’s hard to top jimmy)!
kathy in iowa
and a bear in your backyard?!! oh, my … be safe!
kathy in iowa
All the best Claudia