After three days of rain, darned if I didn’t just look outside to see the sun shining. Huzzah!
I’m still on a bit of a high from Monday night’s celebration of my friend Rick. I’ve been away from San Diego and the MFA program for 16 years now. And though I am friends on Facebook with most of my former students and am usually aware of what is happening in their lives, seeing so many of them in one place so many years later was incredibly powerful. So powerful that I was a bit shaken by the experience – in a good way.
There was such love in that room. And joy.
I forget sometimes what teaching meant to me. When we left San Diego, I was more than ready to move on. I love my coaching work. But teaching? Knowing that I’ve had an impact on the lives of my students and hearing them say that very thing so many years later reminded me that though I tend to compartmentalize the various stages of my career, that part of my life is still alive and kicking, living on in my students.
Don reminded me of all that when I called him Monday night. He knows most of those former students and knows, he says, the impact I made on them. I tend to underplay that kind of thing and deflect any compliments. But I’m going to bask in the glow of those relationships and the affirmation of the work we did there.
This peony, which is on the bush that didn’t bloom last year, is about to fully open.
This one, on the other bush, isn’t far behind.
And, now that the sun is out, I may see this rosebud open today.
Some of you have written me, sending me links about the announcement that Escape to Margaritaville is going to open on Broadway next year. I’ve known that since January, though the official press release just came through, which is why you’re reading about it now.
Don’t get too excited. We aren’t. Because we know, as veterans of the theater, television and film, that nothing is guaranteed. A lot can happen between a pre-Broadway tryout and the eventual Broadway run. Scripts can and will be rewritten, characters might change, actors can be replaced. I’ve seen it happen. Don has seen it happen even more than me and he has certainly – as has every actor – had roles promised to him only to see them taken away.
No one in the cast knows anything about a life in this musical beyond the run in La Jolla. And the producers and director won’t be making any decisions until after that run has ended.
Yes, it would be wonderful. But…we’ll see.
Even Anastasia, which was a rare transfer to Broadway where most of the cast remained intact, replaced one lead actor and several ensemble members. It’s just the way of the world.
But thanks for caring!
Happy Wednesday.
beautiful flowers and sunshine for you! :)
i hope “escape to margaritaville” does go to broadway and then on tour to some place easier for me to get to! i might have a wait, but i also have hope … jb has lots of fans to fill up the seats for quite a while! best wishes to you, don and everyone!
kathy in iowa
Oh, it’s going to Broadway. And it’s touring to Chicago, Houston and New Orleans in October. Whether Don will be in it is what’s unknown.
for sure?!? yay! chicago is close and i’ve loved new orleans for more than 30 years, go there every chance i get (make)! i’ve been fortunate to hear jimmy many times in chicago and a few times in new orleans. add in an “escape to margaritaville” and road trips are long overdue!
thanks for the good news, claudia!
hope don can be in it on broadway and/or tours if you like. would be fun to see him there!
kathy in iowa
Oh, we’d love it if Don went on to the tours and Broadway…but….
Well…it’s about time you got some sunshine! Sending positive vibes to Don regarding Broadway…it’s nice to dream though, isn’t it? ;)
We’ll get two days of sun and then more rain! At least our well is full!
Yes, we can dream, but we can’t dream too much!
Sunshine! Good for you! I see we ‘might’ get sunshine this weekend and since Friday is my birthday I think that would be a great gift! The deer have been munching on the roses again, I guess they need to eat but wish they would try something else for dinner. My tennis elbow has flared up again so the plans to move things around in the spare room have be delayed. It’s not going anywhere and will be there when I can get to it.
I’m happy that Don has had such a good experience in San Diego and it would be lovely if he got the tour and Broadway! Time will tell. I just know you will be glad to get him home for a while. It’s Moms shopping day so we will see what she wants to do today. Hugs!
I will be glad to get him home, but then I leave for Hartford in August! Too much separation at this point.
Sounds like you have had an amazing week! That is just so well deserved.
My roses are blooming like they never have in all the years I have had them growing. It is almost ridiculous!! So many many blooms!! We have been given some fantastic weather for several days now. We had 90* over the weekend, but upper 70’s and sun all week and it is supposed to continue ~ but 90’s again for the weekend. That just seems too early. Lots of watering taking place daily now.
I hope you enjoy the sunshine!!! Have a wonderful Wednesday…….
My roses haven’t bloomed yet, though there are buds on several bushes. We’ve had rain and more rain. We’re sick of it! But today, at least, it’s sunny.
How wonderful your evening was with your dear friend Rick – I’m sure you were a great teacher and I bet there is a bit of teacher in you when you are coaching as well. Enjoy the sunshine – we have some today too! Woot woot
It’s so nice to see the sun, Karen!
Bask in those positive loving feelings, Claudia. Few people have that opportunity of making a difference and then enjoying the aftermath years later.
Lovely peonies. I really enjoy those flowers. Mine have just leafed out from the rhizomes. I hope there are flowers later this season.
Thank goodness for the value of my local theater, which puts on excellent plays and musicals. I just bought tickets for my daughters and me to see Aladdin, which is coming to San Francisco for a November-December run. Wow! The tickets cost more than two season tickets to my local theater.
Theater tickets are very, very expensive – especially on Broadway.
Claudia,
I have no doubt, NO doubt that you are one wonderfulteacher. I can just tell. You shine and that shine is so good for anyone studying~~~
You shine from here!
I truly believe you are an awesome teacher and you will never be forgotten by them!
love, Katheryn
Oh, thank you Katheryn! Such a nice thing to say!
Our red rose bush has bloomed. The white one has only buds no flowers yet.
Marily
My red roses are about to start blooming, Marilyn.
I am guessing you had a great time at the party for Rick…right?…lol…I’m just teasing…you have every right to be so proud and excited for Rick and for you!…and I thank you both for all of the talented actors you have sent out in to the world for us to enjoy!
Thanks, Nancy.