The Thing I've Done

 Let's qualify the title by adding the word, Lately.

My friend Micelle and I attended the opening night performance of New Age. The Rep is presenting the world premiere written by Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Jade King Carrol. It features four actors on stage representing women of various ages speaking about their experiences, conclusions about the effect of these experiences, and what matters.

We meet the older black woman, who is a writer. Then the middle high society woman (her definition, not mine) who was rejected by her husband because she looked too old. Onward to the forty-something vamp who needs affirmation for her many attempts at being something other than what she is. Finally, we meet the gritty, emerging, the newly adult musician who has a message in song for the world.

The characters perform monologues that flit between them with the speed of a team playing catch with a ball. Sometimes one woman ramps up on the previous story, or they put a new thread into the tapestry of their own story. It was a compelling and entertaining hour of snappy dialogue and measured movement by the cast. So many of us left with smiles on our faces and a song in our hearts.

Just an aside here. Isn't March supposed to begin like a lion and end like a lamb?

It seems the animals are coming out of hibernation. I've connected with several friends in the last week that, sadly, I haven't talked to in a while. We claim that the threat from COVID is not as significant and therefore responsible for the hiatus from socialization, but I'm going to blame the weather. 

I do this for a couple of reasons. First, the weather has been harsh this month. (Note my comment above.) We experienced a couple of days where the optimistic among us went without jackets, and some even flashed their bare arms by wearing short sleeves. 

But the biggest reason to blame the weather is that it is without defense. Most people stoop to blaming the weather for all kinds of reasons. We complain because of sore backs from shoveling snow, allergies from all kinds of stuff in the air, slipping and falling on ice, or rain that soaked clothing because we forget our umbrella or raincoat. We complain that it's too hot, cold, windy, or humid. 

The point is we blame the weather, or in my case, Mother Nature, for all of this grief and do they ever defend themselves? No! We talk about not allowing bullies to act out in our society, yet when things go south, we blame the weather. Sometimes we have to take a deeper look at ourselves people.

Shameless attempt to increase and please my readers by using a picture of two of my great-grandkids. 

Charlotte and Boden. Photo by Mom or Dad.

Finally: Did you hear about the German vegetarian? He feared the wurst.