THE SWEET SOUNDS OF SET LIFE
On the set of HOOKY, Uni High, West LA, 2022
I had a dream last night that I was in high school, standing in a hallway full of lockers, hanging with my friends. And then a bell rang in the background and I was in my hospital room hearing people talk about politics knowing that this year I would be too sick to vote. Next thing I know I’m in the parking garage of a downtown hotel complaining to a distracted attendant about a body shaped dent in the roof of my car - was there a murder maybe? A suicide? He doesn’t seem to care. Suddenly my friend Deirdre is standing beside me, back from living abroad, dressed in blue and looking beautiful with a stack of suitcases shoulder high and I am so happy that she is home. Thank God!
The sound of soft rain wakes me up. It is only 4 am but I’ve been sleeping soundly since six - something I seem to do while I am taking these meds. I’ve got good energy in the mornings but by early evening I am ready to rest again and am pulling my pajamas out of their drawer in full daylight. I sleep when my body says too. And let it wake me up whenever it wants. It’s been both a privilege and a pain in the ass - living free of any sort of real schedule is not sustainable. Eventually, when these various treatments complete, I will return to work - to waking up every morning at sunrise to make my way to the shop. 6 AM doesn’t feel as inspiring when you’ve been wide awake after eight hours of sleep watching British Bake Off reruns since two. I’ve got to get my body clock under control.
Now my neighbors are upstairs knocking around and I like it. I think we all know by now that I wouldn’t do well in the woods. Remember Walden was only two miles from town. No way. I need people. I need the sweet sounds of set life around me: footsteps on back stairs and sizzling skillets, hammers hanging new shingles down the street, a whistling kettle boiling over close by. A beloved dog’s bark, belly laughter from a balcony right up above. I love to listen to life - even on days when I don’t feel much like leaving my room and actually trying to live it. Hearing it always helps. It’s all jazz.
It’s going to be a great weekend! I’ve got my pit crew coming to town for the symphony and am looking forward to sharing this project with all of my people. The wild phenomenon of good healing has me back on my feet right on time and I am so grateful that I get to participate in all of the ways that I’ve been imagining since last summer. The Broad is the most beautiful theater with a spectacular stage and these devoted musicians always deliver. I feel lucky. I am lucky. And so grateful that I have the good sense to see it.
WATCHING: TWO PEOPLE COOKING
READING: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT: OUR DEMOCRACY, STUDENT EDITION
LISTENING: DON’T BITE THE HOOK
GOING: TO THE SYMPHONY
Here we go,
Anne