My Own Capacity

Pelicans
Originally uploaded by Elizalou.

Today I took the day off. I voted, returned library books, ran an errand for my dad, had lunch with Maryelizabeth, ran three miles, and embarked on an obsessive journey trying to take a decent picture of the white pelicans on the lakes. I didn't really succeed, but I enjoyed stalking them and being awed by their number and by their grace.

I saw Metamorphoses. Parts of it were very beautiful. I was not prepared for the naked shlong. But I loved the part with Apollo's son, the father/daughter section, and the part with the man who turned around and looked at his dead wife so she had to go back to the underworld. And I really, really loved the end.

Here's a Bill Moyers interview with Mary Zimmerman, who started the whole thing. Here's Ben Brantley's review, and here's a rather amazing teaching guide for the play.

Of course I remember how much Kymm and Lisa and Tamar and Melissa raved about this show, and Stacey assured me that I'd love it, and Shelley loved it as well.

I wish I'd seen it in New York in that time and in that place, but I'm glad I saw it here nonetheless. Melissa quoted this excerpt in her entry about it, and I'm quoting it again because it was my favorite moment of the play.

Let me die the moment my love dies.
They whisper:
Let me not outlive my own capacity to love.
They whisper:
Let me die still loving, and so, never die.

:::

About this time in ...

2005

11/9:

On Saturday, we headed to City Park to volunteer with the clean-up. Notwithstanding the fact that my hamstrings are still so aflame that I can hardly move my legs, it was a good way to spend part of the day.

2004

11/8:

However, Elizabeth is clearly deluded if she thinks that Gilbert Blythe in any way resembles Johnny Castle, and she will never convince me otherwise.

2003

11/10:

My sister and I sneered via finger spelling in our laps at the dreadful cantor. My sister stifled a giggle at my M-Y-E-A-R-S-A-R-E-B-L-E-E-D-I-N-G.

2002

11/8:

No, really, I swooned and almost passed out, knowing I should not have looked, but I felt I had to look to make sure she wasn't faking me out.

11/7:

Whatever possessed me to buy a home with white berber carpet I will never, ever understand.