NYC - I’m in a New York State of mind

My brother and sister-in-law have lived in New York City for a few decades. On the second day of his new teaching career there, the unspeakable happened. It was September 11. I remember I was talking on the phone to the superintendent of ISD 15 in St Francis when I had to get off the phone to try to reach my brother. Many of the students in his school had parents and family who worked in the area of the World Trade Center. He and the staff stayed with the students until everyone could be reunited with family. Miraculously - there was only one death of a family member.

He started his career as he ended it there - in service to families and students. 

On the 4th of July, my daughter Abilene and I flew to NYC to help Tim and his family pack up their Manhattan Apartment in order to move from the most uptight island in the U.S. to the most laid back. In August he starts his job as Chaplain at the Iolani school in Hawaii. Here, I know he will serve another community in their own times of joy and sorrow.

One of my nephews was off for a final weekend with some of his besties - which left my youngest nephew to bear the brunt of the packing up. It turns out - Abby and I were of more help by taking Elijah out on some adventures while His Tim and Kara sorted years of their lives into keep,  throw and give away piles.

As a theatre director with a theatre major daughter, we were able to take in a few shows. The first we attended just the two of us - and got to see the Tony Award Winning revival of Oklahoma at the Circle in the Square. From the online reaction of friends and colleagues around the country , I figured out this was sort of an either you love it or hate it type of show. Luckily for me, I’ve never been a huge fan of the original Oklahoma- so this version that explores the darker themes in a more realistic way was right up my alley.

The intimate space lent itself to this bare bones and imaginative re-telling. I’ve always thought about what it takes to boil a work down to its essence, and this was it - quite literally. The stage was simply an array of picnic tables, chairs, Crock pots and piles of corn. The walls surrounding the audience held dozens of shot guns. They even fed the audience chili and cornbread at intermission. The performances were sultry and raw and full of power. We left feeling unsettled and knowing we’d just shared something powerful.

For the rest of the weekend - we took Elijah to Central Park to meet up with my good friend Richard - who - when it comes down to it - is the whole reason I’m married to Joel. He set us up on our first date over the headset at the Cricket Theatre in Minneapolis. That’s a true showmance - that’s lasted 29 years. Richard is the kind of friend that it never seems as if we’ve been apart. His Twins and Elijah navigated the Park’s splash features on the muggy, humid day - while we got to visit and catch up. His husband was busy on previews for Moulin Rouge - so we missed John. 

We spent the evening taking Elijah to the Play the Goes Wrong. As he fancies himself a comedian - we thought this hilarious physical comedy would be perfect - and it didn’t disappoint.

It was hard to leave Tim and Kara on that final day - knowing we’d never be back to their New York Apartment that has been so much a part of their lives. Where babies turned into boys and evidence  of birthday parties past still decorated their room walls. 

Lessons learned:

1. Thoughtful, interesting choices in theatre will always outweigh pure entertainment in my book.
2. Sometimes the best glimmers of humanity happen in an New York Cab when your Episcopalian priest brother strikes up a conversation with the Muslim Cab driver about his prayer beads - and you witness true respect, and beautiful laughter on a hot summer night.
3. My sister-in-law is one of the most giving people on the planet and I'm so glad she is in my life.
4. Children can truly make friends with anyone and have a glorious day together, full of adventure and new experiences - especially when they are all 9 years old. 
5. Some friendships transcend time and space - and it’s nice just to know that other person is out there in the universe for you.

Recapturing wonder

The truth is that as amazing as a trip can be when we hit our final destination, the act of traveling - the journey itself - is often rife with stress. Flying from Minnesota with my mom and 3 daughters, even though we’re all adults, was no exception.

It was certainly not the way my oldest daughter wanted to spend her 26th birthday - in an airport swirling through the Disneyland-like TSA lines. We wound our way to the front only to find our boarding passes did not register on the scanner. Back down again to the ticketing counter to re-issue passes and then back up to TSA - it wasn’t a stellar way to start the journey - especially with an already skeptical 85-year-old mother who had “never heard of Sun Country Airlines.” I’m not sure our experience with them endeared the airline to her, but I didn’t feel too badly about the Minnesota company - even when every departure gate was at the absolute end of the airport.

Mom and I had the wing seat with a great view of the clouds.

It made me wonder, though, when every single thing became monetized. Choosing seats in advance? Cha ching. Carry on bag? Cha ching. Checking a bag? Cha ching. You can even pay more to avoid lines by letting them scan your finger prints and retinas. Somehow this makes me uncomfortable, but I can probably pay someone to have that feeling alleviated.

Once on board, there was a talkative little boy behind us. He showed wonder at every little moment.

“I need to re-capture that ability,” I thought.

He looked out of his window and marveled at the clouds, the sky, the mountain, the tiny houses, the cars on the ground, the rivers. As we were getting ready to land the flight attendant announced we would have to exit the plane outside and then board a bus to take us to the terminal. The entire flight let out a collective moan.

“Dad,” this little voice brimming with excitement behind me asked, “We get to take a BUS, too? Did you KNOW this? ”

“Yes, buddy,” his dad answered. “You’re going to get to experience LOTS of kinds of transportation on this trip!”

The fact that we can hurl ourselves through the air in a metal tube and reach the other side of the country in a matter of hours? That’s incredible. Three full days of clear sky’s and a view of Mt Ranier in Washington State? AMAZING. We can rent a car, let Siri navigate us from Point A to Point B (with only minor mix ups - West Seattle is a pretty cool little place), put a car on a boat and travel across an expanse of water, and find an Olive Garden open at 9 pm when you’re so hungry you start thinking about how clearly you understand the choices the Donner party had to make.

Finally made it to the BRIDGE to cross over to Silverdale, WA after a misadventure into West Seattle
that accidentally took us to the Ferry.

The three days may not have been as idyllic as our Facebook, instagram, and snap chat may have shown. We got salty with each other. Hangry, frustrated, whiny, and pointy. We lamented at times the little courtesies we had to show, even when we wanted to curl up in a ball - or scream - or retreat from the pure exhaustion that life throws our way.

Some of the group went on a wine tasting
adventure together.

But we also had three days to reunite with family from all over the country. I got to hug my Aunt Virginia, Aunt Carolina, Mom Georgia, Uncle Tex, and Aunt Maryland - all still with it. I got to spend time with my brother, my cousins, my nephews, and my daughters. We shared stories, hopes, memories, and sorrows. We celebrated our time together and mourned those who were no longer with us. We revealed truths and were able to sit together around tables and break bread and drink wine together.

My cousin Jane

The pictures of memories spread out before us. People who have CHOSEN to be a part of this crazy clan through marriage and commitment.
Tex and Georgia on the beach in Hawaii. Big brother Tim with his dark-haired baby sister. My older cousins - hair so long they could sit on it. My California cousins looking like something straight out of an 80s teen movie. My three Indiana cousins - three sisters sharing their lives - just like my own girls. A photo of Mary where I now see a reflection of her daughter and  granddaughter. Five siblings captured in black and white film who went on to create generations. My sweet dad, laughing at someone behind the lens of an instamatic camera. We were all younger once.

The trees on our walk at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, WA

“Dad!” I want to say excitedly, “Did you KNOW this?

The five Lewis siblings from our 2015 reunion in French Lick, IN

Lessons learned:

1. People want to love you, even when you don’t feel lovable.
2. Shared histories create powerful bonds.
3. Water, mountains, sunshine, and a good walk can renew the spirit.
4. The bus at the end of the plane ride is an opportunity to get you that much closer to where you want to be.

On the Ferry headed back to Seattle, WA

Fighting for the Fringe

Getting ready to take a show overseas can be a real knock down, drag out process. Lucky for us, we have the help of Twin Cities fight choreographer Aaron Preusse from The Fake Fighting Company (http://www.fakefighting.com/)

We have 4 fight sequences to choreograph and perfect for Hearts Like Fists. This means hours of rehearsal to get every move just right, taking the fights at 1/2 speed, then 3/4, and finally full speed. Punches, kicks, slaps, and tumbling moves have to be precise - not only to give the fight the illusion of reality, but also for safety. This week we have our final rehearsals with Aaron as we get ready for Edinburgh. 

Rehearsal at Anoka Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus

In addition to figuring out blocking, memorization, characterization, pacing, and all technical elements like sound, lighting, costumes, and props. 

The last time I directed this show we had to cut it to meet the 35 minute MSHSL One Act requirement - and we had about 15 actors and 3 technicians. This time we're taking the whole show with 7 actors and one technician. That means we've done some creative re-imagining of some scenes - with a few characters being played by life-sized dummies designed by the amazing Deb Oas Koepsell. Made to fold up in a suitcase and travel - the actors have also been having a good time figuring out how to incorporate these puppets into the show.

Rehearsal with our dummy friend at AR Cambridge Campus.

We hope our friends and families can make it to our farewell performance on July 25 at the AR Cambridge Campus at 8 pm. We are learning more and more about the show, ourselves, and what it will take to be successful in Edinburgh each and every day.

Lessons learned:

1. Going back and exploring a text you've worked with before is a worthwhile endeavor and, like re-reading a favorite book, provides new insights and understanding.

2. A well-planned fight takes hours to rehearse to make it look spontaneous.

3. Safety first! But it's hard to fight slow when you want to go fast!

4. I never thought I'd hear the following phrase in my lifetime: "MO - I put the bodies in the back of your car."