will be off....

in a little while, to the Friends Seminary reunion, looking forward to talking to members of the class of 11 (a class that I knew very well) and the class of 06 (my first fifth grade class, back in September of 98) who I got to know slightly during my first couple of years at Friends, one or two students come to  mind whom I was friendly with, hope that they will return.
Last two days have been spent working, also reading The Girl From Human Street, a memoir by Roger Cohen that will be discussed at Friends a week from Tuesday. The author, who is Jewish, had parents and relatives who lived in England or South Africa during World War II and so were spared the horror of the holocaust-- it seems that he is trying to figure out his and their roles as passive observers of the slaughter. A little in your face in the beginning; he mentions slaughters of women and children in the small towns that the Germans conquered in Lithuania, a great deal. At the same time, this is contrasted against the privileged growing up arrangements that his ancestors, particularly on his mother's side, experienced. They all lived in South Africa and lived very well. Well, let's see how the book develops.
       Yesterday evening attended a performance of Strindberg's A Dream Play, part of the master's program at Columbia School of the Arts, Zach, a friend of mine was in it. Nice to see a "crazy" (difficult to  produce) play by Strindberg. staging by an Icelandic candidate for the MFA was very
focused, worked well with the bizarre elements of the play; the play went on a little too long, and had its repetitive moments---but was substantial, not a waste of time by any means. My friend Zach, a very attractive guy, played an egg heady person, very much against type---worked very hard to achieve this, very happy that he took the risk
     Zach's mother and some of her friends were there, so rejected the idea of joining them for a short meal afterwards, instead checked out some of the new places in the 100's ended up opting for a beer at the Abbey Pub, on 105th near Broadway, the bar has been there forever. Truly a neighborhood bar, everyone seemed to know each other and the bartender as well. Watched some baseball and basketball as I had my beer---kind of turned off on the place---there is a closedness about it---I think you really have to be a regular there to have a good time. Might be last time for me.Should be a little more adventurous.
     Today, after reunion, am scheduled to see my friend Merlin's performance in The Idiot at HERE.
This will be my third go round with this work, not that anxious to see it again, flaccid reviews clued me into the fact that it hasn't changed much but I like to support Merlin,  a really good guy.
   That is all---should be on my way, will report soon.