it has been a long time.....

last post was last week at this time. Lots of work at Friends---some commitments there over the weekend--and lots of other things as well.
Gatz on Friday---arrived at 3:15, just as the party scene, which I had loved in Boston when I saw it there, was over. Sat in the balcony for the first part--felt fine, really knew what was going on-then at first afternoon intermission moved down to a side "private" place in the orchestra. Great place to see Gatz from---with no one next to me, was able to muse on my feelings about the play, the people in it, and the whole thing. The first part before the dinner break ends with Gatsby finally encountering Daisy--an awkward moment that sets everything up for the rest of the book. In this production the tension that the two feel, both sensitive and erotic is slighted a bit, and I did not know what to expect in the second part after the dinner break. But the second part was much stronger, thanks in part to an exceptional performance by Pete Simpson, playing Tom Buchanan---he really found the animal in the role, and in doing so, made the performance of Jim Fletcher, playing Gatsby much stronger. The scene in the hotel that ended part one of the evening part was intense and vicious--and set the tone for the tragedy of the rest of the evening. Sitting by myself I could feel the pain and sadness of the ending, yet understood the impossibility of a Daisy-Gatsby union. Scott, who played Carraway, gave the final moments a much greater power, then he had done previously. I left the theater feeling that something had really hit me hard---lots of thoughts about it, and where I stand in the life of the characters, on the next morning.
Not much on Saturday, pretty tired after two sessions and so spent most of the evening at home---not what I expected, but it happened. Sunday was fun---a stop at Cobra and then watching the Super Bowl at La Flaca, an ideal place for it. Lots of people there I know and like and enough space for me to experience the game by myself.
The rest of the week has just been work---yesterday on my way to the library on 160th and Saint Nicholas, decided to take the D to 155th street and walk west. Not a great idea, since the road on 155th was blocked. As I got off at the station the memory of many trips to that station to see the Giants at the Polo Grounds, returned to me. I could see it all, the turnstyles the men selling score cards, and just the excitement I felt as I got ready to see the game. All this took place between 1951 and 57, yet the memory of the trips and leaving that specific subway station was incredibly strong.
 Walking south on eighth avenue was like a trip into the older, poorer Harlem that I remember---only at about 149th street does one get a sense of change---a coffee spot seems to emerge out of nowhere. Then I remembered that Bradhurst Avenue, one short block west has been rebuilt with a lot of luxury houses, and that this shop must service those people. Finally made it to 145th, only to find out that the C and A trains were late, so back out again on foot another 13 blocks to the library. Wow! I am tired now!
Not sure about this evening---will depend on how strong I feel after a few sessions, will report tomorrow or soon.