Hot---killing time...

Looking at pictures of old addresses in the Bronx, these ones immediatetly north of Crotona Park. Got to JHS 44, the school at which my mom taught for about 15 years---science. Then she switched to 127 in Parkchester, just as the 44 neighborhood was undergoing change. In spite of all the burned buildings in that area in the 60's and 70's, I see on the google map a number of buildings from the "old days" that have remained intact and look just like they might have when my mom taught in the area. What must it have been like to walk through that area in the late 40's or most of the 50's? What would it be like to walk through that area now? A kind of adventure, but hard to consider based on my "appendage" that goes with me wherever I go. Still last night....

At LaMama to see a former student from Friends act in a production of (are you ready for this?) Henry VI part II. Put on by a bunch of young actors just learning to cope with Shakespeares' demands, and in some ways pretty effective. I have always loved the Henry VI  trilogy--its vision of the Wars of the Roses---and I hoped that this production would not send me out into the night screaming of its inadequacy. It did not---it was well staged, the entrances and exits, so many of them were totally well organized and the cast wrestled valiantly with the text. Long, it was 2.5 hours---more then I expected--but I wanted to sit through it to make contact with the former student. Afterwards I did---we talked a bit---he seemed pleased that I had come to give him support. Leaving I had a nice short talk with one of the actresses in the company---maybe that left me energized, but walking north on the Bowery to the subway I felt incredibly strong. A part of me felt that I could keep walking much further than the subway--moving through the Saturday night crowds that were on the street I felt at one with them. But I did go directly to the subway;  I was hungry and had to get some food at Fairway before it closed, but even waiting on the 8th street subway station I felt invigorated---this was my first walk on this street--always past the Public as I get to the Bowery, and though I knew exactly where I was going, after the pandemic these trips seem to have a dream like quality.  I know I have been there before...but when? Encouraging, should make me feel it is possible to make these trips and others away from the west side more often-still it is harder if I don't have a plan, a destination to visit. 

Today, not sure of what I want to do--also a little less energy then yesterday. Heat--still have some time--will report soon.