Last night....

At the Public---Joe's Pub.a Friends graduate is performing an original and autobiographical musical at that space. Nice to see him; he was very appreciative of my being there. The Pub---a strange place that we accept now---Papp believed in theater for everyone---the Pub's prices are definitely not for those operating on a small budget. But that is the way it is, nowadays---so many issues that are involved----idealism merged with seeking funds from the very successful money wise.  Enjoyed the performer-creator's work--he has great stage presence---it will be interesting to see where he goes from here, creatively on both ends. While I was there felt "hollowed out"---what does that mean. Almost did not go---this was the first weekend after an infusion and usually that first weekend finds me kind of lethargic---but by 4:00 Sunday felt the energy, and was able to find a last minute ticket on line. Subway was easy to negotiate---especially on the trip home---not a lot of people since the superbowl was on. Skipped Superbowl this year----too many commercials---endless---I even felt that watching the AFC final between Baltimore and KC.  Perhaps I have outgrown football, or I am put off by the violence in the tackling. 

A long week of tutoring begins---the same pattern---two or three hours and then returning home mostly exhausted. No "life" once I return. Remember my life pre-pandemic---lots more energy--but sometimes I forget that I was tired at times as well. While waiting for the performance to begin---tried to understand the four year passage of time since the city closed down in mid March 2020. Sometimes it is astounding that four years have gone by---I think of the summers of 21,22,23---try to place events in them from my memory---yet somehow it is hard to determine the exact summer. 

This past week read The Things They Carried--really an amazing book---O'Brien tries to bridge the gap between the sheer horror of war, and the basic vision of life, outside of war. Here in NYC we hear about the brutality of the war in Israel, but can do nothing. Return to our "priviledge". Must live with it now...