Your Sunday Clothes

Here are a few things that I don't care about at all: award shows,  American Idol, and Charlie Sheen.  I care so little and am so annoyed with the outpouring of "news" regarding this man that I am reluctant even to write his name here, but whatever, he's everywhere.

Some things I do currently care about: workers' rights in Wisconsin, the new season of Radiolab (coming a week from today), and old school musicals with songs that get stuck in your head.  In particular, I'm on a Hello, Dolly kick at the moment.  If your only exposure to to this great romantic comedy/musical extravaganza is that stupid Wall-e movie, then you're really missing out.   It is an over-the-top two and a half hours of dramatic song and dance, cheesy yet melt-your-heart romantic moments, and some of the prettiest costumes ever.  To top that, part of it was filmed in Garrison, my beloved home town.  

Many Garrisonites our age don't even know about it because they don't have parents who were around when it was shot, and they didn't have a grandmother who had Gene Kelly staying in her house during the summer of 1960-something.  I, however, do have those parents - my father is supposedly in a shot riding a bike or something - and that grandmother, who still plays the soundtrack at least once a day on her surround sound system.  She also frequently asks anyone who'll listen why the movie producers bothered to bring Barbara Streisand up from New York when "they could have had the original Dolly right here!"  

Watch the video below to be enthralled by one of my favorite songs from the film.  I also love "Before the Parade Passes By" because it's so over-the-top dramatic, but there's no Garrison in that scene.  The beginning of Sunday Clothes is boring and Michael Crawford is a little creepy, but just watch it (I fast-forward to Barbara's part, around 1:30).  If you're from Garrison, are fond of Garrison, or just love cheesy and overblown musicals, you won't feel your time wasted as you watch the train pull up to "Yonkers" and head towards the city along the glorious Hudson River.  So very nostalgic.

PS - I do a great Barbara impersonation, in case you were wondering.  

Sanity Week

There is this spot on route 9 coming up on Croton where the tree line thins to give way to a wide angle view of the river, now half frozen, and the mountains, now scattered with snow but ready to spring back to life.  Today the weather was bleak.  While driving, dark gray clouds monopolized the sky and fat raindrops plummeted onto my windshield in an uneven and obnoxious rhythm.  But among this apparent and broad gloom, I had the same thought I always have on this spot of road as I drove home from home (to Brooklyn, from Garrison) this afternoon.  I am beyond lucky.  I am so fortunate that I feel as though I'm going to have to spend my lifetime trying to pay the universe back for all the good favor present in my life.  Even that will not be enough, but I'll try anyway.

My Valentine's Day Presents from Mom. 

Can you tell that I am feeling well and rested?  It's the product of February break - a welcome week off to rejuvenate the spirits and thus reinvest in the work of the school year.  For this blessed week, I did not travel off to a warm climate or a cultural epicenter.  Instead I spent the week relaxing at home with family and running necessary errands.  I feel like balance has been restored to my being and my surroundings and by Monday I will be all but zen-like. 

Some of the best dogs ever.