Aw, pShaw...

When did I become such a daylight person! Yes, my grandmother rose with the sun and went to bed when the first stars appeared in the sky. But she was a total introvert. She had family, and she got along with some people in the village who supplied her with dairy products and poultry, but as far as going to a social gathering? Not her. Not once in all the time that I knew her (some 40 years) did I ever hear of her expressing any need for socializing, and not once did I hear of her going out after dark. So, is it in my genes to love staying home once the fireflies come out in the summer, or the darkness takes over in those early hours of winter? Ed, of course, is a complete homebody, but it's not the night that keeps him shuttered, it's just that he always prefers the farmhouse over any other place (except maybe out in a boat in the middle of the ocean), at any time of day. So maybe that, too, rubs off on me a little?

When I was in Poland, I asked my friends in one of those "conversational questions" I like to throw out to the group, what time they go to sleep. It varied, from late to very, very late. Since I have given myself the task of finishing up an Ocean post in the evening, after supper and whatever show Ed and I pick for the night, I end up going to sleep close to 11, but were it not for the fact that we push everything into those evening hours, I swear I'd toddle up to bed at least an hour, maybe two hours earlier than that. So, I'm no party animal. More like a wet blanket after dark. And I've stopped going to concerts or evening shows. What's the point -- I'd probably doze off. 

However.

There are these grandchildren and they have performances. I've been skipping the school ones lately, because their time on stage is so short and there are plenty of people in the audience. But I do attend the plays that put both Snowdrop and now this year Sparrow, too, on the stage. They are full length productions, so it is a multi hour commitment, but really, if a grandmother wont show up for it, then what's the point of being a grandmother? 

The group they perform with is the Young Shakespeare Players and the plays are indeed mostly those written by Shakespeare, but every once in a while they put on something by Shaw. And tonight, they're putting on his Don Juan in Hell. Actually, it's the 3rd act of Shaw's "Man and Superman," and one drama critic described it thus: "(Don Juan in Hell) depicts a spirited conversation between Don Juan, the Devil, Juan’s former paramour Doña Ana, and her father the Commander, slain by Juan while defending his daughter’s honor. This chamber concert for four voices debates love, war, morality, and the eternal battle of the sexes with sublime wit and devilish charm." I would say it is rather an adult play and the Shakespeare group does invite older alumni of the program to come back and take part. But it is also open to young actors and Snowdrop plays Doña Ana, so it's not a small deal.

Unfortunately, her family is battling a bug, so neither parent can attend. This is sort of okay, because she already performed once last week, when I was in France, so they had a chance to see her then.  Sparrow insists on seeing it again and I, of course, despite my dislike of stepping out into the night, am delighted to see her play a "paramour" at age 10, so the plan is for me, along with Sparrow, to represent the family in the audience tonight. I'm drinking coffee as I write this, in the early hours of the afternoon.

 

The morning started off with rather cool temps. I'm forcing myself to pull weeds before breakfast, but I have to admit that I am now reaching the stage of gardening insouciance. I mean, it's the end of the season, control and order went out the door weeks ago! I tell myself it looks good this way -- overgrown, weary, subservient to the yellow heliopsis and eventually the purple asters. A tumble of spent summer stems and thriving early fall flowers.

(last of the August day lilies)

I feel it is too cool to eat breakfast outside on the porch. In early spring, a reading of 60f/15c would have sent me out there in a flash, but now my blood is used to a warmer air and a cool morning has me opt for the kitchen.

(false sunflower)

(real sunflower)

 

 

I had one more goal for the summer and it was to finish two photo books for the kids -- I did one before leaving for my trip and I had one left. I worked on that today. It's always such a huge project that it basically swallow the day and it did just that. By the time I was done, it was almost time to head out. 

 

*     *     * 

Okay, so how did the show go? This production, coming so close on the heels of the Midsummer Night's Dream, meant that there was a lot of work that had to be put in by Snowdrop to get herself up to speed with her lines. I needn't have been apprehensive though. She did brilliantly.

A cast of four: two young adults, two younger ones.

 

 

 

Sparrow was very proud! 

I had postponed supper until after the show. Ed and I always eat late in the summertime so it wasn't a huge deal to reheat soup after 9 pm.  

But ask me how peppy I feel right now. And how soon is my next foray into the dark world out there. (Not too soon!)

 

with so much love...