There was this line...
In The Lake House, Sandra Bullock's character's mom says something along the lines of, "I like knowing we have been in the same book." About reading her late husband's books and it being a comfort. Right now, all I have with a certain missing friend, are the books we read in common. I suggest, he suggests. I read and I like feeling like I've been somewhere he enjoyed visiting--even if I didn't like going there. (Cough, cough. Atlast Shrugged anyone?)
And then there is the silver lining, redefining what we expect and what we know. I visited a friend in the hospital today. I was scared to death to go. I was scared to death to ask anyone if I should go. My skin crawled at the very idea of going. But, part of being in a community and having friends--is if they are in the hospital, you go. You get off your lazy ass and go to the fucking hospital.
And once I was there? Nothing I expected happened. My friend was in a great mood, he was laughing, he was aware, he was finding the silver lining. Now, I'm not a close friend and I'm sure his lovely wife hears a different tale. But I saw someone redefining his life. Shifting a point of view. And the next time I want to complain about ill fitting shoes or a charlie horse, I'll just shut my trap.
Finally, I had the pleasure of going to see Amy Guth read from her first published novel. She asked me to introduce her and that was fun. Man, do I want to get on stage now. I told the crowd to turn to the person next to them and say, "I don't need Oprah to tell me what to read." And they did!
I said, turn to the person next to you and say, "Man, Amy sure was funny last night on Conan O'brien." And they did! I said, turn to the person next to you and say, "Well my copy of Three Fallen Women is a first edition." Well, that was a bit harder to say, but people did it.
After the show, a woman I knew from my days at Tequila Roadhouse sat down for a nice chat. She said she'd always admired me for doing stand-up and was sad to hear I'd quit.
Did I mention I'd like to be doing stand-up again?
(Joy, if you are reading. I'm getting an improv team together, but will plan on stealing 15 minutes for myself.)
Here is what I said after we left...
Leah--so modest--only telling me you were at the reading. :) Wish I'd been
there, for a number of reasons, but mainly to support you & Amy both!
