Strengthening Resolve and Our Power To Effect Change

I’d been toying with the idea of a gym membership lately, and indeed, found a Pilates Plus studio in Burbank in the same complex where the Cycle Bar studio is. Two classes later, after almost tumbling from atop the sliding padded chassy on the MegaFormer, I retreated to the safety of my bedroom to an online pilates class through Silver Sneakers. The terror on the IRL pilates instructor’s face was enough to convince me that I was not ready for Pilates Plus, regardless of how convenient the studio is to my home. Thanks to my friend Kevin at the Food Bank, I enrolled in Silver Sneakers, which I was eligible for through Medicare. You most likely are, too!

Back in pre-pandemic times, I used to spin regularly, and take a HIIT class where we did Burpees and all sorts of things no one wants to see this sixty-five-year-old body do now. Imagine if you will, me prone on my shockingly dramatic carpet in my room, craning my neck to the right to see Kait on the Silver Sneaker’s app doing the exercises. Who needs a mat? I do, it turns out, and I also need to pair my phone to the TV in my bedroom so I don’t throw my neck out trying to see the instructor. I’ve been doing clamshells with a resistance band for my knee post-op exercises, but somehow adding in the slow bicycle move in the online pilates class almost did me in. Fortunately, it’s a webinar, so the only evidence I’m there is in the chat at the start of the class. Thirty minutes felt like an eternity, as I recalled the Hiit classes of yesteryear and strengthened my resolve.

I got out a lot last week to see some theater around town. I particularly loved Eureka Day at the Pasadena Playhouse on Friday evening, which I saw with my friend Stan. I have taken to not really reading much about shows before I see them. I find coming in cold is a good strategy for maximum enjoyment. It surprises me to say that since I’ve spent my life reading plays and preparing for productions, but somehow in retirement, it feels good to be surprised. The play, by Jonathan Spector, directed by Teddy Bergman, is set in the library of a progressive day school in Berkeley, CA. It is the site of the annual meetings of the school’s head, faculty, and guest parents, where they discuss issues that are in need of discussion around policies. When necessary, the group broadens to include other community members, as it does in one of the funniest scenes I’ve seen in the theater in years. The play moves along quickly, at an hour forty five without an intermission, and the direction and acting was solid. I won’t spoil it by saying that topic in need of discussion is the school’s vaccination policy due to a mumps outbreak, and the playwright manages to deftly and humanely present different perspectives on vaccines. The play is timely and fresh, and the presentation of community agreements feels particularly relevant right now. There were several outstanding performances, including by Mia Barron, Charise Boothe and Camille Chen. The head of school was played with irritating hilarity by Rick Holmes. The set, by Wilson Chin, beautifully frames the action with a back wall featuring the library’s books, and tall windows which allow us to see the passage of the mornings to early evenings to night, thanks to Elizabeth Harper’s exquisite lighting. Denitsa Bliznakova’s costumes with many quick changes to indicate the passage of the school year render the characters with sharp clarity. John Nobori’s sound design supports the drama well that unfolds during and between meetings. The script is funny and expects us to keep up, especially in the community forum scene, where the meeting’s chat is displayed on a large projection screen (Projection design by David Bengali). Those characters are equally clearly and individually defined much to the delight of the audience. There were moments in that scene where the action on stage was inaudible due to the explosive laughter of the audience. I had a ball and highly recommend this show. It’s there til October 5th, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it got extended. I hope for your sake that it does! Shout out to the SM team of David S. Franklin and Lisa Toudic!

Our dad is getting settled into his new place. Sunday I spent the afternoon with him, taking a trip to Staples to get a filing cabinet for his office. What unfolded was more proof that I need a gym. I could feel the Pilates Plus impact on my strengthening-but-currently-non-existent core while I was down on the floor. Dad treated me to dinner afterwards, which was very nice.

We’ve been eating out a lot with him lately, which also recommends the gym for me, but it is so great to have him so close by so that we can do that.

Tuesday night I had dinner with Dad in the dining room, and afterwards we retreated to the lobby where one of the residents who is the unofficial president of the community had organized charades for about twelve to fifteen residents there. Dad and I joined in and I recalled both why I am not very good at charades, and how much I enjoy spending time with the wiser older generation. My first outing was “The French Connection” and after lamely constructing the Eiffel Tower with my hands, then miming placing a jaunty beret atop my head, I looked out at their expectant faces befuddled with confusion over my ineptitude. I started to try to french kiss my hand and heard Arthur, the organizer quip, “They aren’t going to get that.” Too late, I was mortified and committed to my attempt. Had one of the three Dons in the group not saved me, I could have been there all night.

Don Jr. and I continue to walk at the reservoir. This week, we saw an entire family of deer expectantly waiting to be fed by walkers like us. The buck was proud and skeptical about these humans, but eventually came close enough to get a carrot or two.

This week has been another remarkable week in the history of our declining democracy. Every day the fact that we are so divided becomes more vivid, as does the imperative nature of maintaining free speech. One of my favorite illustrations of the impact individuals and artists can have was underlined in the interview Katie Couric did with Meidas Touch founder, Ben Meiselas today in a moment where they discussed the statue that appeared on the Mall this week but has already been removed. This story by Callum Sutherland from Time Magazine covered it’s appearance.

The other day at the LA Regional Food bank where I work with a great group of long time volunteers, Rick leaned over and said, “Do you know the story of the hummingbird and the forest fire?”

Being surprised that I didn’t know the story, he told me it. I’ve taken the liberty of finding it to share with you below.

The Story of the Hummingbird

One day a terrible fire broke out in a forest – a huge woodlands was suddenly engulfed by a raging wild fire. Frightened, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest. As they came to the edge of a stream they stopped to watch the fire and they were feeling very discouraged and powerless. They were all bemoaning the destruction of their homes. Every one of them thought
there was nothing they could do about the fire, except for one little hummingbird.
This particular hummingbird decided it would do something. It swooped into the stream and picked up a few drops of water and went into the forest and put them on the fire. Then it went back to the stream and did it again, and it kept going back, again and again and again. All the other animals watched in disbelief; some tried to discourage the hummingbird with comments like, “Don’t bother, it is too much, you are too little, your wings will burn, your beak is too tiny, it’s only a drop, you can’t put out this fire.”
And as the animals stood around disparaging the little bird’s efforts, the bird noticed how hopeless and forlorn they looked. Then one of the animals shouted out and challenged the hummingbird in a mocking voice, “What do you think you are doing?” And the hummingbird, without wasting time or
losing a beat, looked back and said, “I am doing what I can.”

from Changing Oneself To Change The World

We are all doing what we can. Drop by drop. Box by Box. Find your lane where you can be of service. Be strong and resilient. Collectively we can make a difference.