Happy Things

As I've been clicking through my old folders of photographs the past few days to decide on pieces of my work to show on this blog, I've stumbled across some happy memories. Thought I'd post some. I'm smiling with such deep contentment as I think of these.

This was taken at Cooper Young Fest in Memphis in 2014. It was one of two 30 Days of Opera events I made it down to the city for that year. This was one of the pop up operas. The other was Death By Aria. That was such a nice, relaxed, happy afternoon of hanging out with Opera Memphis folks. Just plain delight.

This was taken in 2011. Colin Mochrie and me. Oh, my heart!!! He and his wife Deb are two of my very most favorite people. I love them with all my might. Colin is a HUGE percentage of why I'm so into improv. If drag queens have drag mothers, I guess Colin is my improv father? Bonus prize: he gives the Best. Hugs. Ever. The most absolutely snuggly perfect hugs in the universe! 

(It's hard to think about the fact that Deb is one of the people I let down the most last September. She believed in me, and I blew it. I haven't talked with her in months. I'm scared to. I don't know if she's even willing to talk with me. She was so upset.)

Taken at Temple Israel in Memphis in 2013. Micah Greenstein, me, and Gilad Kariv. Kariv was in the US to speak at the URJ Biennial. He stopped briefly in Memphis to speak at temple before flying back to Israel. I drove down to attend, and it ended up being one of the best nights of my entire life. It was an incredible experience. Pure joy. Someday, I'll tell y'all that story. It is a good, good story. I was who I am supposed to be that night. I was so alive that night. 

June 2013, the first time I ever set foot at Second City, the destination at the end of a very peculiar, decades long journey

The most lovable, motley crew you could ever hope to chase ghosts out of a basement with, ride a train full of taxidermy across Australia with, or do invisible surgery with!!! And, what's a little cannibalism among improv partners? Stacey, I'll always save you from volcanoes. Scott, stop sniffing cocaine off of a hooker's inner thigh. Kevin, I'll trade back rubs and hugs with you any day. I think of you every time I hear the song Valerie. Mel, I still don't know what was on the ceiling, but I think we've finally destroyed the last of the reanimated dinosaur skeletons. Charee, thank you for helping me become comfortable with making checking-in eye contact. You're the only person allowed to stick her tongue out at me before a scene. And, Micah P., thank you for quietly protecting me while loudly forcing me to be brave. Making you laugh is still the biggest reward and the hardest to earn. "I need 5 up." "That was awesome. Now sit the fuck down!" There have been others before and since, but y'all remain the dearest! p.s. There's another raccoon!