Sunday, September 18, 2005
Life Intrudes
Before all this erupted, FOTB agreed to teach a new, experimental seminar in theatre and aging, part of what will be a new emphasis in graduate program. And with a colleague, won a grant from the folks in continuing education to support the offering. All very good. But: time is short from the time the grant is awarded to the offering of the two-week seminar, which will happen the first two weeks in August. So FOTB plunges into details, publicity, working with graduate asistant and colleague, amassing mailing list of potential students, etc. To complicate matters further, FOTB will be hosting a retreat for playwrights during the third week in August--again, a project set up well before TBTB made her announcement. This is the second year for the playwrights, so there's a commitment (the retreat is for members of a women playwrights' support group), and it involves lots of arrangements: housing, transportation, panels daily, volunteer actors to read the works in progress, etc.
It all happens, of course. But not without a fair amount of rushing about. The two week seminar as FOTB in class (his own) from 8:30 to 12:30 daily, and sitting in on colleague's session from 1:30 to 5:30. There are additional sessions in the evenings. Small group, with a mixed group: some undergraduate students, a couple of graduates, and some senior types who can sit in on the course for free, being over 60. The playwrights' retreat is also time consuming (and POTB host two Ohio corn roasts as part of the week). FOTB gets playwrights about (and here's three of the writers, with FOTB, in a trendy place called "Betty's" in Columbus's Short North district--see also www.theshortnorth.com/Restaurants.htm for more about the district in general and Betty's in particular); it's fun and rewarding, and well worth it. If tiring--
Meanwhile, MOTB continues sewing, creating patterns as she goes, adapting and changing things as TBTB adjusts things from afar. The satin tulle for the dress has to be handbasted, and is, MOTB mutters, 'slippery.' The lace for the overdress tends to fray, so it's decided that it will all have to have a handsewen applique to solve that. Lace and satin and lining bits start to drift about the sewing room, which is TBTB's original room, now guest room off the computer room. Pins are dropped. Perhaps having a braided rug on the floor wasn't all that good an idea--even if the rug was braided by TBTB's grandmother some fifty years ago, with wool remnents from the textile mills of Massachusetts--all now long gone, so the rug itself is an historic artifact, as well as being a family heirloom. And as the rug's maker is now in Columbus, nearby in a nursing home and in relatively good shape at 93, that adds to the rug's value. Now, of course, it's a bit of a menace. The playwrights, however, find the whole dress project fascinating, and cheer MOTB on.
There are several more trips to JoAnn Fabrics etc. Finally, after one final corn roast, the playwrights depart. Valuable time for all. It's now fourth week in August. Three weeks to go! TGTB will arrive in Norfolk this week, then, right after Labor Day, both TB and TG TB will appear in Columbus, last minute arrangements made, and all will go wonderfully. Oh, and we've arranged a string trio, headed by an old friend, Susan Walsh (who plays weekly at Mozart's, a terrific Austrian pastry shop and bakery and restaurant); FOTB begins effort to have the couple recess to "Anchors Aweigh."
