Onward, People
First off, I’ll be in Nashville this Saturday November 19th at the James K. Polk Theatre. There are still a few tickets left if you want to come. I’ll be in Chicago back at The Vic Theatre December 3rd for two shows at 7:30 and 10. There are tickets available for both. Love that city.
I’m trying to get back to life. Well, I never left it but it’s been difficult. When the world you live in changes literally overnight and shifts into something that threatens what you think is right and good it is daunting, traumatizing. It’s like a death in a very real way or, more specifically, being diagnosed with an illness that may or may not kill you. I’m not trying to be dramatic but it is a blow to a lot of us. This is our country and now we have to navigate a new version of it that is going to require some vigilance and active engagement with who we are as people and how we engage with others. It will now take more courage to be who we are, shamelessly and proudly, as Americans. It happens. It has happened before. Admittedly this feels a lot worse but we don’t know what’s going to happen. No one does. I mean, it will be bad, but we are Americans, proud Americans with deep beliefs about how people should be treated and how we treat people.
I’ve being doing things, going to movies, eating out, dealing with cats and standup but there is the dark, looming uncertainty that hangs over life. Everything has urgency. It's visceral. An appreciation for what we have and what we want is healthy and necessary. I don’t know what stage of grief you are at but acceptance, aggravated acceptance, that happens before standing up and proudly living life and doing what we believe in is important and necessary. Also, there’s a good chance that many people you know are more vulnerable and in a more difficult position than you who might need to be looked out for. We need to get each other’s backs now in a real way because we don’t know if anyone has ours. Carry on.
Also, big news: I took Twitter off of my phone and it feels like I have freed myself from something destructive. Why exacerbate what might be PTSD with an onslaught of more anxiety and compulsion? I know the endorphin rush and cortisol surge is satisfying but don’t tap yourself. You might need that stuff just to get through the day.
It’s a big day today because I talked to Lin-Manuel Miranda. His show ‘Hamilton’ is a truly great example of American art that changes lives and shows what this country is at its best: Inclusive, tolerant and righteous. I loved talking to him and we even sang a bit, a very little bit. On Thursday the irascible Legs McNeil and his more level-headed writing partner, Gillian McCain, talk about the re-issue of ‘Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk Rock.’ It’s one of the greatest books ever written. I was thrilled to have them.
Enjoy!
Boomer lives!
Love,
Maron
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