Long trip, People.
Still in London.
It’s weird how untethered I used to get traveling. Like as soon as I left where I lived I became totally ungrounded and painfully lonely. Almost like I was invisible. It’s a strange psychological phenomenon that I can’t really explain.
I remember when I was kid and my parents went on trips I would fall apart. I would think they would die. Usually in a plane crash. I would picture it over and over again until I became physically ill sometimes. Maybe that panic of being away from what I know or the patterns I’m used to cause panic for myself and who and whatever is in my life.
Stopping my brain from churning is hard. Seems harder now for some reason. I miss Kit. I miss the cats. I miss my routine. I just assume something awful is going to happen and I won’t be there.
I guess that’s what it is. Anxiety. That doesn’t quite explain my feeling of alienation when I’m away or in a different country. Psychological, emotional. It doesn’t really happen state to state. It doesn’t really happen like it used to. There is a hint of it still there. The odd loneliness. It’s a bit debilitating in terms of enjoying myself or getting out and about.
I have been though. I’ve been having some fun in and outside of my head. I have been busy and okay over here in London.
I immediately went to the Tate Modern. I love that space. I saw a big Cezanne exhibit. It’s always good to hang around with the Cezannes. I saw the sculptures of Maria Bartuszová. Amazing. Helen Hunt reached out to me to tell me about a play she is in here, Eureka Day. Mark McKinney is in it as well. I went. It dealt with many of the issues we all confronted in the political clash of woke and unwoke around cultural issues and science in a very accessible, entertaining and funny way. Maybe it will make it to the states. I ate at amazing places like Nopi, Bocca Di Lupo, Engawa, Dishoom, Tayyabs and The Ham Yard. I had to go to Starbucks. I felt bad. I just couldn’t take any more espresso drinks. Needed a huge drip coffee to get the job done American style.
I did a live podcast with David Baddiel which went very well. Too well. We’re almost the same person. It was like a secular-atheist-cat-loving-not-so-pro-Israel Jew summit between two comics from different countries. I think I should probably talk to him in the garage at some point to find out more about myself. I did talks with Armando Iannucci, Rob Delaney and Courtney Love one on one. All very exciting and moving in their own ways. I’m excited for you to hear all the work.
I’ve done one standup show here as of this writing. The Bloomsbury Theatre show last night was just right. Perfect sized venue (around 500) and a great crowd. My opener was perfect, Ania Magliano. Very funny.
Tomorrow, Ireland.
Some very earnest chats this week. Today I talk to Jeremy Strong about acting and life. Thursday, I talk to jazz legend Ron Carter about music and life. Great talks.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron
A Different Country.
