Wow! People were
dancing in the streets for days!!!
My friend Jessica Nooney
I’ve
even seen an increase in my neighborhood peeps wearing masks.
Connected?
I don’t know.
My buddy set up my laptop.
It didn’t go totally smoothly because of many technical things that are
beyond my ability to re-tell. For the
first time, I was able to attend the Wednesday night poetry workshop where
everyone was able to see and hear me as I see and hear them. That was fun.
However, I did have to put on a shirt, look decent, etc. J I was also able to fully participate in a
poetry festival this past Sunday.
My secret angel made this all possible. The laptop with a webcam and mic was a gift
that boosts me into this era.
Amazing. One never knows where
blessings will come from next. This
person wants to remain anonymous.
Whatever he wants in that regard is fine with me. I’ll just say he is from the writing
community. My jaw is still hanging. Oh, in case anyone’s thoughts went there, no,
he’s not trying to sleep with me. He is
happily and committedly partnered up. He’s
seen me at poetry readings where I read my stuff, he’s been to a few comedy
shows where I performed, he’s heard some memoir pieces of mine, he reads my
blogs and knew I lived without certain things, and he wanted to help. He really stepped me into this era. I have often said in previous blogs that I so
appreciate the angels on Earth who remind me of certain things… like God/dess
hasn’t forgotten me.
As evil as the human race can be, it is also magically
humane. I’ve seen both and experienced
both. Both amaze me.
And since this is a comedy-related blog, I will share
something that made me feel good in that part of my life. On
12/21/2018, a week and some days before Cornelia Street Café had to close, I
was in a variety show there, produced by Kathryn Adisman, where I did comedy. Kathryn recently came across a review by Sarah
Dowson in the West View News. We were not aware that there was a reviewer
in the place. This is what Ms. Dowson
wrote (I am mentioned in the third paragraph):
Villagers Speak as Cornelia Street Café Curtain Comes Down
02/04/2019
Ghost City Cabaret
Friday night, December 21, 2018, 50 or so poetry and Cornelia
Street Café lovers turned to the light for winter solstice and a final evening
at the café, due to close in several days. Years ago, when I wrote poetry
regularly, I attended and read at open mics at the Cornelia Street Café. It was
a wonderful space for people to gather, express opinions and make friends. In
her introduction to this solstice evening, Ghost City Cabaret’s Katherine
Adisman (“K”), verbalized the concerns of many in attendance about the closings
of reasonably-priced gathering spaces in Manhattan.
Once inside after a wait in the bar/restaurant at street level,
and finding a seat downstairs, I passed two tiny gender-neutral restrooms at
right angles to each other, painted red. I remembered these, as well as the
long, narrow room with tables and chairs and a bar at its entrance. Sitting
comfortably was easier if one were small or thin. The cement walls were blue,
and a red curtain hung behind the stage in front.
A capacity audience of about 50 filled the room. Several
writers/performers gave presentations. My favorites: Mindy Matijasevic’s
“Comedy for Grown Folks” and drummer Fred Simpson’s musical offerings entitled
“Kindness” and “Goodbye, CSC” a tribute to the café. Su Polo gave an outstanding
performance of her essay, “A Walk into Christmas” about a possibly lonely
pre-holiday evening, walking her dog uptown from 27th Street to Rockefeller
Center, and being suddenly surrounded by carolers (her dog in the center of
their circle) and then being invited to sing carols: a festive, inclusive
evening after all.
After an intermission, open mic performers raced the clock to
give everyone a chance to perform, as the café was hosting another event
shortly. Ghost City Cabaret has been at Cornelia St. Café for four years. It
will revive, K said. “To be continued … in another dimension” the evening’s
flyer assured.
— Sarah Dowson
Much love to CGG-M ❤❤❤
Mindy Matijasevic
