There are some phases in life when I completely drop off the
face of the earth. Busy with work, with school, with existential crisis, with
whatever. Unfortunately, you caught me in one of those phases in the past month
or so I haven’t been able to post. And for those of you new readers in the past
month of Sing for America’s blog, hello. I’m Tristan J. Shuler. As you’ll hear,
I live in New York City (and the irony of that is I always only find time to
post here when I’m visiting the Lehigh Valley) but a lot has gone on in the
past month. Tarzan?! SAY WHAA, SO EXCITED. I only have ONE WEEK left of classes
before my examination plays at the Academy. I’m a manager at a restaurant I’ve
been working at in Chelsea. I love going to gym (who knew that would ever
happen), and I’m back on my feet.
Everyone has those significant events that set them back or
set them forward, but nonetheless move them somehow. One of my greatest friends
that I’ve met in the city experienced a huge loss weeks ago, and it’s odd,
because well, that’s not my loss so why should I be affected? And yet I think
it meant more to me than even makes sense. Death is some crazy phenomenon that
no one really likes to talk about, but it’s so important. What’s even more
important is making our lives worth the most that they can be. Watching someone
and trying to help someone mourn, if that’s even possible, is one of the
hardest things I’ve yet to face, but still I feel like it has been one of the most
important experiences. My empathy has developed and, more importantly, I
learned how to stay by someone’s side in perhaps the hardest situation for them
to deal with. And the beauty of it is that we can all accept how human we are,
because when we do that, we are a community. We are an ensemble of people who
can live and work together. We are humanity. Not such a crazy thing.
In other aspects, I think humanity certainly must be crazy
with some of the people I see each day. I crossed paths with a woman the other
day on the sidewalk who stopped before me and yelled, “WILL YOU JUST SHUT THE F*** UP?!?!” I was like, “Um…uh…did
I say anything.” And then she started hacking like a cat with a hairball stuck
in its throat and I don’t know if I should have called the ambulance perhaps
but instead I went and got a cookie at Subway. Should I feel ashamed? Or nah.
It’s that time of the year where I’m thinking, “Oh gosh,
what’s next?” This month has flown by. All the grief in retrospect seems like a
few days. It all kind of mixes together, and that’s only how I feel as an
outsider. Time flies. And now my friend is on his feet again, struggling but
there. And I think he’s doing amazingly. He inspires me and I love seeing him
as much as I do. I don’t know if I’ll stop worrying about him for a while, but
we’re back. And Spring is here. Beautiful springtime. I think everyone has
their own blossoming of Spring, when things fall into place for them after a
hectic Winter or the future starts to look bright again! I’m waiting for my
Springtime blossoming.
David Mamet theorizes in “Three Uses of the Knife” about how
human nature is to make relations between the weather and mood or the weather
and everyday luck. “I don’t feel good because of the rain” or “Everyone’s moody
– it’s cloudy outside.” “it must be the weather.” I don’t know if it’s a
frivolous thing to blame the weather for our own faults, but I’ll go ahead and
blame the weather for the future looking up. This summer is going to be
amazing. Beautiful and warm and eventful. Sing for America’s on a role. Youth
theatre is ever so powerful. And your Spring time is coming. Promise.
Oh oh oh! And one last thing, some PHENOMENAL theatre
artists I know are producing a series called “Goody Goody,” filming its pilot
in May of this year. There’s only about 10 MORE DAYS to help them find the
funds to do so, and I suggest you check it out for sure! It’s an historical
comedy about colonial women finding their ways in a newfound celibate society.
Hilarious, and I think a definite success! These, I remind you, are some of the
people who have fostered me as an actor and director, and therefore, I think
simply must be the bee’s knees! DO IT!
I’m back,
Tristan J. Shuler
R.I.P. Nikki Scott
R.I.P. Grandma Piegza
No comments:
Post a Comment