a lifetime in six weeks

Wow - I've been saying for a while that I need to update my blog - I can't believe the last post was just over a month ago! It seems like forever, and that I've lived a lifetime in the past six weeks.

It took me a the better part of a day to get out of Florida - I just didn't want to leave! I ended up climbing the 2nd tallest lighthouse in the U.S., drove through Daytona Beach, and bought a bag of oranges you can only get in Florida (oooh, yummy!).

Over the next few days I drove through Georgia, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Virginia. Among other things, I saw a submarine that looked like it was surfacing out of the ground, a one-footed bird, a 25' tall can of 7-up, a 30' mailbox painted like a cow, a 10' roller skate, the world's largest frying pan, the world's largest tire, and the smallest church in America. Needless to say, I had the time of my life driving up the coast!

I stopped in the DC area for 3 days, spending the first night with my old friend, Meredith - we haven't seen each other in years, and I will plan better next time and be able to spend more time with her, Lucky, and Peggy. The next couple nights were spent in the Baltimore area with my friend, Howie, and his lovely new wife, Patty. Patty and I are like sisters now, and I can't wait to go back and visit. I'm so happy for them both. While in the area I also had the delight of visiting my magical friend, Alain, meeting his daughter, and getting to know him better. Yay for visiting with friends!

I went to the Holocaust museum - both because I have wanted to for years, and also to do research for my book. I wish I had planned better and given myself about 5 more hours to be there. When I was leaving, there was a school group ahead of me - and I didn't have a chance to talk with the Holocaust survivors that were kind enough to donate their time. I really want to get back there soon. So much was haunting and moving about the experience - but the few things that affected me the most - the list of the towns that are no more, inscribed in 1" letters in the windows of one of the walkways - the sheer volume of space used begins to put the huge numbers into perspective. Next was the railcar - I got to stand in the middle of the car used to transport people to the camps - it would have felt cramped with 25 people in it, and they crammed on average 100 people at a time into each car. And oddly, the huge photograph of the stacks of hair that had been shaved off women's heads to be sold for pillow stuffing and other projects. I don't understand why, but that photograph almost disturbed me more than anything else I saw that day.

Then it was onward North again, to visit with friends and see their lovely growing family, have dinner with my dear friend, Bobby, just outside of NYC, and then to spend a couple nights in Bridgeport, with my good friend, Nate. I interviewed at ARS Nova in NYC (literally next door to where they film the Colbert Report!), and really enjoyed being back in NYC again after missing it for so many months. I also discovered that there is a Catholic church in Bridgeport, CT that has gardens designed after the Vatican - very pretty, with lots of nice statues.

Going through CT I saw the world's tallest elevator (in a building with no windows!), and visited with Dana & Dorrie in West Hartford. Finally I have landed back in Western MA, staying with friends and doing some housesitting. I've been able to take in some good theatre, and am enjoying being back among friends and catching up with folks I haven't seen in a while.

It has firmed up that March 27-April 28 I will be touring with "Menopause the Musical" on a 5-week midwest tour - after that, not sure exactly what's happening.

And so the adventure continues.... :)