What I learned from Come from Away

Recently a post was put on Twitter "What has Come From Away" Taught you. This show has taught me so much. Seeing this production was overwhelming.

What have I learned?

1. Be Kinder than you need to be.

2 Where you are is where you are meant to be.

3 Tomorrow may not be promised, so enjoy each moment that you have where you are.

4 Live in the moment.

5 If you think about someone, tell them.

6 It's amazing what some spare bedding can mean to someone.

7 There can be too much toilet paper.

8 Don't forget about the animals.

9 Some places are better than Disneyland

10 it's over 20 ft to jump from the door of a plane.

11 Fish CAN be cooked with cheese

12 someone needs to clean the bathrooms

13 the moose will move when she's good and ready

14 Take lots of pictures

15 Always share your vodka

16 It's okay to steal someones grill

17. let the puppy sleep

18. Do not judge a person by their looks

19. Love more

20. sometimes, just go to the bar.

21. Newfoundland has it's own timezone

22. What Toutens are

23. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you'll find your heart.

24. What an ugly stick is

25. Why rush tickets cost $38 (yeah, I should have figured that one out sooner)

26. That Come From Away fans are all wonderful

27. The Come From Away Cast is the kindest Cast on Broadway

28. That even before you visit Newfoundland the people are welcoming (I have been offered places to stay, places for dinner, and personal tours of Gander already)

29. If you knit for the Cast, they will wear your handknits (thank you Astrid)

30. I learned who Beverly Bass is

31. I learned that Jenn Colella is just wonderful, and why a wonderful friend admired her so much.

32. The CFA Cast will help You give back to others (thank you Petrina)

33. That trees will sprout leaves even after they are cut down.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38. I have learned what I want to be when I grow up.




To say I'm a Fan is an understatement. To say that I love the show is the tip of the iceberg. To say that the show moved me brings me to tears.

I've Lost 2 skeins of yarn

Yes, I still talk about knitting on my blog...

So, 2 years ago I visited Salt Lake City. I enjoy being a yarn tourist. What is a Yarn Tourist you say? When I visit a new place, i look for Yarn stores (what, you don'?)/ Visiting LYS throughout the country has let me meet new people, see local yarns, a learn about the local culture.

So, when I visited Salt Lake City i went to Blazing Needles this remains to be one of hte most interesting Yarn stores that I have ever visited. I gushed about it on my blog

So, While I was there I looked for local yarn, something I tend to do. I purchased 2 skeins of Summit. Yes, you read that correctly... It's cashmere.

I liked this yarn instantly because I loved what was written on the tag.

Utah surprises people because its people are surprising. We are journeyers, transplants, saints, and sinners. We gather in unusual places - knitting shops, cycling groups, book clubs, and outdoor summer concerts. We’re blessed with great heights, looking out over high desert valleys and glacier-cut canyons, appreciating the expanse and views.



I had plans for this yarn. I put this yarn in a safe place. I planned for this yarn to remind me of the absolute stunning beauty of Utah.

So, please... take a mmoment and send up a prayer for my missing skeins. It really wants to become something beautiful.

It Doesn't feel like Yesterday

I'm not writing this because I want people to feel sad, I'm writing this because the parts of me that want to forget this day knows that I never will.


I'm not going to lie and tell you that what happened last year feels like yesterday. Saying that would be untrue. This year has been so slow. Each moment has dragged. Maybe it's because I keep thinking "well, when one year happens it gets easier right?"

I don't think it does.

While it feels like forever ago, and much longer than a year, I can replay the moments of January 16th and 17th 2017 like they were yesterday. I can remember these moments like they just happened. I can remember jumping online just to see how things were going at work. I was planning to brag that I was eating key lime pie and getting a pedicure... but let's face it, I'm also a control freak and I had to check in, that's what I do.

Patrick had posted that you hadn't gotten online for your fundraising training. I was frustrated, I was annoyed, and I was concerned. It was a fine line that I was walking at that moment. Concerned that something was wrong, annoyed that you hadn't reached out for help... But I knew that we would reach you and it would be okay.

But this time you didn't answer. This time you didn't jump back online. This time you weren't there.

I went to watch the sunset.

You still hadn't called back.

I called Ll, told her we needed to call the Queens police for a wellness check. She said that wasn't something that we could do.

I found your sister and mom on Facebook. I told them we were concerned.

Then we waited. I had terrible dreams that night. I knew something wasn't right.

mom and I left Key west. Patrick Texted. I told him I could call him back in 5 minutes.

We pulled into the parking lot of a garden center. Patrick told me you were gone...

I called L. I made lists.... who should we call? Who should we tell? How would we tell people? I couldn't let people hear about this over social media.

We got to the car rental place. I spoke with Dottie. someone had already told her.

I got on the shuttle bus and my phone rang. It was a Jacksonville number. I knew it would be your mom. I couldn't make her say it. I told her "I heard.... and I'm so sorry..."

I went through security and people started calling me. I realized a couple of people that I should call, because I would be on a plane soon.

I went to the convenience store at the airport. I looked for tissues, I got a snack and a water.

I got on the plane. I felt it was a good time to start watching Parks and rec (thankful that Amy Poehler could get me through this rough time)

I landed in Boston. Carla Jean had posted the announcement. I called Brian, and he already knew.


I got back to Salem. I got a roast beef sandwich. I snuggled with my cat and I cried.

I cried almost every day for months. I don't remember the first day that I didn't cry, but I remember it happening.

Yes, I found joy this year. I found joy discovering the shows and performers that you always told me to listen to (translation... I discovered Jenn Colella and Christianne Knoll), I have chosen to love musical theatre without apologies.

Yes, I have dealt with loss. I wish I could pinpoint why your loss hurts so much. Yours is a loss that will stick with me. I miss you. I miss you a lot. I wish we had more time. We should have seen Jenn colella together. You should have been here to see Christiane with me. I chalk that up to things that just aren't fair.

Hope

When I started going back to church I learned what Advent really was. I remember walking into a church on the first Sunday of Advent. I was not in a great place. I had hurt myself a few days before. I was in pain, I was frustrated, I was feeling sorry for myself. The choice to go back to church was almost one of obligation, the choice of the church was convenience... I could walk there because my injury limited my driving.

I realized it was the start of Advent and I thought "Oh great, everyone is going to be excited for Christmas and I'm just not there yet." The first words spoken by the pastor that day were "Waiting is hard." She went on to discuss how while we are in a joyful season, we are waiting for something. WE are waiting for something when days shorter and there is more darkness. We are waiting and that just isn't easy.

It was the first Advent season where I listened to what each week meant, I thought the candles were just for each week. I'm sure I was taught what they meant when I was a child, but I was an adult now. The first week of advent symbolizes hope.

One of these Decembers I am going to sit here and think "Wow, that was an amazing year" and I really can't wait until I get to do that. Instead I sit here one more December and I am thinking "This year was rough". I won't say I want it to be over so that I can start new, because I know better than to think that January 1st will bring amazing things. Really it just brings a new page on the calendar.

This week I have hope that I can look back on this year and find my moments of joy. I will look back on the moments of sadness, as those moments have shaped me this year.

Today I ran

Back in April I took time off from running. I ran my third half marathon in 13 months. I took time off because I was afrad I was going to get injured. It didn't take me long to get into a rutt. The rut felt terrible. I couldn't get moving, I couldn't get into a routine. Sure, I ran a 5k in october, I even had a good time, but it wasn't the same.

So, today I ran. I'm hoping I can keep it going.

Why I'm procrastinating

So, I'm applying to grad school and I'm procrastinating. I keep finding alternative projects. a nap, knitting, cleaning, walking the dog, taking a shower, laundry. You name it, I have started doing THAT instead of finishing up my essay.

Why?

because what happens when I hit that button? What happens when I send this off? It means I have to be chosen. It means I may not. Yes, I'm afraid of not being chosen.

So, that's why I haven't started writing the essay yet, let's see if I can finish it today.

I WILL finish it today.

When I saw Come From Away .. and became an Awaynic

My sister Jen and I Rushed Come from Away. We got to the line at 5 am and were number 2 and 3 in line. We chose to rush because the tickets are $38 and because it's something that we enjoy doing. ((38 planes landed, rush seats are $38, I only wish I got that significance earlier, duh)

Of course I was knitting on the line. I was working on the last of my hats for the cast of the show. Everyone seemed to find it rather entertaining that not only was a knitting, but that I was knitting for the cast.

We got our tickets and I went to work for the morning.

I had been listening to the Soundtrack since the day it was released. Since the first song I knew it was something special. So many lyrics hit me. From the lines "I don't know what to do 'cause I can't watch the news anymore" to "Something's gone" . . . I knew it was a show that would not only receive a lot of playtime, but that would be with me for a long time.

The Come From Away cast is made up of a cast of 12 actors. Each actor portrays multiple characters to tell the stories of the thousands of people that were stranded in Gander and the town that welcomed them. Each character touched my heart, but some certainly stood out.

Bob, portrayed in the original company by Rodney Hicks was just wonderful. I had the pleasure of seeing Rodney in the Original case of Rent, and seeing him again was a true gift. At so many moments his character brought me from tears to immediate laughter. I won't give away my favorite moments of his character, you just have to be there.Being able to meet Rodney after the show and thank him for being a pat of two productions that have truly shaped my life was Something that I will always cherish.

Bonnie Harris, portrayed by native Newfoundlander Petrina Bromley Is a character that will always be close to my heart. In the town of Gander, Bonnie runs the SPCA ( believe she still does). All of the citizens of Gander and surrounding communities welcomed the stranded passengers. Bonnie was a voice for the voiceless, the animals that were traveling on the planes that day. After seeing the show I found myself doing a lot more research on Gander, and of course even looking at flights so that I can visit. I discovered Bonnie's facebook profile and in true "awaynic" fandom mode, I sent her a message. I thanked her not only for sharing her story, but for speaking for the voiceless. This was her response.

I could talk about every single character in this show. I could talk about how I hope that every girl growing up can see Jenn Colella portray Beverly Bass and know that they can truly achieve the dreams that they have when they are 8. I could talk about how I was touched by Buella (portrayed by Astrid Van Wieren) Never left Hannah's side and how her practical "get it done" nature is one that I can relate to on a daily basis .. I could talk about how my own fear on 9/11 when I saw the first destroyed firetruck came back to me eveytime Hannah spoke. I could talk about how when Kendra Kassenbaum, portraying the flight attendant, showed the fear that we all had. The paralyzing fear of not knowing what, o who, to be afraid of. I could say a lot, but then I would be rambling (and I already am) I haven't even started on the Kevins, Oz, Or the Mayor Claude...

Through all of this fear this production reminds us that there is hope. There is kindness. There are still safe places where we can be welcomed. Seeing this show once and still having these feelings just goes to prove it's impact.


Irene Sankoff and David Hein have given us a gift. The opportunity to see this week in the life. My eyes of truly been re-opened to the importance of sharing our stories. When I lost my grandfather 2 years ago I felt as if part of my own history was lost forever. What didn't I ask him, what didn't I know, how can I learn more about his past and more importantly our family's past?

Someone that has shared his story is Kevin Teureff (the Real Kevin T). Kevin has published a book called "Channel of Peace" which I highly recommend reading.