Sidetracked Charley

Once it has been opened, you know it will not keep . I think I heard that in a movie pertaining to wine or other alcoholic spirits. I have used it to refer to dark chocolate bars and from time to time ice cream. But lately it seems to mean memories. Open as the first rush of remembering, and keep as closing them back off again. And it is not just about Las Vegas, New Mexico, but also the Bruce years. He died in October 2015 which did not bring those memories rushing back. But a mutual good friend has been helping his daughter sort through stuff, boxes and boxes of stuff. Dianne recently brought me a couple boxes of things she thought I might want to see. Things Sue did not want. Memories she did not want to open. I am at this moment not that sure I wanted to either. I totally understand why Sue escaped back to the coast fast. Today is sometimes only safe because we have closed off yesterday. But the Bruce years were a significant part of my life. Bruce introduced me to John Ste...

The Play's the Thing We met in the laundry mat I was in an off campus apartment He was in just out of a marriage house. He invited me to tryouts for Night of the Iguana. I didn't much like him Don't think he liked me I got a small part and lights He had a bigger role A brain and a car. I first fell in love with the theater. The director fell for all I could do My neighbor was in charge of delivering me. I remember my first lines Spoken in an amateur play I do not remember our first kiss The first time we shared a stage I remember better. I designed the costumes and sets for the Importance of Being Ernest He slept with the ingenue I did a 20 minute monologue In Androcles and the Lion. I played Mercy In The Crucible Proctor laid the lead witch I danced the cast parties With every actor but him. Moving in with him Seemed just another role A part to be studied And memorized Line perfect. The curtain never came down I just exited ...