Backstage

I love to listen and observe…more than anything.

Does that surprise you, oh gentle reader? It should.

Those of you who know me know conversation is one of my favorite past times. And because I make quick decisions based on my intuition, not necessarily analysis or data.

But it’s true. I love to listen and observe.

And this morning, I’m in heaven. Heaven is actually backstage at the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton. It’s ENORMOUS! You could probably fit my entire house (basement to attic) in the backstage with room to spare. It’s also all blacked out. There are wires, switches, complicated panel boxes, pulleys, and miscellaneous equipment.

Behind the closed red, velvet curtain, the stage is set up for the Dayton Philharmonic. In fact, their scores are sitting in a stack in front of me as I type at a fold-up table in a captain’s chair. I flip through them reverently (after asking permission from the stage manager, of course). Aged paper, musty smell, penciled notes and mayhem on top of order. I love everything about it.

This all feels, surprisingly, like a natural habitat for me.

I’ve been backstage many times before, but I’ve never noticed how naturally I fit here. I’m sure it’s because this time I’m just an observer, not an active participant.

That should surprise you too, oh gentle reader. Those of you who know me know I am a very active person. By choice. I enjoy being active. I have more energy than I know what to do with. I like to be involved. I like to get things done. I even like to start things. Occassionally I even enjoy being on stage. Singing. Or talking. I can do both. And I do them well.

But backstage…well, it feels like home this morning.

Maybe it’s because the stagehands keep popping their heads in to share stories about their families, their jobs, their adventures, their dreams, their projects…their lives. I think the world of these people. They are some of my favorite people ever.

But maybe I feel at home here because it’s quiet other than the clicking of my keys while the show goes on. Maybe it’s because it’s a space just ready to be created into something…like a ship. Or a kingdom.

Whatever it is, I welcome it. It’s part of the complicated and unique dichotomy that I call “my charm.”

And this morning all I have to do is listen and observe.

Building a Boat

Intent, not content, she sat back and studied the horizon. Nothing in sight.

“Love is a trick
Meant to trap you. You hear?
You’re better alone.
You’ll be happier, my dear.
Heed my warning.
I sing it clear.
I will sing it gently
If it’s easier to bear.”,/span>

The siren sang long into the day. And the captain stood and listened on the beach.

Then she turned and walked away, into the woods and out of the song’s reach.

It was time to build a boat.

——————-

Resources in the woods were plentiful, but the best resource of all was the captain’s resourcefulness.

Day by day she sought and moved materials necessary for building a ship from the woods to the beach. And always the siren sang on. Sometimes she would stop her work and sit listening. More often than not, however, she simply worked diligently and in silence.

Her intent on pursuing conquests, treasure and adventure grew daily with the progress of the ship. But she knew that diligent work must be balanced with some recreation. And the siren’s song inspired her recreation for on the edge of the beach was a wood, and on the edge of the wood was a town. And nothing afforded the captain more recreation than observing the townspeople.

On evenings when the Sun was long on the way to setting, the Wind was mild and playful and the Rain far out to sea, the captain would find a spot in the town square that was both conspicuous and not and quietly eat an apple watching the bustling about.

There were signs of caged spirits to be found, for sure. Yet, just as frequently were faces full of joy and warmth and kindness. The young and old could be found at any hour of the day walking about holding hands, smiling, talking, laughing and even kissing. She smiled. And when she smiled, the townspeople took note.

It did not take long for the townspeople to appear at the beach to watch her build the boat. They would stand off to the side murmurring and pointing. And she would smile. Then they would approach and tell her their stories as she worked.

Young and old, women and men, she learned what made these people happy and sad, frustrated and hopeful. She heard about past heartaches and future plans. She heard their histories and their goals. And she pocketed these gifts as treasure. The treasure mounted as the ship’s progress continued.

Every now and again some man would ask her what she was doing. Generously, but very carefully and putting down her tools facing her questioner eye to eye, she would respond directly to the question. Occasionally one would even offer to help. Smiling and silent, she would consider the offer. But always she refused.

Then one day a group of engineers appeared to look over the building of the boat. Like the others, they stood off to the side watching the building, murmurring and pointing. And like the others, she smiled and they approached. Like the others they talked and she listened.

But one engineer merely set off and strode around the boat, looking, inspecting. The captain laid down her tools and focused on the inspection in progress. When it was complete, the engineer approached and gently, but methodically asked of the building process, the purpose of the ship, and, finally, how she managed to find her way to this shore on this island. She smiled, stepped away from the ship and sat down on the warm sand. He followed and, leaning on his elbow, looked up at her expectantly.

She spoke of the joy of living, the challenge of curiosity, the thrill of the pursuit of knowledge. She spoke of hard work, loyalty, and dedication to dreams – for conquests, treasure and adventure. The engineer listened. When she finished she asked him for his opinion of the ship, the ship-building process and his life on the island. He spoke of the joy of working, the challenge of curiosity, the thrill of the pursuit of achievement. He spoke of hard work, responsibility and ambitions – for conquests, treasure and adventure. She listened.

When he was finished speaking, he asked if he could help. Smiling and silent, she considered the offer. And consented.

The next day, he appeared. And the day after that. And the day after that. Every day the two worked side by side building the boat. Sometimes they would work silently except for consultations. Sometimes they would tell stories and laugh and discuss future plans. Sometimes they would debate the correct way to build. But together they worked daily and soon the ship was well on its way to being sea worthy.