January 18th, 2016
I went out for a few storm requirements, movies to watch, books to read, and the obligatory box of cereal, and there was no storm. The dread, the indication of gigantic, huge, massive storm, all of which set up to flashbacks up to last winter, when we were getting pulverized. I did all the prep the snow tent, blankets and pillows on the sofa, and there they lingered. The HUGE, massive gigantic storm, missed us, by mere real estate. The nearby province got a beating, but not us here in the big little city. It was simply a most tepid of days, positively summer like, in temperatures. In complete disbelief, took off the long undergarments’ when returning the movies and the concluding hike of the day for Lucy P. Sunday night in the big city, was then quiet. Not too many citizens ambling thru snow banked streets either.
While attending to the basic necessity of clean cutlery, I was made conscious, thru the magic of the radio, that there was at the local movie theatre, a live performance! Of an opera. Never having been to one, I deliberated and came to the conclusion of, why not? The ticket, that had been issued in a don’t hate us gesture, that had sat on my desk for a year, was about to expire.. This could be a story line I would I thought be vaguely able to follow, as years ago, and I know this is difficult to believe, I had a tape, yes, you my dear and gentle readers, red that correctly, a tape (have it downstairs’ in the basement somewhere) with operatic arias, given to me by a somewhat cultured gentleman, and therefore familiar with the refrains of this particular opera. The timing sandwiched between naps was extremely excellent. I fluffed up my wig and wiggled into my belt, and OFF thus departed to the indigenous academy of film.
There I was LIVE ! ( from New York,) analogous to the occupants of the movie theater. There was not a sole under 50, grey hair abounded, nevertheless the enthusiasm! SO was the opus to come. It was SIMPLY magnificent, I never use one word when ten would suffice as you my dear and gentle readers are on familiar terms with. THE passion, fervor, zeal, the colours, the lights, the action. I have been humming the opening male duet by myself and in view of the fact that, a feat I have to cry out all the while flinging my arms about.
An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I’ve left the opera house. Maria Callas & MOI