Until one has loved an animal, part of one's soul remains unawakened. (Anatole France)

My sister's little cat, Topper, died on Sunday.  He lived a long life and was very pampered and loved by her, but, like many little creatures, he had a very difficult beginning.  Lots of people in cottage country think it's fun to have a cat for the summer, but then they abandon the poor animal when the season is done.  Topper's mother probably lived through that scenario.  When Rickie's friend, Ted, found Topper, he was living alone under a cottage.  He was a tiny kitten with an abscess on his tail and the vet told Rickie it appeared that he had never eaten solid food, and had been living on insects.  Rickie had mentioned to Ted that she thought she might like to get a cat, so when Ted found Topper, he thought, "here's a cat for Rickie!"  Of course, Rickie had heard that it wasn't necessarily a good idea to take a feral cat into your home, but when she demurred, Ted knew what to say.  "Okay, I'll just let him go under the cottage again.  He won't be a problem for long."  What could she do?

At first, Topper was very frightened of everything and spent a lot of time in Rickie's bathroom, hiding under the sink, but gradually he came to trust her and it didn't take her long before she loved him with all her heart.   He was a pretty cat, mostly black with white markings, fluffy, very lively.  Early in the morning, he'd get quite frisky and start running around the apartment, leaping up on things with no effort, and yowelling loudly.  He travelled out here to the west coast and met our dogs and Orlando, my bird.  He came to Saskatchewan when my mother was still alive, and had a violent encounter with a Weyburn cat, in which he fled the scene, leaving Rickie behind to fight off the interloper.

When Carlos came into the picture, they approached each other with a bit of wariness, but Topper had soon won Carlos over, too.  Carlos can be gruff, but it's amazing what a small animal can do to an otherwise sensible adult.   Carlos liked to tell stories about Topper's antics and tease him a bit (like Mike teases Daisy) and Rickie says he is almost as sad as she is about Topper's death.

Topper was 21 years old when he died.  Over the last month, he struggled to walk and finally on the weekend, he wasn't interested in eating, so Rickie knew it was his time.  He died peacefully at home, on his cat bed with Rickie and Carlos there.

It is so hard when we lose a pet.  We have had this experience with all our dear dogs over the years and this year, we lost my buddy, Orlando, after a lifetime together (he was 30 - a very long life for a cockatiel).  They trust us so completely, and love us without question, and then we watch them get old and feeble and sometimes we have to decide what's best for them in the end.  People understand, in some ways, what is happening to them as they get old and sick, but our pets just look at us faithfully and trust that we will do our best for them.  I remember what Mr. Allison said when he lost his dog.  He remembered how enthusiastic Rocky was about everything.  How wonderful his dog food tasted!  How thrilling it was to go for a walk or fetch a ball (one hundred times)!  And he made Mr. Allison think about how wonderful life is, too.  And that is their gift to us.  One of their gifts.  They aren't ever ashamed of themselves.  They don't worry about what people think of them.  They can't be embarrassed.  They are what they are and they will always try to do their best and not be concerned if it doesn't work out.  Rickie said, as Topper got older, he wasn't able to jump up on things like he used to.  He'd try, but he wouldn't make it.  But after suffering defeat with equanimity, he would just sit on the floor and look at the structure that had defeated him and seem to be thinking, "oh well, I'll try later.  Maybe I'll make it then."

Death is a part of life, I know, but a very difficult one.  We can't really understand how it happens and lots of time it seems terribly unfair and we feel angry or shocked or inconsolable.  For me, it seems terrifyingly final.  But there is nothing we can do about it.  Just like little Topper and like Orlando and Frazier (our dear old dog, who died three years ago), we must enjoy the taste of our food, and the joy of doing our best, and the love of our family, and invest ourselves fully in each moment that we have.

Wish for Good Health!

Gloriosky, was I sick on Christmas Day!  I woke up feeling rather queasy and got through the gift opening and getting the turkey into the oven (and walked my good girl, Daisy, who gets a walk out of me, even if I'm on death's door) and then I felt really awful and got into bed.  I was sick to my stomach and all achy and shaky (not a poem, but a rhyme) and was out of commission for the remainder of the day.  Mike had to finish things off Christmas dinner-wise, and he said it felt just like a regular week day, trying to get the meal on, whereas usually on Christmas, or one of these special days, we work the kitchen together, each of us taking care of what the other person has assigned us as our specialities.   I was so sick, I couldn't even read in bed.  I took my book, optimistically, but just slept and groaned and was sick as a dog the entire day.  Lying there, I thought when I was a little girl I wanted to be famous so people would recognize me and be impressed by me, and then I wanted to be rich, because I always think a lot of money makes you safer (some studies suggest that it does, to a certain extent, but not completely.  Of course, you can live in better neighbourhoods and have access to personal trainers and excellent food and a good education which makes you less likely to indulge in dangerous things like smoking, but we all have anecdotes about rich people who became drug addicts and lost their money in all sorts of foolish ways.)  Then, I just wanted to find work that I found important and fulfilling (surprisingly, in this, I have been successful!  Thanks to all of my lovely students!)  But after that horrible day of feeling so awful, I realize there is nothing more important than our health.  Without that, all the other things mean very little.

Everyone in the family has been sick -- Mike and Anthony were laid up yesterday, so William and I represented the family at Boxing Day dinner at my sister-in law's.  Everyone is still really sad about losing Greg earlier this month, so it was good for us to get together but there was a big place empty where Greg should have been standing with a big plate of turkey and a few choice quips thrown in when people said something absurd.  Time does heal sadness like this and next year, we will be able to talk about him and remember funny stories about things he did and what a good guy he was, but now it is just terrible that he's not here.

William wants me to write that we exchanged his French horn for an alto saxophone.  He joined the band at middle school in September and was assigned the French horn, which was very difficult and which he didn't like.  He has been nagging his teacher ever since to let him switch, and finally, Mr. H. gave in and said he could change over the holidays, so we went to Long and McQuade and got a saxophone today.  William was very excited in the car on the way home and took out the instrument the second we got in the door and started playing and has played it all evening.  It isn't easy to learn any instrument and he has a lot of catching up to do, but if he plays as much over the next week as he did today, he'll be fine.  I wish he'd invest this much energy in the piano.

Peace on earth, goodwill towards men!

I have finally finished all the hullaballoo that "has" to be done before Christmas day!  Shopping, endless shopping (and most of you know how much I love that!) and hundreds of "last minutes".  I made gingerbread today (and only burned one cookie sheet of them) and wrapped all the gifts and did my obligatory visiting and bought those last few things that were on someone's list but got left out (William's knitting needles, for example) and now tonight, we can sit down and watch "A Christmas Story" with a deep sigh!  We stay home for Christmas and open gifts and have a turkey with just us -- we'll likely be in our pajamas until dinner time comes around and then dress up in our new clothes and toast the holidays around a nice glossy turkey (yes, I can cook a turkey, very nicely, mind you!)  Mike and I will watch "Scrooge" with Alastair Sim after the young'uns are tucked away, dreaming of sugar plums (or Skittles).  My favourite part of this, one of my very favourite movies, is Michael Hordern's Jacob Marley.  He rattles his chains with such aplomb and really eats up the scenery with his performance.  What a wonderful "out there" actor!  Kathleen Harrison, as Mrs. Dilber, is also outstanding in an outstanding cast.  Scrooge gives her a gold sovereign at Christmas and she says "wha' for?" and he asks her to guess and she looks at him with great suspicion and says, "to keep me mouth shut?"  She's just lovely.

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, it is a lovely time of year -- the darkness comes on so quickly and we have lots of time to sit together and talk and read and dream and burn a candle or two to ward off the end of the day and the end of the year. I wish you all peace and goodwill and whatever there is that makes you happy.  Perhaps, like Scrooge, we think we don't deserve it, but we should be grateful for all our bounty, whether we do or no.

 

Two More Movies!

Wow!  It's amazing what you can do when you're not at Value Village every waking moment buying costumes!  I saw two movies yesterday (and read and went Christmas shopping - aargh! -- and cheered Anthony's hockey team to victory -- all that good stuff).

We had family movie night and watched "42" about Jackie Robinson, who was the player who broke the colour barrier in Major League Baseball.  I have read the reviews that said that Harrison Ford stole the show and the guy who played Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) had to be the "strong, silent type" and suffer in silence.  I do agree that Harrison Ford was terrific as Branch Rickey, but I think that Chadwick Boseman was not just the silent sufferer.  Apparently, Rickey told Jackie Robinson that he would have to control his temper and that people would do everything they could to rile him and distract him and take him out of his game, so he made a deal that he would make his point on the field and he did.  I "wikipedia'd" the real story of Jackie Robinson after we watched the movie and a lot of it actually happened, like the barrage of hatred from the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies and the public support from Peewee Reese in Cincinnati and the motivations behind Branch Rickey's determination to desegregate Major League Baseball.  It is a powerful story and very shocking from my perspective.  It is hard to believe that people could be so hateful and Mike found it really disturbing.  I wonder what it's like now in the Southern States.  It must be better, but I wonder.  I have no desire to visit there.

I also watched "Carnage" which is based on the play "God of Carnage" directed by Roman Polanski.  Two couples meet to discuss an incident of bullying which occurred between their two sons.  It was performed by the White Rock players this year in the Fraser Valley District theatre festival and I think I remember hearing that, at first, the company didn't realize that it was a comedy.  It would be easy to take it seriously because the two couples reveal a lot about themselves over the course of the afternoon and, in the end, neither marriage comes across as being particularly successful -- the subject matter is rather serious:  which boy is actually the instigator of the conflict?  are people inherently violent?  is civilization a guise?  are parents the root of their children's character?  can we approach conflict rationally?  I think, with comedy and serious drama, the main focus should be playing your character honestly and letting the audience decide whether it's funny or not.  It isn't a belly-laugh kind of comedy anyway.  It is a comedy based on the truth of the characters, but there are certainly strong comic elements -- the lawyer's attachment to his Blackberry, the abandonment of the hamster, the writer's prissy superiority, the cobbler, etc.  I really enjoyed it, although it is quite static (often the case when a play becomes a movie) and you wonder why Zachary's parents keep staying, even though they are increasingly annoyed by Ethan's parents and they both have jobs and say they can't stay.  Anthony watched it intermittently and when it was near the end, he said, "so nothing has really happened at all through the whole movie?"  I guess from his 14 year old point of view, if nothing blows up or nobody dies, nothing happens.

The movie reminds me of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" which is also about two couples (Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sandy Dennis and George Segal) who get together in a rather civil atmosphere and gradually find things descending into rage and chaos.  It is in black and white (by choice, all you people who think that colour is essential for a modern movie - tsk!) and is a hoot for actors to play and ends in one of those great absurdist Edward Albee (the playwright) flourishes with a surprise baby who may or may not exist.  Read "The American Dream" by Edward Albee if you want a shock.

Dog Day Afternoon

On a snowy evening, I watched a movie about a hostage taking at a Brooklyn bank in the heat of a summer afternoon.   Two hapless bank robbers (played by Al Pacino and the great John Cazale) find themselves stuck in the bank with a crowd of hostages.  It is a great movie and Al Pacino is absolutely terrific.  I find him a bit over the top now, but as a young man, he was an electrifying actor.  The little twitches and the wild reactions that now seem like affectations were really new and radical back then and he seemed like an actor who would do anything to inhabit a role.  Charles Durning plays a cop (one of the roles in which he is always cast) and he's great, too.  Of course, Charles Durning is one of those actors who has always looked old, so no matter how good he is, he never gets to play the romantic lead -- one of the limits of physicality for actors.  The scene in which Al Pacino comes out of the bank and realizes that the crowd is coming over to his side and starts chanting "Attica! Attica!" is an iconic scene of American filmdom.  (You'll have to google "Attica prison riot" to get the reference.)

John Cazale only made six movies.  He died of cancer after making "The Deer Hunter" and apparently, the director filmed his scenes first, because they all knew he didn't have long to live.  He doesn't say much in "Dog Day Afternoon", but it is a compelling performance.  Al Pacino's character, Sonny, is trying to figure out how to get them out of the bank safely, and he is negotiating with the police for a helicopter and says they want a jet to take them to . . . Algeria!  Then he looks at Sal, John Cazale's character.  "What country do you want to go to, Sal?"  There is a long pause as Sal tries to think.  "Wyoming," he says softly.  Apparently, this was an improvisation of Cazale's.  The script had the character say nothing.  Sidney Lumet, the director, loved it and thought it was funny and sad.  It is one of the most memorable moments of the movie.  He was in "The Godfather" movies as well.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year

Tomorrow is our annual Breakfast with Santa.  It is a time-honoured tradition and I hope you're able to pop in and enjoy some of the entertainment and the breakfast prepared by the kind folks from the PAC, who are getting up BEFORE the crack of dawn to start cooking!  We teachers have been stressing over "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for a while and hope it goes off well.  I usually do the "partridge in a pear tree", but I try to do something different with it every year.  I've got a plan for this year, and I'm not sure how it's going to go, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained" -- the risk is all!

After our last day, it will be pleasant to spend a couple of weeks away from school.  It is good to sleep in and relax and not have a schedule and see our families and friends and have lots of down time.  When we get back, it will be a headlong rush to the end of the semester!  I'm looking forward to reading and taking leisurely walks with my dog and hanging out with my kids and my husband.  I wish you all a wonderful holiday and look forward to seeing you all back at it in 2014.

Advance the scene!

Theatre sports tournament is up -- all week long!  Remember the big rule of theatre sports, which is to advance the scene!  Build on the ideas of others.

Second rule?  DON'T ARGUE WITH THE JUDGES!

Be sure to bring donations for the food bank.  They especially want baby formula!

Tomorrow is Whiteout Day, which means wear white (I think).

What? A Play Towards? I'll be an auditor, an actor, too, if I see fit!

Well, the play closed on Friday night.  We had a great crowd and received lots of words of appreciation from everyone who came to see it.  Thanks to all of you who came!  There is nothing like live theatre, in my opinion.  "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a beautiful play, wonderfully constructed, full of great characters and memorable poetry, but SEEING it is world's apart from reading it.

I think I heard that Monday is the beginning of holiday spirit week and it is pajama day on Monday.  I will give bonuses for anyone wearing pajamas.  I don't know what the other days are but we'll find out on Monday.  More in the spirit of Christmas is the idea of giving, especially of giving to people who really need it.  The food drive is such an easy way to help.  Just bring non-perishable food to D Block and you'll have done something to help someone.  I believe there is a blanket drive going on as well and a number of worthy causes that could use your help, so find out about them and see what you can do.  When I see a homeless person begging on the street, I tell them to go to the Kettle Friendship Society at 1725 Venables Street in Vancouver.  They are open 365 days of the year and help people struggling with mental illness (many of whom end up out on the street).  They run a drop-in centre, a health clinic, a legal clinic, a rehab program and all sorts of other efforts that help people who are struggling get back on their feet.  I always ask people to donate to them if they want to give me a gift.

This week is going to be our theatre sports tournaments.  Come with a willingness to improvise and laugh.  I have sorted out your teams and we will finish up any loose ends as far as performances go on Monday and then jump in with both feet on Tuesday!

I am behind my time . . .

Sorry I'm late in posting the journal topics -- as you can imagine, things have been rather hectic with the play.  I am personally very pleased with all the performances so far and am very proud of everyone in the cast and crew for all their hard work and great accomplishments.  We have one more performance tonight.  If you haven't had a chance to see it, please try to come.  It's funny and our audiences have been pretty positive so far.

Grade 10 and 9 journals:  Comment on the play.  Don't be general --- it means very little to say "everything was great".  Choose something specific to write about.  One performance, one scene, the idea of the audience moving from place to place, the music, the lighting, the costumes, something that you can write about in detail.

Grade 8:  Try to see the play.  If you absolutely cannot, write about a live performance you saw.  Choose one aspect of the performance and write about it in detail.  If it is not "A Midsummer Night's Dream", tell what it was (a play, a concert, a dance performance, a magic show) and describe it in detail.

One Man in His Time Plays Many Parts

Grade 10's:  You will perform the scenes from "I Seek You" tomorrow.  This includes the scenes you were assigned and also the one you wrote as an ending.  Know your lines and play characters.  It is not enough just to recite perfectly -- you need to convince us you are the character.

Try to remember to bring your five dollars for the play -- we will be going on Wednesday.  You must be in the lounge at 1 -- the play will start then.  It will run until 3:05.  If you get picked up by your parents, make sure you tell them the time.  It is not appropriate for you to leave before the play is over.  You must not use your phone during the play.  You must be focused on the performance.  It is a comedy, so hopefully you'll find it funny.  Don't be afraid to laugh.  You may interact with the actors, but remember, they are playing characters, not themselves, so don't expect them to respond to their names.

Grade 9's:  Those of you who have not performed your Shakespeare scenes must do so on Monday.  You will be going to see Midsummer Night's Dream on Thursday.  See above (Grade 10's)) for instructions on what is expected of you.  Many of your classmates are involved in the show, so be sure to be encouraging to them.

Grade 8's:  Good work on the fairy tale mimes!  We are leaving mime behind now and will be doing some scenes in which you can talk.  Don't forget the lessons that mime and tableau have taught us -- that theatre is visual and you must be alert to what things look like on stage.  Your facial expressions and body language are all important!

Cast and crew of Midsummer Night's Dream:  I hope you all know your lines!  You can't call for a line at the dress rehearsal or during the performance -- you need to know what you're doing.  Crew--wear black for every performance.  Tomorrow we will do a dress rehearsal -- everyone must attend or you can't help with the play.

And the best actor Oscar goes to . . .

Journals for Friday, December 6

Grade 10:  Which character in "I Seek You" are you playing?  Can you identify with the character?  Think of four adjectives that describe him or her.  What in the script suggests those adjectives?

Grade 9:  Which Shakespeare scene(s) impressed you the most?  Explain why.  Which single actor in the class captures his/her character the best?  Explain why.  Which was your favourite scene to perform?  Why?

Grade 8:  Which fairy tale performance was the best?  Give three reasons for choosing the way you do.

ATTENTION:
 Grade 9's:  Tomorrow we will meet in Mr. Adams' room (Room 500).  We will do journals and theatre sports as we always do.

Discern'st thou aught in that?

Grade 9's:  Tomorrow, you will present your three Shakespeare scenes.  Know your lines.  Think of stage business before you start the scene.  Be sure you understand the subtext of the scene.  Listen to your partner when he or she speaks -- that will help you know what to say or do.

Grade 8's:  Your fairy tale performances are due on Thursday.  You need instrumental music to set a mood for your scene.  Make sure you are clear on the story.

Grade 10's:  You need to be working on the lines from "I Seek You".

A and D Blocks:  You will be able to see "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.  Please bring $5 to pay for your ticket.  If you cannot afford it, just let me know.  My priority is that you see the play.  But the money does go to a good cause -- it funds the next play by the drama club and helps pay for scholarships to deserving Drama students, so if you can afford it, please pony up!  You must report to the lounge at 1 p.m. precisely -- the play starts there!  A Block -- you will attend on Wednesday, December 11 and D Block -- you will attend on Thursday, December 12.  If you are already going with another class, just let me know.  I don't want you to pay twice.

Midsummer Night's Dream cast and crew:  Our next run through is Friday after school.  Be there promptly at 3 and we can start right away!  You must know your lines (no books!!!).  If you don't, I'll be forced to cut your part to a minimum. 

In general, you must react.  If you are not speaking, you need to look engaged.  Don't just stand there waiting for your lines.  Look like you're living in the situation.

Many hands make light work!

Drama Club:  I hope some of you read this today!  I don't want to pester Rachel on the weekend, but if anyone reads this perhaps you can pass it on to the appropriate person.

Can each person in the cast bring a hanger for his or her own costume?  The boys who get married need dress pants and shoes -- do you have them?  I believe we have neckties and white shirts in the prop room.  I got wedding clothes for the girls.  I have a costume for Theseus (including some hokey looking armour, which will look nice with a cape, I think).

Has anyone seen my swords anywhere?  I have four metal swords, but there is only one in my office right now.  You know how people come in all the time and "borrow" things . . . I wonder if someone forgot to return them.  If you see them, let me know.

I hope you're all studying your scripts -- no books tomorrow!  If you can, pop in at 10 to help paint.  I hope to see everyone at 1:20 to get ready to run the play at 1:30!

Have a nice Sunday.