Last Sunday, October 30th, I had the pleasure of performing my solo show, “Born Again in Berkeley” at Crosswalk Community Church in Napa. Now, I’m not really a morning person, so I am trying to discipline myself to go to bed sooner. It seems the doors God has opened for me lately have been mostly church gigs. I feel like I am entering a new season of my life.
I think the show went well, and then afterwards we had a Q&A, or what some call, in certain circles, “a talk back”, which apparently has become all the rage. Every time I perform and get questions afterwards, I learn so much. I have performed for a variety of audiences. From liberal Berkeley folk to Trump supporters as well, and I never know what feedback I am going to get, so it’s a bit of a highwire act. I just want us to see each other’s humanity because, at the end of the day, if we don’t, we will kill each other. That’s how people justify war, by not seeing the “other” as human.
Then on Monday I went to my friend’s dad’s memorial service. It was a beautiful tribute for a beautiful person on a beautiful day at Tilden Park:
On Tuesday, after work, I took my final writing class at Piedmont Adult School. I hope I learned something. Time will tell if it affects my writing in a good way.
On Wednesday I went over to my friend’s place and she cooked for me. The neighbor’s cat came wandering into the kitchen and wanted to join us:
On Thursday as I was leaving work, I caught the sunset from our 14th floor windows:
On Friday, I saw my new favorite cover band, The Neon Playboys.
I have to say, I don’t normally go out of my way to see a cover band, but these guys are that good. I stumbled upon them back in September when they were playing for the Oakland Summer Series at City Center during my lunch break at work. I was just walking through when I heard this incredibly tight band cranking out Michael Jackson and to my surprise, it turned out to be four funky white guys. I actually stopped to listen. Then they won my heart over when they went from Michael Jackson to Earth, Wind & Fire, effortlessly. I would have stayed and danced through my entire lunch break but I had to get back to work. I vowed to seek them out the next time they were back in the Bay Area (they’re from Sacramento).
I had so much fun Friday night dancing to their music. I was super exhausted the next day, but it was so worth it. I felt like I was finally living again. I needed this. I needed to dance.
On Saturday I went to a solo performer friend’s show at the Marsh Theatre in Berkeley – The Mark of the Minotaur. I highly recommend it.
Today I chilled. On the seventh day, she rested.
This Past Week:
Theresa Donahoe 