Thank you. We all need this post. And thank you, also, for the wonderful line "the breathtaking incompetence of angry little men." That also made my morning, even as I run toward empathy!
When things break down like this, it opens a window to build something new, too--but we must choose to do it. I don't think it is any accident that the philosophy that developed after the Civil War was born of humility, of provisionality, of the constant need to reevaluate. Punk is a good correlate.
Thank you for the beautiful, wise, and ultra-resonant post, Anna. We'll build the new ecologies--economic, relational, and more--that nourish and support these vital life-giving forms of ambition and mutual care. Believe it. Warmth + solidarity to all <3
As a kid, I got to dance in the children’s cast of the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The ballet mistress told us on opening night to look out into the audience during the curtain call and search for a small light in the front row - she said that’d likely be the light on the reviewer’s clipboard for note-taking to write the review that would appear the next day. The review did appear the next day in…the Washington Post:
Omg, there was one girl in my class at both Norwood and NCS who was insanely great at ballet and did Joffrey for many years, and watching her at the KC made me feel like I was in a celebrity entourage. What an experience - and what a gorgeous metaphor, looking for the light.
Thank you for making me cry. No really.
Having to hold it all in is such a burden.
This softened my heart and lightened my burden, like any good cry over the memories of deceased loved ones and lost places always does. Thank you.
Thank you. We all need this post. And thank you, also, for the wonderful line "the breathtaking incompetence of angry little men." That also made my morning, even as I run toward empathy!
This is perhaps your most beautiful column ever--and inspiring. Right up there with the man on the Air Florida flight.
This column helped me figure out what's missing in my new book proposal. Deepest gratitude.
I cannot cry big messy tears with the rest of your gentle readers, Lady Whistledown, because I'm still laughing out loud at "the weirdo fedora men".
Here is a lpicture of Jeffrey Epstein’s agent enabler lol
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8o8g1_I-eEDct48JdDhoQVslidheSwHPEvYsQjddYC_j33_c5Xp_oLrbh4RMXMLgE9vIk6ySNAvv1tR6k9T5hHNgFS8n-S5FXN3kbGCtvyA&s=10
Give him a mask and he'd be the Hamburgler.
Linda I am dying. Best comment of the year
Ick. The word was made for this moment. Just ICK.
Now I'm tearing up. I haven't seen those chandeliers in years and yet they're a core childhood memory.
The one that has made me cry the most all week is the memory of those gentle doo-doo-doo-DOO chimes at intermission
I love this. Every little thing about your honesty. Thank you.
Thank you for this. “Run toward empathy” - words to live by, and write toward.
Beautiful post, thank you.
When things break down like this, it opens a window to build something new, too--but we must choose to do it. I don't think it is any accident that the philosophy that developed after the Civil War was born of humility, of provisionality, of the constant need to reevaluate. Punk is a good correlate.
Thank you for the beautiful, wise, and ultra-resonant post, Anna. We'll build the new ecologies--economic, relational, and more--that nourish and support these vital life-giving forms of ambition and mutual care. Believe it. Warmth + solidarity to all <3
Whew - thanks for this cathartic cry.
As a kid, I got to dance in the children’s cast of the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The ballet mistress told us on opening night to look out into the audience during the curtain call and search for a small light in the front row - she said that’d likely be the light on the reviewer’s clipboard for note-taking to write the review that would appear the next day. The review did appear the next day in…the Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/11/25/joffreys-nutcracker-waltzing-into-christmas/bf92bb7c-9441-4918-a52d-7892cb4e9e72/
Feel like I’m sitting in the Opera House with that younger self trying to look for the light again. Someday…
Omg, there was one girl in my class at both Norwood and NCS who was insanely great at ballet and did Joffrey for many years, and watching her at the KC made me feel like I was in a celebrity entourage. What an experience - and what a gorgeous metaphor, looking for the light.
Thank you for the invitation to sit with you. I didn’t even know I needed that!
Crying 😢 I’ve sat in those seats many times. Beautiful piece, Anna.
Beautiful, thanks
Oh my. Thank you so much for this post.
wow wow wow
all so applicable to film as well