Nothing else matters

8/14

Leila and I conduct two interviews for a possible replacement for Danielle. It’s a sign of the economy that we’ve had over 200 applicants, including people with master’s degrees. Both candidates have strong points, good spirits, a sense of interest in what we’re about, positive outlooks….but we’ll have to do more…

Pat O and I meet to review presentations for Sunday’s congregational meeting. We want to have a clear and coherent presentation of everything we’re working on, congregationally and construction-wise, so that everyone can be on the same page. A monthly update form that Pat has been working on seems to be a good format. So much is happening at once, it can make your head swim. We have to keep processes moving forward in a decent and orderly way, as the Presbyterians lie to say.

Jeremy and I meet to continue our discussion of Sunday mornings and what we can do to use our worship as a way to build the community and grow the congregation.

A representative of the Revolutionary Communist Party comes in to talk about a possible gathering on Labor Day as part of their RA Everywhere campaign. Nothing ambitious there….I continue to be intrigued and amazed at the devotion of cadre in this, no other way to say it, cult of personality. Yet the RCP seems to keep showing up, on stop and frisk, police violence, mass incarceration and even the upcoming climate march. I joke with Russ that if RA as a septuagenarian can still aspire to leading the vanguard of global revolution, I’m not too old to lead a church revitalization. Maybe you’re not ever too old as long as your vision is strong.

Henry, one of our long time visitors, drops by, just to use the facilities, not lookin’ for anyhing else…and blesses us all before he leaves. 

I stay to see reGroup’s second installment in the Texas Trilogy, Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander. With some trepidation. Tulsa’s American Theatre Company’s ‘70’s production with Kitty Russell as Lu Ann stays with me still. But this time it works. Yeah, some of the good old boys  are still a bit over the top, a bit too heehaw, as it were. But first Ted Morgan as Red Grover makes us feel as if we’re in his bar and then Adrienne La Valley absolutely nails Lu Ann. Her scene as the recently divorced single mother beauty technician in Red’s Bar and then the final scene as a diligent hard working mother responsible both for her daughter and mother is heartbreaking and filled with subtle, revelatory nuance. She captures every bit of the poignancy and pathos Preston Jones wrote into the text. She embodies Lu Ann, draws us to her. And we can reflect on our own lost dreams. It’s even more impressive when I learn that she stepped into the role only 9 days before opening when the original lead had to pull out. I respect that what these guys are doing theatrically is the equivalent of a musician mining Americana. It's worthwhile work. As long as you enter into it with humility,  dignity and respect.

The night finishes  with a conversation with RL.

Doesn’t matter what you’re working on. No matter what your project is, it all comes down to relationships. Without taking them seriously, honoring them, nothing else matters. That’s it. End of story.

I once lived in Tulsa

8/7

Midafternoon, I see that Sean is still ensconced in a shelter of cardboard boxes under the scaffolding against the wall. It’s been over 24 hours now. I found him there yesterday and my heart sank. He assured me he had a friend coming after work with a chanhe of clothes and would then be gone. I knew what that meant. Today, I say Sean, so what’s the plan? And he’s very agitated. 

Why you got to fuck with me so? No one else bothers me. They just leave me alone. I’m just tryin to get some sleep. 

Sean, it’s been over 24 hours…

I said leave me the fuck alone. I be gone by nightfall.   I got more my leg cut off. You try crawlin around. 

I feel a bit hearttless but say, But you have your wheel chair...

And he says, You try wheelin a chair around.

 I’m very depressed. Feel like we’re all the way back to the beginning again. So I just walk away.

Pat O comes in. There’s been a whirlwind of activity. Meetings with architects and contractors and expeditor/code consultants. Trying to put together a coherent strategy to engage in this building conversation and proceed with work, new lease or no. It takes a large dry erase board to lay it all out so that I understand it. But I think that I do.

Danielle tells me that Sean is gone. She warned Stephen S what he’d be dealing with.Told him to wear gloves. And that we’d all done it.

Tonight’s preview night for reGroup’s production of the first of Preston Jones’ Texas trilogy plays, The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia. They’ve done a fantastic job transforming Mc Alpin Hall to a reasonable facsimile  of a small town Texas lodge hall/bar. I love the mangled letters saying Tulsa welcomes the Knights of the White Magnolia.) The new air conditioner is keeping things cool. Free bags of popcorn and beer, wine and mangoritas. (Yes, mangoritas.)conditioner has  And the play will be cooler still.  Brings back great memories.

When I lived in Tulsa, my home team, the American Theatre Company, produced these plays as soon as they left our neighbor to the south. Texas (or baja Oklahoma, as we jokingly called it) was close enough culturally as to be achingly familiar, despite our Red River rivalry. Besides, the 1939 Tulsa convention with over 3000 in attendance was the Knights transcendent moment! (All down hill from there..).

I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next two. I recall they increase in seriousness and poignancy as the cycle continues.  I’ll have my hopes up for Lu Ann Laverty Hampton Overlander, another favorite.  The plays run in cycle Monday through Friday, all 3 on Saturdays through the 24^th. (http://www.regrouptheatre.org/)