Good List Week 1
I heard on the radio today that the New York Times started publishing a "good list" of fun activities as experienced by reporters. The idea being to share the positive, on-the-ground experiences; get off-line and remember that life is to be lived, not watched from the sideline (or screen). With spring in the air, I feel inspired to do the same, starting with a backlog of the past month or so:
High school musical
Last year, I discovered Morristown high school's theatrer department when they put on Les Mis. It was amazing! The talent from the students really impressed me, from the performance, to the stage and costumes. I've since been back for the fall presentation of Little Women, and their recent spring musical Fiddler on the Roof.
Great way to spend $15 for a quality performance in the local community.
Opera
I attended the opera at the Met for the first time, just last Friday. I had some fear that, with the language barrier, and Timothée Chalamet's recent comments, I'd not enjoy the show - but I was pleasantly surprised. Language-wise, each seat has its own subtitles, making following the story easy. I put on my khakis, expecting folks to be dressed up - I might as well have worn blue jeans, compared to the ballroom gowns and dapper suits I was surrounded with. The performance itself, Madame Butterfly, was exquisite - I was mesmerized by the stage design, the use of simple lights and mirrors to incredible effect:
Birding
Birding was recommended to me as a way to be more present and engaged. And it certainly has that effect. Typically when taking a walk or hike, I'm unconsciously trying to set my personal best. With birding, I am significantly slower, walking slower and pausing occasionally so as to listen and look. I'm encouraged to explore new parks in the region, to see what different species are present. To that end my recent hotspots are Eagle Rock Reservation, Verona Park, and Hilltop Reservation.
