It’s time for a Random Thoughts post!
For your amusement and edification,1 I shall now free-associate about the word “company.”
“Company” is a musical by Stephen Sondheim.
I love musicals. My favorite musical-ist (to coin a word) is Stephen Sondheim.
I especially love the musical “Company.”
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“Company” is special to me, for many reasons:
- I find the music, lyrics, the book — and everything else about “Company” — very smart.
- Despite critics saying that Sondheim musicals are too cerebral, cold, or (insert any other critical word here), I find his work emotional, illuminating, and all-around excellent — for the mind, heart, and soul.
- When I was in my 20’s, I tried out for a local production of “Company,” and got to sing my heart — and brains — out during several months of rehearsals and performances.
- In many ways, Sondheim has made my life worth living.
Company is something I seek, but also need to balance with alone time.
Connecting with others is very important to me, and something I love to do.
Sometimes, when company is there, I am yearning to be alone.
When I was a little kid in the hospital, I would wait, with every fiber of my being, for visiting hours to begin, so my mother and other people in my life could come and visit me.
Sometimes I feel alone in the company of others.
When I feel less safe and secure (due to external and/or internal conditions), it is especially difficult to tolerate being alone.
Lately (as described here and here), I’ve been using the GPS-type app, Waze, for company, when I drive to and from work. Other helpful company — here in the Blog-o-sphere — have helped me realize that Waze might not be the best company for that situation.
A couple of days ago, to replace Waze during drive-time, I returned to the company of an old musical friend, Pat Metheny:
I had a little trouble deciding which video to include here, but I can never resist this tune (and it reflects my recent experience — listening to the album Pat made with Anna Maria Jopek):
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If you don’t have time to watch or listen to that live version (although I hope you do get to check it out, at some point, especially Pat soloing, starting around 4:30) …. here’s a different, short piece from the Pat Metheny and Anna Maria Jopek album, Upojenie:
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In many ways, Pat Metheny has helped make my life worth living.
Thanks to Stephen Sondheim, to Pat Metheny, to all those connections that have helped so much, and to you — of course! — for visiting today.
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At least that is my intent.
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I found that at The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide.
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I chose this video, made by the University of Rhode Island about their production of Company, because it suited my purposes and intent for this blog post. Also, Note This: When I use footnote superscripts, I can’t put them on the same line with a video that’s imbedded within a post. So this footnote needs to be hanging out there, alone, on the line, without any company … even if it looks weird.
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I found that image here.
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Thanks to waltermigratore, and to that lonely superscript number “5”, hanging out in space above.
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Thanks to alleviate1. You know what? That last hanging-out-in-mid-air superscript probably doesn’t feel quite alone, having two others just like it, in the same post.
To this day, Pat Metheney does things with a guitar I cannot understand. Brilliant!
Sometimes, the company with you is just right, whether you want loud and raucous, or very quiet.
(And a shout out to the Electric Company!)
I have seen Pat play live so many times since the 70’s that I have lost count, but I remember as plain as day the first time I saw him at the Paradise in Boston. My mouth dropped open in amazement and I felt like the music I had been waiting for all my life was right there, a few yards away from me.
Thanks for this comment, which had just the right volume level.
Did you make another comment here, about seeing Stanley Jordan for the first time? I’m wondering if I somehow lost that or misplaced that. In any case, I’m always glad to see your comments.
Yep, the Stanley Jordan one was me.
Did I end up in Spam?
Maybe. It somehow disappeared. I’ll see if I can find it.
That’s weird. It showed up via email but never made it to the post. Here is El Guapo’s comment:
That’s exactly how I felt the first time I saw Stanley Jordan! I went by myself to catch him at Birdland. A friend of mine said I hadn’t seen anything until I heard his music while watching him play.
Once he came on, I sat there for ninety minutes with my mouth hanging open.
A revelation is the only way I can describe it.
Pat Metheney is incredible. Great post today, and to get anyone moving on a frigid Friday.
Hey, Chris! Thanks for this comment, which helped get me moving on this friggin’ freezing and frigid Friday. Always great to see you here.
I too need to balance company with alone time — and when I’ve had too much ‘company’, I become erratic and hyper active. Not a good combination!
If I have Too Much company and/or Too Much alone time, I too feel out of balance. Thanks for sharing your insights and experience today, Louise.
As a senior in high school I actually go to sing some of the songs by Sondheim in a little medly-type production of his work. I still remember parts of “Another Hundred People”, one of the songs I sang. Probably out of my league even now. 😉
Not out of your league if you did it! Good for you. And thanks so much for reading and commenting today!
I know that when my name turns up on the same page as yours, Ann, I am in good company. Now I know you appreciate Pat Metheny, too. That is just a little less thrilling to me than when I discovered our co-love of potato pancakes. More people know about Metheney, I think, thanks to that guitar, synth, and titles such as “When Wichita Falls, So Falls Wichita Falls.” Have a great Friday.
I am having a great Friday, Mark, thanks to the company I’m keeping today, including you. I’m so glad you love Pat, too; I guess that doesn’t surprise me. Have a great time in Syracuse this weekend, no matter what the weather or whether there are falls.
Hello! Just stopping in to let you know I adore your blog, and that I have nominated you for a Liebster award, which is a writing challenge too! If you’d like to find out about it, check this post out! I hope you’ll accept! http://laurieanichols.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/the-liebster-award/
Hi, Laurie! I just recently made an announcement, on my About page, about my “policy” regarding WordPress awards: that is, I accept the acknowledgement with authentic gratitude, but don’t take any other actions. Your use of the word “adore” — in your nomination — is an enormous gift to me. Thank you so much for your visits, your comments, and your supportive appreciation. They mean the world to me.
I forgot to add, don’t feel obligated in any way, I just wanted to let everyone know that you blog is a great place to visit and get some great insights. It’s all about sharing. 🙂
Thanks so much for being so sharing and giving, Laurie. And, I forgot to add, congratulations on receiving the award!
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