It doesn’t feel like time is flying in this year of Covid…but in fact it is…and it keeps marching on through the few happy moments and the many sad ones.  The sad ones unfortunately linger longer and the happy ones are all too fleeting.   It’s hard to believe that it was 2 years ago this week that this group of actors above performed my play ANIMAL for the Fireworks Festival at the Alumnae Theatre.    I learned a lot about the play, my writing and where I needed to take the story after watching performances with an audience.  It was an invaluable experience.

Since this production, ANIMAL has been re-written 3 times.  I’ve sent the latest draft to playwriting competitions and festivals.  It’s currently competing in Playwrights First (a New York Based festival that awards a top prize of $1000 and a production of the play).

I also sent the script to a festival that was specifically looking for stories about mental illness.  Bonus – great opportunity!  This is another New York based Festival called American Stage’s 21st Century Voices.   They ask for 10 pages of the script and based on that, they will ask for the rest of the script.   Unfortunately, ANIMAL was not requested.  Ah well, move on. Disappointed – for sure!  But  don’t dwell.  Turn the page.

Next I’ll be sending the play to two more Competitions:

– Woodward/Newman Award offered by Bloomington Playwrights Project (sponsored by Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward).  The winner of this prize will get $3000 and their play performed.

– The Voaden Prize given out by Queens University with a Grand Prize of $10, 000.

Now…I’ve got some things to say…

….about Covid.  This year can’t end fast enough for most of us.  It’s been a tough, surreal time.  Many people are dying worldwide.  In the United States, as of this writing, the daily death count is nearing 2000 people a day.  Think about that for a moment because we’ve all become numb to the statistics.  Worse yet, people are fatigued and complaining because they have to wear a damn mask…or they can’t go to their favorite restaurant or Gym..or…or…or…  The fact of the matter is, here in North America, we are a spoiled bunch and have far more than  many other countries.  So everyone needs to take a breath and be responsible.  Yes, there are many, many opinions/theories about Covid and how to deal with it.  But the reality is our lives have changed.  Some have lost their livelihood.  This is where we are at.  And we must all do our part for the greater good of humanity.

At the current rate, the United States is likely to hit 400, 000 deaths by March…which means they could potentially reach half a million deaths by next summer.   Over this past year, I’ve heard this kind of talk…a lot of the people who are dying are old and sick, have underlining conditions and were going to die anyway.  This may all be true, but to me a life is a life…and one day (if we’re not there yet) we will be that “old person”.  If an old person has cancer and is hit by a car and dies…they didn’t die of cancer, they died from a car hitting them.  Or if an old person has cancer and is shot to death, cancer didn’t kill them…a bullet did.  Covid is the same.  Do people say these things to mitigate their fears?  The fact of the matter is younger people are getting this virus and they too are dying.    And here’s another fact, most people recover from it, but we must still do our part by not spreading this thing to the hospitals and nursing homes or passing it onto your parents/grandparents who are the most vulnerable.

This is about dignity, taking care of each other.  People are dying alone in hospital rooms with no one around them, but exhausted nurses/doctors.  If you think your life is hard right now or your depressed, I get it, this is hard and it is depressing, and lonely for many of us.  But go talk to a front-line worker then get back to me.

Old people matter…their lives, their journey and all that they carry with them matter.  My mother matters.  She’s had a tough year battling mental illness.  But she’s still here and she’s still fighting and so are lots and lots of older people with debilitating conditions.    And let’s remember this, the United States of America  just elected a 78 year old – the oldest person ever to win the presidency.   Life does not end north of 70.

Rant over…I’ll now pass it on to Frances McDormand winning best actress for her stunning work in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.  At the beginning of her speech she laughs nervously and then seriously says: “….I’ve got some things to say…”  Her speech is about empowering women and giving them more parts in making movies.   Her tone, when she says…” I’ve got some things to say….”…captures how I feel in my little rant above.   Take a look and as always stay safe: