(Why am I naming days?)
10/20/14, Day 14,048 (Mercena Day 66): Flux Family Feud Fairy-Tale Smackdown
We had been worried about the turnout for Flux’s annual Family Feud fundraiser, but it ended up being our best attended, and abundant with love and fun. One VIP in attendance was Mercena, and while it may have been wiser to find a baby-sitter, as the Feud was packed, bright and very noisy; she did surprisingly well, all things considered (and we got to witness our friend Adam Szymkowicz’s powerful baby-whispering skills). It was great to introduce her to some friends who hand’t met her yet.
The later bedtime did definitely throw off her, however, especially because Heather came home late from the Feud prep meeting the night before. It took her a few days to find her sleeping foothold again, but when she did, magic ensued (stay tuned for that).
I also wrote a short fairy tale that the Creative Partners performed to kick off the event. I wrote it late Sunday night, but ended up striking a balance of silly and sincere that I think worked. It was a fairy tale about Flux being a creative home, and these past few days, it has felt intensely and satisfyingly so. We’ve taken another step forward toward the full public launch of FluxForward as well, so stay tuned for more about that.
10/21/14, Day 14,049 (Mercena Day 67): Mercena’s Seven Hour Sleep
Mercena slept an amazing seven-hour stretch! Last night, she took a step back again, but we’re used to this big step forward, medium step back pattern to her progress. There’s no doubt that a seven-hour stretch at this point in her growth is something to be wondered at and grateful for; perhaps she was tired out from busting that absurdly beautiful smile above. It took her a long time to fall asleep–Heather and I barely made it through a Mad Men episode from having to go back and soothe her repeatedly, but once she was out, she was aces.
I also had a very focused day at TCG that saw me catching up on a number of major projects (mostly Fall Forum and 2015 Convening-related), and I managed a few hours of Flux work, as well. This day marked my return to dedicating the entire subway ride home to studying Spanish after a long stretch of barely managing ten minutes here and there with my flash cards. Hopefully, I can keep that momentum going.
The new play New Years is also coming along well, although there’s a lot I don’t know, and a bunch of after-the-first-draft-is-done research that will need doing.
10/22/14, Day 14,050 (Mercena Day 68): First Flux Accompaniment Program Training
I’m hoping to write about this over on the FluxBlog, but last night Flux held our first training for our exciting new relationship with Judson Memorial Church’s Immigrant Rights work. We’re participating in their Accompaniment Program, which pairs citizen volunteers to accompany immigrants who are in the deportation process to offer witness and moral support. Some of Flux’s Creative Partners and Friends of Flux learned about the values and practices of the Accompaniment Program from Ravi Ragbir, Judson’s immigrant advocacy expert. It was painful and inspiring to hear about Ravi’s experiences, and we’re excited to see how we can help, both as fellow witness and as theatre artists. Mark your calendars for March 4th when we’ll be presenting some theatre inspired by this process.
Earlier in the day, Sol, Heather, Mercena and I held a meeting with a different, Flux-related opportunity/partnership that we’re all very excited about, though I can’t say more until its official. Mercena was amazing throughout the meeting, and I’ll treasure the memory of the four of us buzzing with excitement on the bus ride back to work, rehearsal and home.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited and proud to be a part of Flux. Sometimes, when I think about Mercena, and how great it’s already been to have her in our lives, I realize that we’re just at the beginning of things, and I get giddy with excitement. These past few days, I’ve had the same feelings about Flux.
Technique never stands still: it only advances or retreats…
Writing: 169 out of 218 days (New Years)
Spanish: 139 out of 218 days
Music: 69 out of 124 days
Yoga: 6 out of 8 days
What small things did I do the past three days to help build the Honeycomb?
(And what does it mean to “Help build the honeycomb?”)
- Ate and cooked local, organic, vegetarian food, and used cloth diapers for Mercena;
- Emailed my representatives in support of Feeding America and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act;
- Asked the Obama Administration to recommend a Wilderness designation for the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
- Asked them to say no to Shell’s request to weaken safety regulations for drilling in the Arctic;
- Helped organize Flux’s Accompaniment Program training.
9 Circles: This might end up being a weekend thing–I don’t seem to have time to put it together during the week! Stay tuned.
Corinna Schulenburg 