Future and Past

I used to do this thing where I would imagine talking to my younger self
I would send messages to myself in the past that said things like,
You'll get through this
I know it feels bad now but on this day of April you're experiencing the most joy you've ever felt
Now you know what it feels like to open a Broadway show

I know it's silly but I felt like I was sending a message back in time that got me through those hard times


So here's the thing
Today I've decided to send myself a message forward in time
But now I actually have a delivery method
Facebook has the ON THIS DATE feature that shows what happened on that day years ago
Okay future Greg Stone
Here is my message to you
Stop watching the news
Start reading classic books
Listen to music every day
Socialize (I know it's hard for you but do it)
I know your body doesn't do what it used to but quit bitching you're not dead
Don't buy things at the grocery store that are marked half off to save money
Tell someone you love them today
Don't buy a hover board you are too old
Don't be sad you've done a lot of amazing things in life
Get a self driving flying car if at all affordable....it would make life so much easier for the socializing
Keep writing
Stay out of the left lane on the highway if you don't get the flying car
Don't eat before going to sleep
Your best friends are those that are still your friends

That's all I got for now future GS

A HUMBLE MAN

Shoreline Community College
1987 (I'm guessing)
The concert choir had worked on a piece that was beautiful
We were slotted to perform for the visit of Jimmy Carter
I found it exciting
To be in choir  (for the men) it was required that you wore a tuxedo
It was an expenditure I couldn't afford but that was the rule
I got fitted for one
My parents took care of it
As I approached the hall where we were to perform I was shocked to see the president standing outside the doorway shaking people's hands as they went in
He was there, smiling his smile, wearing a blue suit
When I shook his hand he leaned in and said,
"I feel like I'm under-dressed."
I laughed and said, "Mr. President, I think you're good."

LOSING AND WINNING

Radio City Music Hall, 2002
Tony Awards
Oklahoma!
As the cast entered the building we were checked by security
I was dressed as a cowboy head to toe, boots, hat and six gun on hip
They checked the women's bags
I had a gun
It looked real
It was heavy
They waved me through
Inside Radio City the feeling was electric
I've performed, I don't know how many thousand times
Sometimes I get stage fright
I don't always get it
But I do...sometimes
This was a top three stage fright moment for me
An audience of my peers
Radio City
As we made our way up to the stage getting ready to perform the "Farmer and the Cowman" I found myself in the wings stage left
Hugh Jackman introduced us
I'd already done this dance many times but as the music started I thought, "what foot do I start on?"
THE FARMER AND THE COWMAN 2002 TONY AWARDS
When we finished we were shuffled back off-stage left as the announcement of Best Revival of a Musical was announced
Over off stage right, the cast of INTO THE WOODS was ready to take stage if they won
I was huffing and puffing as the announcement started when I realized I was standing next to Hugh
He leaned in and said, "Good luck Mate."
In that moment I felt we were going to win
Hadn't seen Into The Woods
How could I?
I was working but I was pretty sure we were wayyyyyy better than them
We were so pumped up
We just finished performing on the Tony Awards!
"And the winner for best revival goes to.....Into the Woods."
We were stunned
Then I heard this loud clap and voice, "EVERYBODY ON THE BUS!"
Beverly Jenkins, our stage manager, took control
She rounded us up and got us back to the theater
A black door opened and we filed out into the light (surprising) and onto a bus and back to the theater to do our evening show
And I thought, "well that was fun."

We played the Into the Woods the next week in softball
Broadway Show League
We were merciless
Matt Allen hit an opposite field Home-run
Shuler hit a home-run right after him
Then I got up to bat and thought...why not?
I swung the hardest I could
My eyes could have been closed, my heels were deep in the dirt
And I somehow hit the sweet spot while my wrists were breaking
That was the furthest I've ever hit a ball
That Clincher ball we played with had thick seams and it was a hot humid day in Central Park
You could almost see the updrafts
The ball just kept spinning and lifting
It must have caught some wind above the trees cause it just kept going
It bounced off the branches at the top of a tree behind home plate of the other field
Behind that was the carousel in Central Park
"Stone, if that tree wasn't there...carousel...fuckin' carousel," said Jimmy the doorman
Might not be a Tony award but I'll keep it

Spirit of Puget Sound...shopper shopper song

I was working as a singing waiter on The Spirit of Puget Sound when I landed Jesus Christ Superstar with Village Theatre. They wanted me to grow a beard to play Jesus. This was my first big role in the region.
I was very excited and a little scared.
The problem was that The Spirit of Puget Sound had a no facial hair policy. Imagine that. A No facial hair policy in Seattle. Yes, this was 1993. I really liked my job and needed the income but I couldn't turn down the Village offer. Thankfully, The Spirit team were really cool and offered me an office job answering inside sales calls. That job had no facial hair restrictions although now I was to wear slacks, a button up shirt and a tie from 8am to 5pm then drive to Issaquah and start rehearsals for JCS at night.
It was exhausting and perfect.
Sales is not an easy job but with inside sales at least the customer is interested in the product and calling YOU to find out information. That's much easier.
But, I still had to learn all the up-sales and packages that we offered. Thankfully I already knew the details of the ship as you had to know that, she displaces 6 feet of water, is 165 feet long. She operates 2 twin catterpiller...blah blah.
It was a lot of information to learn but I was a young college graduate from UW.
I could handle it.
I even liked working in the office. Sure, I had to wake up at an ungodly time and wear uncomfortable clothing but I was working and moving up in the world.
My co-worker at inside sales was mortified by secret shoppers!!!
Being tested frequently on her knowledge of the ship and of the up-sale packages made her nervous.
So, I made up a song called "The Shopper Song."
The phone would ring and every 10th or 11th time she'd look at me with fear in her eyes and say, "I know this one's a shopper."
Cue: The Shopper Song.
"Shopper Shopper Shopper Shopper
  Duh nuh nuh NUH
  Shopper Shopper Shopper Shopper
  Duh nuh nuh NUH"
It was some of my best work at the time.
We'd laugh. She'd pick up the phone and all was fine.
After a couple of months a lead sales position opened up and I was interviewing for the job.
I had a shot even though I was young.
One day my co-worker was having a particularly difficult time. She'd had a poor shop score the week before and was stressed out about it.
The phone at her desk rang and she gave me a distressed look.
"It's a shopper, I know it is."
CUE: The Shopper Song.
I decided to step things up and add a dance to The Shopper Song.
It wasn't much. You know just a little wiggle with fisty arm pumps.
Your basic guy dancing at a wedding.
She started to giggle.
I saw that the dance was taking The Shopper Song to new heights so I took IT to new heights by stepping up on my chair and onto my desk.
The Shopper Song and/Dance was in full effect.
And it was working.
My co-worker smiled and picked up the phone.
And the president of The Spirit of Puget Sound walked into the office.
I froze.
Standing on my desk, hands clenched in a perfect 1993 awkward male dance.
My phone rang.
I quickly stepped down,
"Spirit of Puget Sound this is Greg, how may I be of assistance?"
I didn't get the promotion.
But I KNOW I made an impression.

Sand Castles

Dad and his two little kids are building sand castles
He is good
He is patient
He has skill and the kids learn and the project takes shape
Dad is gentle and coaches the blonde girl of four and the boy of six how to create their castles
Slowly
Delicately
The waves crash around and the sun beats down and it's a pleasurable sight
Family
Nurturing
Creating

The sun hits it's zenith and they leave the beach to return to their room or have lunch perhaps
A few minutes pass before a young boy of 7 discovers the castles
The waves are crashing and crawling up the beach, touching their base
Eroding
The boy examines the castles and their beauty and makes a decision
They must be saved!
He runs and fetches a shovel and begins digging
In front of the castles
He fervently digs and builds a wall to protect them from the sea
He encourages his father to join and they work together to protect these nascent creations from the encroaching Pacific


I'm struck
By those that created these impermanent creations
And those that wish to save them
And how both acts are transitory, beautiful

Emoji Translator

For the majority of my life I've been an early adopter of new technology.
Maybe not 1st Gen, but I'd know what the tech was about and how to use it.
I remember distinctly when in 2008 Becky Moyes looked at my laptop which had my really sweet Myspace page loaded up and she said, "No one uses Myspace anymore."

I was like, "Ha. I beg to differ. I've got 123 friends."

She was 16 and smart as a whip.

So I joined Facebook and opened accounts for my wife and our cat.

And I vowed to try to remain on the cusp of the wave of new tech.

Until Snapchat and suddenly I felt like I finally understood the meaning of that Meatloaf song, "I would do anything for love, but, I won't do that."

So, I had to admit that, okay, I'm not going to keep up with everything.

So here's my problem.

I can't speak emoji.

I know a little sign language.

I've studied French.

I understand phrases in Italian, Spanish and Canadian.

But I don't understand emoji.

I might need to hire an emoji translator.

I mean, I know thumbs up and red heart but after that...

A text conversation with my wife

A text conversation with my wife

Her: Where are you?

Me: At the gym

Her: Are you going to the grocery store later?

Me: I can

Her: Would you do me a favor?

Her: Pretty please??!!!

Me: Of course

Her: Do you know where they keep the Zevia?

Me: You want Zevia?

Long pause with typing icon blinking

Her: Will you get me a six pack of Dr. Zevia?

Me: Thumbs up icon


A text conversation with my wife initiated by me

Me: Need cheese

A MESSAGE

There was a note on the call-board with my name on it.
When I unpinned it from the cork-board and opened it were simply the words, "Call this number."
Followed by seven digits.
I was both intrigued and amused.
Yeah, right.
This was before cell phones.
But, I actually had a phone in my dressing room.
Call a stranger?
I don't think so.
I crumpled it up and threw it away.
Forgot it.
A couple days later another note with my name appears on the call-board.
"Call this Number!"
The exclamation point caught my attention.
Here's the thing.
At my core I'm utterly shy.
But there was that exclamation point.
So in a moment of whimsy I called the number from the phone in my dressing room.
"Hello?"
"Hi. I'm Greg Stone. I've been asked to call this number."
"OH! Hello!" She responded. "Thank you for calling. I saw your show on Thursday night..."
"There's something I think you should know," She said.
"Okay?"
"Ummmm okay...early on my son was diagnosed autistic and every night I'd sing "Bring Him Home" when I put him to bed and...well he's 10 now, and HE's BACK! I just want you to know the power of that song."
That night might be the worst vocal rendition of the song I'd ever given.
Might have been the best.

Sorry Charlie's

In the early 90's at the bottom of Queen Anne hill in Seattle was a dive bar called Sorry Charlie's.

It was my favorite place. A pre-karoake karaoke bar.
Tacky decorations adorned faux wood lined walls.
The seating was fake tuck and roll leather left over from the rat pack generation.
The waitress was a midget (I know) with the attitude and temperament of a giant.
Behind the piano pulling on a cigarette and tipping a bourbon on the rocks was Howard Bulson.
He was bald.
He wore a suit.
He could play anything...off book...in any key.
He was genius.

He also wasn't always so friendly to those who wished to sing. He would help those struggling by changing keys, tempo, jumping to the next section if they forgot the bridge HOWEVER, if you couldn't hack it he'd shake his head and it was over.
To me, the man was magic.
Yes, I am telling a story about a little person that was a giant and a musician that was magic.
It's Seattle.
Sometimes within a few minutes of walking into the bar he'd notice me and start a few notes of a Puccini song that he knew I knew...barely knew.
I might be in conversation and pulling a sip from a cheap rum and coke when I'd hear.
Duh duh duh duh duh duh Duh.
Tosca.
He pushed me.
That's hard to sing.
He always let me sing a full set which was three songs.
It was an honor.
Once when I was there conversing with a bass player, named Nate who was about to go on tour to play some gigs with a rock band, I gave him my sage advice about living on the road, as, you know, I'd just spent three months doing a Fireside Dinner Theatre in Ft. Atkinson, WI.
He listened very nicely and nodded appropriately.
The band was called Foo Fighters?

Buick Electra 225

 

As I drove into the Bartell Pharmacy parking lot I saw this really cool old car. I wasn't sure of the make and model because it was a little unusual. 
I thought it was from the 60's. The thing that struck me was it was "mint."
I looked at it again and thought, yep that's cool, then wondered, who drives that car?
As I was leaving I saw an elderly man holding on to an empty shopping cart.
He had this look on his face that, I'm not sure I can describe but it made me stop and say,
"Sir is there some way I can assist you?"
He nodded.
"I was trying to get this cart back. But my legs they're not so steady."
"Don't you worry about that cart. Let's just get you to your car. It 's that one right there isn't it?"
He nodded again.
We took our time getting there.
It wasn't far.
Sometimes you can do something for someone else and it can make YOUR day.


Saw his car again today a couple of months later and took this picture.
I didn't see him but I was glad to know he, and his Buick Electra 225, are still tooling around town.

The Great Lawn

They were spraying the fields so they moved our game to the Great Lawn.
I was playing for Hairspray.
It was the playoffs.
The weather was volatile.
Black clouds hung in the sky.
I don't recall our opponent.
I think it was a play.
This was Broadway Show League.
They were good.
They were better than us.
Rain started to fall.
Then fall harder.
They were ahead by a decent margin and the BSL had a mercy rule.
The rain got heavy...really heavy.
Lightning flashed.
They were ahead by enough in the inning where the mercy rule would be applied.
The other team made a choice to throw their at bats away to end the game sooner.
But we still had an at bat at the bottom of the inning.
Lighting and rain.
We needed to score a couple runs to keep the game alive.
Brian Patrick Murphy got a hit.
The rain got ridiculous.
The lightning, probably dangerous.
I got up to bat.
It was pouring so hard the outfielders moved in.
That was a mistake.
The pitcher lobbed one over just trying to get the game over and I launched it.
Brian was half way between first and second and I shouted, "GO!"
As I touched first base a bolt of lightning lit up the park.
I splashed through muddy waters rounding the bases.
We both scored.
The game continued.
We lost.
But we didn't give up.
Never give up.

NY Story

We used to play tackle football on Sunday mornings on a field down by the East River.
It took a long time for me to get there as I lived in Bloomfield, NJ but I'd go because sometimes you need to get together with your friends and beat the snot out of each other.
These were full scale no gear tackle football games played on the cold hard ground.
I didn't know all the guys. I knew Jeff Gurner, David Josefsberg and Matt Stern.
I remember once calling out, "I got purple pants" and hitting this guy so hard he walked right off the field and didn't come back.
We were young men...exercising, playing, getting things out.
There was this really high fence that separated the field from a cement walkway along the East river.
It was about ten foot.
In between plays one cold December day this young woman approached Matt Stern at the fence.
She had a backpack and handed it through a hole in the fence saying, "Make sure my Dad gets this."
Then she turned and jumped in the river.
The bulkhead was high.
It was not a small drop to the water.
The guys started climbing the fence.
I ran the other way.
I'd seen a cop standing on the corner as I made my way to the field.
I ran as fast as I could to that cop.
"There's a lady that just jumped in the river!" I said.
The cop got on his radio.
I ran back, jumped the fence and found this woman and Jeff Gurner floating in the water.
They were out of reach.
Way out of reach.
I took off my long sleeve shirt and tried to tie it to a jacket to make a rope.
Jeff looked at me and said, "Don't jump in."
"Oh I'm not jumping man but you gotta get out of there."
I looked right and left and there was nothing.
Jeff was treading water holding her up.
There was no way up
It was cold.
It was scary.
Then this police boat came flying up full tilt and rescued them both.
We went to Bull Moose Saloon and had chicken wings.
New York.