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