Every night, between the hours of 8 and 10, I’m reminded to measure my life in love.
Thanks to the community theater located directly below my apartment.
During the show, I sit quietly, without turning on the television or blasting Spotify, not to disturb their production of Rent. I figure, if I can hear them, they can certainly hear me. I even time my bathroom breaks not to coincide with the more solemn parts of the musical, like Angel’s death and Mimi’s near demise. It’s the least I can do to support the Arts.
While most sane people would most likely be over this situation, the play couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. Every night I get to escape for a few hours and pretend I live above a bohemian artist enclave in Alphabet City. I join them in their wild optimism for finding a cure for AIDS in our lifetime, and in their pursuit for working for love and not money. I forget everything I’m afraid of and remember everything that is good. That death is a certainty and that life is made up of a few minutes, so I should make the most of it, all the time.
That’s a pretty amazing affirmation to have every single night.
So, to show my appreciation, next month, I will pay my rent with one thousand sweet kisses.
Mari de Armas 
You are the best local arts supporter! So… want to go and seat in the front row of RENT next Saturday? After next Sunday you are going to miss the noise. Loved your post, as always!
Thank you!! How about Sunday at 5pm? What do you think?
Mari,
You are the bomb and oh so gay. I adore you musings.
Terri Lynn
You make me blush!
Let me know if that 1000 kisses thing works for you so I can try to pay my mortgage with 1000 of my own! LOL
LOL! I’ll keep you posted, but after writing this, I took a good, hard look at my property manager and I’m thinking 10 kisses is more than fine.
How very interesting to live above a theater. You should be allowed to have a free seat anytime.
Yes. It has its perks. I’ve considered drilling a hole on the floor of my closet so I can watch the productions in the comfort of my pajamas.
What a lovely little blog post! How cool that your respect for the theater company is so great that you honor their performances by even timing your bathroom breaks. You are the ultimate theater fan. Long may that little theater thrive and be lucky enough to share their building with you.
Thank you so much for your comment! I’m really the lucky one. I get a “top row seat” for every show.
As the director of the production, I can’t be any more thrilled at hearing you don’t want to kill us! Thank you so much for your support in all of the ways that it comes. You are amazing!
Are you kidding? You are amazing! I heard those first rehearsals and you’ve brought the cast a really long way. Congratulations on a wonderful run!
Ahh! The cast is crazy about meeting you! Sunday’s ticket is on the house!
That’s terribly sweet! I bought my ticket already, so make sure that comp goes to someone else. Maybe invite Flava Flav and see how much damage you guys can do to his clock. 🙂
Hey Mari,
I’m “Collins” in said production, and I have to say this blog touched me. i think it’s awesome, and I’m very glad that you are entertained by something that would probably annoy the average person – lol. I do hope you get to see it so that you can put a visual to the sounds you’ve been hearing the last few weeks. Thank you for the support!!!!!
You are both sweet and talented, thank you! I’ll both hear and see you on Sunday. Congratulations on a fantastic run!