I like this a lot, and it’s worth re-posting once in a while, because it’s worth remembering once in a while!
Things to remember:
1) The worth of character;
2) The improvement of talent;
3) The influence of example;
4) The joy of origination;
5) The dignity of simplicity;
6) The success of perseverance.
Marshall Field (1834-1906)
People tend to forget that play is serious. -David Hockney
My son had his birthday party this weekend, the “kids” party, where he got to invite a bunch of friends over to spend the night. He’s turning 12 in a couple of days. (Wow, those years went by quickly.) He asked for a Hunger Games party, since he’s read the books and seen the movie… so we set up a Hunger Games party!
Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold. -Joseph Chilton
Our yard and our neighbors yard were the battle arena. There were about 14 kids, all using foam swords, lots of Nerf dart-guns, and foam balls to throw at each other. They each wore 3 “life ribbons” (Flag Football style), and you lost a life by getting a ribbon pulled off or by getting hit with a weapon. Of course, hidden around the yard were lots of fun things, like…
and
Also hidden, among the helpful treasures, were traps, like “poison berries” that made you lose a life ribbon if you opened the box.
Almost all creativity involves purposeful play. -Abraham Maslow
They had a blast, and played 2 games well into the night! Walking around as the “GamesMaster” was fun, because I got to watch all the action, maybe be helpful or mischievous now and then, and take some fun pictures:
The remnants of an epic battle…note the weapons, supply bag, and discarded Life Ribbons. Really hits home, no?
And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. -Khalil Gibran
A fallen warrior…
As the night wore on, I watched different kids respond differently. Some were teaming up, some stayed loners. Some played with honor and fairness, some bent the rules whenever they could.
We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves. -May Lamberton Becker
The thing that was the most striking was how much fun they had, while also taking it so seriously – strategizing, plotting, but also pulling details from the books and movie into the game and weaving storylines, calling each other by character names. They created drama, but disputes were largely solved by the group.
And all the while, I watched my son – who I’m pretty sure was just born yesterday – as he enjoyed his day. He was loving being the center of attention, but also gracious to his friends. He moved through the “cliques” and made sure everyone was having fun, and no one was being left out… I was really proud of him, and amazed at how grown he’s become. Sometimes I think I’m too hard on him, or I’m too strict, or I’m not patient if he’s doing things in a way that I wouldn’t do… seeing him at his party reminded me that he’s a young man now. How *I* would do something doesn’t have to be the way he would do it. The Dad part of me has to keep hoping that by example, suggestion, and hopefully more discussion than discipline, I can do my job and help him grow into an adult of good character… and seeing him be a kid of good character was pretty great.
Too many people grow up. That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don’t remember what it’s like to be 12 years old. They patronize, they treat children as inferiors. Well I won’t do that. -Walt Disney
So tonight, when I got home from work, I found him sleeping in my bed. Sometimes he’ll crawl into bed with Jeanne if I’m not home. As I looked at him sleeping there, I realized that soon I wouldn’t be picking him up anymore, soon he’ll be too big or won’t want to be lifted… and that’s a loss that I know will come soon, but one that I’m just not ready for. As I gently picked him up to carry to his room, his arms wrapped around my neck and he nestled his head on my shoulder.
And, sure, I could’ve just set him on his bed right away – but tonight, I just couldn’t bear to do it. Tonight, I just listened to him breathe, and I held him until my arms ached. This moment, this could be the last time I get the chance to do that. This event horizon that we’re on right now, we stand on a thin line and I can look to one side and see his childhood, and just a step away in the other direction is his adult life, and I know that step has to be taken, but…
I thrill at what the future holds for my kids… but I will miss moments like carrying them to bed more than I’m capable of expressing.
How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child’s board. It is like an aged man reclining under the shadow of an oak which he has planted. -Voltaire
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. ~Lao Tzu
This weekend was full of Quality Family Time, and I’m very grateful for it! It’s been a wonderful, busy few weeks, especially the last two, as I’ve been overlapping rehearsals for The Understudy at Williamston Theatre and Ernie at the City Theatre. As I was driving between the two shows, and back to my house to be with my wife and kids, I was thinking about the different families we create in our lives. It’s always been one of the things I loved most about working in the theatre, the way each production becomes its own family. Designers regularly get the chance to work on multiple shows at a time, but as a director I haven’t often had the opportunity, and going back and forth between several versions of a family with different goals, values, traditions, expectations, all on the same day, has been a lot of fun. Not just fun, though, but also a reminder that in order to succeed, you have to be fully present, listening, open to the moment. It’s a real gift to have one or more “families” to call home.
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard
It was nice to take all of Saturday and most of Sunday, though, and be with my wife and kids, as well as my parents, siblings and their families! We celebrated birthdays and an early Mother’s Day, played games, ate good food, laughed and generally had a great time. We stood there, 3 generations of a family, and as we were posing for a picture I thought “Where did all of this come from!?”. We stood there for the picture, my parents in front and Dominic and Gina and I behind them, Dom and I on the sides with Gina in the middle, just like when we were kids in the backseat, and my parents were in the front seat driving us on one of the thousands of car trips we went on; singing songs as we headed to A&W for root beer floats, or a visit with cousins, or camping. And now, here we are, in that same formation… with a few additions!
It’s amazing how quickly that seems to have happened. And how MUCH seems to have happened. And yet, there are the constants: family stories that never fail to make us laugh, the same jokes about the same topics, the one-liner that will only make sense to my brother and sister and I, but send us into hysterics about a moment from 30 years ago.
I know all of this will pass. It will, it’ll pass into family lore as we all fade away… and the thing I hope most of all is that we, Jeanne and I, can give to our kids enough laughter, love, memories and stories to last a few generations past us – the way our parents have – so that even if our stories don’t last forever, the impact of them will.
Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. ~Paul Pearshall
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
-Marcus Aurelius
This is a neat thing for me – I’m celebrating a milestone…
This week, I am celebrating 20 straight years of making a living in the theatre.
That’s a little amazing since, unless I stop to think about it, I’m pretty sure I’m still in my mid-20’s. 🙂 (Wait… Where did these gray hairs come from?!)
Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
-St. Francis of Assisi
I remember discussing college with my Dad, when I was in high school, and I told him that I wanted to go to school for theatre. I don’t think he was surprised (I’d been doing theatre all through high school), but I saw that look of Dadly worry in his eyes. All he said, though, was “Do you think you can make a living at it?”. I said I thought I could, and that was all he needed – he nodded, and said “Then your Mom and I will help any way we can.”
I’m incredibly grateful for that support, and I’m really proud to be able to show them a career where, for two decades, every job I’ve had has been theatre related. I truly, truly hope that Jeanne and I are able to respond to our kids like that when the time comes.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-Maya Angelou
For fun, I made a quick list:
California Theater Center, The Purple Rose Theatre Company, The Gem, Urban Stages in Manhattan, Studio Arena in Buffalo, Otterbein University, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, Performance Network Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, MeadowBrook Theatre, The City Theater, Williamston Theatre, apprentice, stage manager, sound designer, actor, director, literary manager, associate artistic director, house manager, writer, producer, set designer, teacher/instructor/adjunct professor, understudy.
So, although I’m amazed that 20 years have come and gone, I’m also incredibly thankful, and grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten, the people I’ve worked with, the lessons I’ve learned, and the stories I’ve helped to tell. Man oh man, I hope the next 20 are as fun the first 20 were!
Depend upon yourself. Make your judgement trustworthy by trusting it. You can develop good judgement as you do the muscles of your body – by judicious, daily exercise. To be known as a man of sound judgement will be much in your favor.
-Grantland Rice
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
-David Russell
Make the decision, make it with confidence, and the world will be yours.
-Jaren l Davis
Nothing happens unless first a dream.
-Carl Sandburg
Half the joy of life is in little things taken on the run… but let us keep our hearts young and our eyes open that nothing worth our while shall escape us. – Victor Cherbuliez
Yesterday was one of those nice days that you thank the Universe for, and it was a great reminder that the big things in life are wonderful, but they happen less frequently: taking notice of the little things makes the difference between a good life, and a great life.
A clear, chilly morning and a great cup of coffee on the porch before heading to rehearsal.
A good rehearsal of a good show. Taking moments that are good, and making them better with the collaboration of a good team.
The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things. – G. C. Lichtenberg
A surprise text message: “Hey, you Downtown? I have a free ticket behind home plate, wanna come?” You bet! Turns out it was no problem that I would be rehearsing for the first part of the game, got there in plenty of time to sit about 12 rows back behind home plate and see 4 innings of baseball in a beautiful ballpark. Even though our team got hammered, the place was sunny, packed with fans – the mood was light, the company was good.
The evening was full of Quality Family Time: laughing over burgers, sitting around the neighbor’s bonfire for a while, relaxing on the couch with my family, grossing out my daughter with my eye (I apparently sneezed too hard and burst a blood vessel in my eye, so it looks all yucky and zombie-riffic!)
An early bedtime, listening to the Tigers win the second game of their double-header.
For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great. – Gasset, Jose Ortega Y
Nowhere in there was there a giant life changing event. No big holidays, no one won the lottery. We didn’t suddenly get a new dream-job or celebrate the success of anyone’s efforts on a project. Instead, we had a day full of simple goodness: quality moments, with quality people – smiles with loved ones. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. – Robert Brault
Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.
-Alfred Adler
Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own.
-Charles de Gaulle
Don’t find fault. Find a remedy.
-Henry Ford
Do not be critics, you people, I beg you. I was a critic and I wish I could take it all back because it came from a smelly and ignorant place in me, and spoke with a voice that was all rage and envy. Do not dismiss a book until you have written one, and do not dismiss a movie until you have made one, and do not dismiss a person until you have met them. It is a f@*$%load of work to be open-minded and generous and understanding and forgiving and accepting, but Christ, that is what matters. What matters is saying yes.
– Dave Eggers
Note to self: finding a cool quote and writing it in your journal is not a substitute for Getting. It. Done.
-Betsy Cañas Garmon
When I looked at my calendar in December and predicted “Man, April and May are going to be a nightmare!”, well… it turns out my predictive powers are dead-on accurate! That’s a good thing, right?! #HappyToBeworking #CoffeeIsMyFriend
The phones are ringing off the hook for the last two weeks of The Usual at Williamston Theatre!
Rehearsals for Ernie are going well!Â
The Detroit Tigers are 4-1 so far this season. I like it!Â
This video definitely counts as a good thing. Reminds me of my son!
Buffy fans…
Hilarious.
Yesterday, my poor wife had “one of those days.” You know, the ones we all have once in a while, where things don’t go well, random people are jerks, and you just want to either crawl under a rock or punch something, or both? Well, the kids found out, and before she got home they set up a big relaxing pile of pillows and blankets in front of the tv, with the newest episode of her favorite show on Netflix, the room lit with just candles, some chocolate and a glass of wine ready for her!
And of course the pic is dark because it’s just candles, but doesn’t she look relaxed? 🙂 My kids are awesome.
Speaking of kids, my daughter was feeling crafty, and made me a case for my iPad out of felt, colored duct tape, and some magnets!
What a kid. 
This pic is here because it’s amazing…click to embiggen and get the full effect!
April 1, 2012. Mount Etna spews volcanic ash during an eruption on the southern Italian island of Sicily. (From Time Magazine)
Lastly, this came from my brother. He knows me well.
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.
-Mark Twain
Resiliency means recognizing that chaos occurs in our own mind and we can react accordingly. In other words: Chaos is not the problem, it’s how we respond to it that makes the difference between balance and imbalance.
-Chip Weiner
Fetter strong madness in a silken thread.
-William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act V, sc. 1
You only require two things in life: your sanity and your wife.
-Tony Blair
Sometimes we do a thing in order to find out the reason for it. Sometimes our actions are questions not answers.
-John Le Carre
The final voyage of the (real) U.S.S. Enterprise
Hey, Doctor Who fans! If you haven’t seen the online game, prepare to waste a lot of time with your favorite Gallifrean, exploring the “big ball of wibbly wobbly timely wimey…stuff!”
Doctor Who: Worlds In Time
Um… Living in the future is cool, but… Didn’t we learn ANYTHING from Jurassic Park?!
Extinct Wooly Mammoth To Be Cloned
This is a neat resource – the top 50 Drama Games. Possibly useful for workshops with young people, rehearsals, classroom settings? Worth checking out: Drama Games
My friend Dawn just recently introduced me to the Commonplace Book, which is a thing I immediately fell in love with and, as much as I wonder what exactly this online journal that I keep should be, this concept spoke to me very much. Filling pages with a variety of things related to the individual goals of the writer: things they want to share, to learn about, to remember, to ponder… I like this idea very much. It, for whatever reason, speaks to me more than “keep a blog about theatre” does. Maybe it’s because, in some ways, it’s what I do already – I write about the theatre, my family, baseball, sci-fi, news articles that move me, a whole hodge-podge of things. Often I’ve thought that maybe that’s not a good idea, because I see so many specialized blogs and online journalists that adhere to the “focus on a topic or you’ll lose your core readers” philosophy. Well, I don’t know that I have “core readers”, to start with, and I’d much rather share things that move me in one way or another and, hopefully, get feedback from folks who read it about what THEY think.
So, who knows, maybe the idea of a commonplace journal is just me giving myself permission to explore what I want this to be! If so, I’m going to start with this quote, which I just read recently and loved, because it’s about being in charge – as someone who helps run and guide a company, it’s a topic that I think about often.
When in Charge, Be in Charge (Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., US Army)
While Patton certainly championed it, the concept was not unique to his mind, nor to the military. If you have the honor and burden of being in charge – of a family, a team, a business unit or serving coffee, do so. Don’t waste people’s time and your life with milquetoast behavior. You are going to take the hit for outcomes, good or bad. This does not endorse domineering abusive behavior, however. Step up, be authentic and responsible – to yourself and to the forces of the universe that put you there.
That section came from David Kanigan’s blog, Lead.Learn.Live. – which is definitely worth reading if you’re interested in that stuff.
Tony Caselli 