I feel like the offering my feelings of creative inadequacy in my former post has resulted in an awakening of sorts.
As
Charlie suggested in my comments section, it is amazing what you see when you look for it. For example, several events this past week have really inspired me, mostly because they are, well, inspiration provoking events-- but also because I have been extra sensitive and open to this sort of incubation, as I was ranting about earlier.
The first was the
Fiona Apple concert I attended at the
Tower (last minute surprise from Salvador).
Fiona has been mysteriously
MIA in terms of making music since her last album (that I played out years ago.) So, it was super fascinating to see what has happened since then. Fiona is my age and although all her songs seem to be about past relationships, I am fairly certain there is more to it then that. My guess is some form of recovery from some sort of disease of the self-destructive genre.
Five seconds into her first performance I was surprised to find that she has evolved from her little skinny sex kitten thing to a raving lioness! When she spoke I felt like I was listening to Joplin talking: Wraspy, sarcastic and real. During the acoustic version of her newest song the creeping intensity of the primarily female crowd reminded me of how a shot of tequila feels as it crawls slowly up the back of my spine. Okay, bad metaphor, but I highly recommend the new
album, she's an acquired taste but worth the listen. Plus, I left the show wanting to become a rock star all over again. Or, at least, write another blog entry.
The next event took place just the other night at the
Palestra, aka the cathedral of college basketball.
Now my fiance told me before the game that everyone has to make their pilgrimage to the Palestra, that is just "one of those things". He was referring, of course, to the best and greatest young basketball players. Well, I thought he meant me. So, of course, in my mind I am anticipating my great pilgrimage to the Palestra...And that, it became.
The court is really just like a high school basketball gym and reminded me of sophomore year pep rallies (who knows how I remember those as I was usually cutting class on pep rally days.) Anyway, the smell of the place, the vibration of the chanting students, the bench style seats with spray painted numbers on them and the mural images of some of the greatest basketball players of all time was such a treat.
So, attending my first
Big 5 game, one of Philly's greatest athletic traditions, was, well, worth the pilgrimage! Immersing myself in the energy of the game unexpectedly got me fairly fired up!
The last event, is actually a weekly thing that keeps taking on new meaning. Every week a girl friend of mine and I take a long walk together from my studio to the Art Museum. Usually it takes us no more then an hour, there and back. Well, these walks have really become sacred to me. They are kind of the like the movie
Keeping The Faith. Okay, so my friend is not a Priest, and I am far from a Rabbi. But she is very comfortable with her religion of choice. Although I am only mostly, kind of Jewish the difference between us and our beliefs has made for an intense spiritual, intellectual and fascinating discussion each week.
The intimate nature of the one on one walk, the scenery around us and a shared goal provide a really safe space for me to talk about religion. I don't feel judged, nor pressured to accept her beliefs nor secretly superior, I feel right sized and open minded and able to listen. Religion, although I am not convinced it will ever be for me is something I need to talk about or else I become bitter, insecure and disillusioned.
I don't know perhaps all these moments this week seem redundant or obvious in their inspirational nature..It is just so much more effective when I pay attention.
So there you have it, some motivation towards a big idea, or something.
