Scottie & Amy (and Rent)
I really love it when Amy and Scottie come for a visit.
A lot of people I know—co-workers, friends—roll their eyes or pass me pained, knowing looks when I mention that I’m going to visit my parents or my in-laws or when I say my brother is coming into town. It seems that for a lot of people a family get-together is viewed as an unwanted obligation. Like the dentist. It’s good for you, they reluctantly acknowledge, but lord the pain!
I’m not in this camp. Many people seem surprised when I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of a visit to, or from, my relatives.
I guess I’m just lucky.
Anyway, I had a great time with my bro and his wife. We saw “Rent” one night and despite the weird and abrupt ending, (and that fact that it’s a musical) I really enjoyed it. I’ve lived in New York since 1997 but I’d never gotten around to seeing it. (I’ve even seen parodies, most recently in “Team American: World Police” where it was called “Lease” and I have to admit the marionette version crossed my mind more than once during the show. If you’ve seen both you’ll know what I mean.) Some of the songs were good enough that I could see myself listening to them outside of the theatre—which is saying something. The only other musical I would say this about is “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” which was a one-man/woman show about a German transvestite that becomes a global rock star. It sounds crazy, but it was an amazing show and had some great rock-and-roll songs. I heard the CD playing in a bookstore just recently. (They’ve since turned it into a movie. I also hear they’re making a movie version of Rent.)
Other than Rent, we just hung out, walked around the city, and had a few good dinners. (We also had a bonus visit from Reba and Jason—two more very cool Arkansasans who were in town for the same wedding my brother and sister-in-law were attending.)
It was fun. Scottie and Amy, you’re welcome back any time.