Tag: life

Ngaio Marsh and Chekhov

I recently watched a new version of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull” at Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto.  A good presentation of a complex play.  The director [Daniel Brooks] wrote in his programme notes, “I love [Chekhov’s] cheekiness and wit.  And his tenderness, especially for those who yearn.  I love him because he blames no one.”  Those remarks by Brooks helped me to a new appreciation of “The Seagull”.

A bit earlier, I had read Ngaio Marsh’s 1980 mystery “Photo Finish”.  One realizes that Marsh patterned her confused, erratic young opera composer after Chekov’s playwright in “The Seagull”.  Thus another way to appreciate the two works.  It is no coincidence: Marsh was very engaged with plays and performances in her books.

Happy reading, and Best Wishes, from Ken Roberts, 17-April-2023.

Should you do everything forever ?

“You don’t have to do something forever, for it to have been worth doing.”

That was the advice I received long ago from a friend, and it helps tremendously.

Here, for instance, is a display of santas on the mantle of our house.  The photo was taken today, 31-Dec-2022.  A person who is familiar with our household traditions may notice that the tall santa on the left is new this year and thus be able to date the photo.  These santas occupy the mantle during the month of December, and come the new year they will be carefully removed, packed away to the next December, to be enjoyed again.

So, we have a mix of the temporary (the presence of santas on the mantle), the periodic (every December), and the permanent intention (bring out the santas every Christmas).  It turns out that the question “how long should the santas be displayed on the mantle” has a complicated answer.  Life is like that.

If something is worth doing, do it if and when the circumstances seem appropriate.  You do not have to do it forever.  You do not have to be correct, either.  Life is full of learning opportunities.

Best wishes for the New Year, from Ken Roberts, 31-Dec-2022