Evening Edition - 2/24/08

Celia Cruz; The Icon
One of the best things about living in NYC is having Broadway and off-Broadway shows around the corner. Friday, I and a group of friends were mesmerized by the life and times of Celia Cruz – playing at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street. The play – really the musical – comes to life in both Spanish and English version performances. We caught the Spanish version to make the experience more authentic. I’m a hard critic – especially when it comes to the portrayal of a legend that I witnessed since my earliest memories. Xiomara Laugart as Celia Cruz and her supporting cast in Celia was amazing. The vocals channeled the icon so thoroughly that I found myself in tears and filled by the uncanny portrayal of this amazing woman. Celia Cruz lived such an honest and forthright life. Her music, her life, her love all combined to make her the larger-than-life persona she ultimately became. By the end of the close-to two hour performance our group was hooked. This is an incredible show that deserves its place on Broadway. A must see…A story long overdue.

Never Complain; Never Explain
Various folks have been quoted as saying, “Never Complain; Never Explain. Ultimately, I’ve attributed the quote to Katharine Hepburn, who was said to have said it to a Redbook reporter. It really is a quote that I’ve embraced as a way of living and a way to keep myself sane. Complaining, though great for releasing pent-up frustration, can also be a silly spinning of your life-wheels; a whining compilation of resignation. I allow myself moments of brief complaining, but I think they serve as ways to hear myself and what’s bothering me. To continue any prolonged complaining does nothing to fix anything and so I hate doing it and more importantly, I hate hearing it. I’ve seen myself make drastic decisions based solely on ending the complaining and creating a change that moves me in a different direction. Also equally important, I don’t necessarily feel the need to explain my decision to anyone – family, friends, BD...they are important, but they don’t need my reasoning for all conclusions Cocoa. So, as I look to my last year in my thirties one important character trait has emerged; the ability to enjoy my life without the burden of complaining about what doesn’t appear to be perfect OR explaining my thinking to others.

On Blast
Do you find that you spend a great deal of your time complaining about your current state of affairs and/or explaining your life to others?

Keep passin’ the open windows…