Finally Falling

Despite what you may think, I attempt to enjoy every season in its turn. There's majesty and beauty in all of them. But deep down, I'm secretly wishing and waiting for fall to arrive. The countdown usually beings in January. I wish I were kidding but it's true. There's something more dramatic about the shift between summer and fall and I'm sure the months of anticipation only make the change that more apparent but it really is the most magical time of year.

For all of my life, Christmas has been my favorite holiday. And I imagine it will continue to be, especially since it's my birthday as well. But I have to admit, Halloween is really growing on me. I look forward to decorating for Halloween just as much as I do Christmas and the theatrical part of me relishes in the artistic liberties that Halloween allows one to take. I feel like it challenges me to be more creative and go beyond merely "decoration" to create a truly impressive atmosphere. While I'm not one for blood and gore, it's at Halloween that I appreciate what the power of suggestion can do to illicite an eerie sense of wonder with the world and the chance to look at it from a somewhat darker perspective.

While Halloween continues to rise in the ranks of my favor, it matters little whether it wins out or not. What matters most at this time of year is that it's all ahead of me. For me, the holiday season begins now and everything associated with it is a happy forethought. When one holiday is over, we simply move on to the next and the next and so on until the fateful dawn of January. But now, January seems so far away. Now is just the beginning.

This week was the beginning of many seasonal firsts:

The first time I wore a sweater.
The first urge to turn on the heater.
The first time I've closed my bedroom windows.
The first time I've worn socks.
The first pumpkin purchase.
The first bout of homesickness for Boston.
The first sighting of fallen leaves.

I hope for many more to come. Some of my favorite fall traditions are already planned and I anxiously look forward to them. But I do not wish for time to speed up. This time of year I have patience. Because before I know it, the leaves will be swept, the pies eaten and the gifts unwrapped and I will be faced with the woeful maladies of January yet again. For now, I want to savor each and every fall-filled moment.

A Week With TMP

What a crazy week it's been. On Tuesday the Trey McIntyre Project began their week-long residency at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. For four days, this incredible dance company did pretty much everything under the sun that we could get them to from master classes to bus-ins to impromptu "spurban" performances throughout Orange County. We would show up unannounced at university campuses, shopping malls and outdoor markets where we would throw up a couple banners, press play on a boom box and the dancers would surprise passersby with a three-minute performance and then we would disappear. It was truly remarkable to see people's reactions and to be a part of something so unique.

The week ended with two incredible performances on the Center's mainstage. I was absolutely blown away by what I saw. Scarcely have I seen the work of a choreographer that has such depth and breadth and vision as Trey. I am convinced he can do most anything. He brings with him a wealth of artistry, a sense of humor, a profound intellect and an understanding of our generation that makes him unavoidably appealing. And his dancers were equal to every task he put before them, each with their own unique gift and personality. The TMP dancers have filled the ranks of our country's finest ballet troupes but their desire to be part of something new and innovative lead them to Trey. And I am grateful for their courage. They bring to life some of the most creative work I've seen in a very long time. I will never forget what I experienced this weekend.

I think what impresses me most though was the energy, drive, demeanor and creative vision of every member of this young troupe. It is what I want so badly to be a part of and what I hope can take root in my own workplace someday. Our short time with them was truly inspiring. And despite the long hours and overwhelming schedule, it's weeks like these that remind me how much I truly love my job.