*** I was enjoying an evening in the theater with friend, Pammie, on Wed. July 13th, 1977. 

We were seeing “Otherwise Engaged” at the Plymouth Theater. Around 9:30 PM, in the middle of the second act, the theater suddenly went completely black.

There was a murmur, which grew increasingly louder. Within minutes, Dick Cavett appeared onstage holding a flashlight under his chin. He said: “We are not certain what has happened, but, we understand the entire city has lost electricity. If you will indulge us, we would like to finish the play with the help of a many flashlights as we can find.”

There was overwhelming, enthusiastic applause!

That evening began four full days of no electricity in the City of New York, and a temperature peak, daily, of 104 degrees.
The city was dark and so was Broadway.

*** The morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, dawned brilliantly with blue skies and a temperature of 73 degrees.
As I looked out of my living room window, I remember thinking, “What a perfect day!”
We all know, too well, what extraordinary challenges and transitions that perfect day brought.

For the second time, in my days in our city, Broadway was shuttered.
Within a week, the powers within our city and the theater community combined their energy, resilience and intention to bring the bright blaze of spirit, song and healing back to Broadway and its audiences.

***
On Thursday, March 12th, 2020, I sat in front of my television screen stunned to hear the voice of our Governor Coumo, declare all of New York City would be going into lockdown.
“Broadway Theaters … Lincoln Center … all theater, ballet and orchestra will be closed indefinitely, until further notice.”

How can this be true ?

Within that next month, there was a ”telethon” hosted by Tina Fey, for “the Robin Hood Organization”. As the last performance in that extraordinary hour, Billy Joel sang, live:
“I saw the the Lights go out on Broadway …”.
The visual was his face superimposed over the background images of all the darkened Theater Marquees.

I wept!
I weep.

This was/is the third and longest time the Lights have been dimmed on Broadway in my personal experience.
And, I am guessing, ever.

***
I have a tree directly outside and visible through my three Brownstone windows. It has been a friend for many a decade.
With the comings and goings of my last three years, I had failed to notice that it’s branches and leaves now fill the space of all three windows, blocking the sight of the buildings across the street, leaving only a view of the green of the tree and the sky.

“Tree-murm”, (yes, I know. I am a bit odd. This is how I affectionately talk with her/him … ) has become an ever present companion, comfort and inspiration. I have contracted with a very special Arborist, to give it vitamins in the spring and in the fall.

It is suggested one of the more healing endeavors we may practice, is to spend as much time as possible in nature.
Nature continually renews itself.
Nature leads us through the cycle of birth,
then, a time to flourish and rejoice,
and, eventually, release and surrender.

Yesterday, I planted 40 flower bulbs which will emerge from the dark and freezing days of winter to bloom, come spring:
March of 2021.
Hope!
I choose to close with an Emily Dickinson quote:
“I dwell in possibility”