Last night I went to see Zainab Johnson, an amazing LA comedian who comes from a family of 13 siblings!! So wild. She is a natural story-teller, letting the audience in on her innermost insecurities and concerns. I went with my friend Liz, and as we were walking out I ran into Zainab and I started blabbing away about how she’d inspired me, and asked to take a photo and she said, “I would love to but there’s a whole line waiting!” – I didn’t realize that there was an entire line on the other side that we had skipped because we’d come up from a back route!
On Wednesday I auditioned for the Comedy is Art Festival. It went pretty well, fingers crossed! There were four judges and I think 8 comedians, and we each did 5 minute sets. It was actually fun and everyone was so good! There were a couple people that sang their sets (about the TTC and dating), and one girl with a guitar – I sang for one of my jokes too. The worst part is the wait to find out, because it will be a couple months before they let us know!
I’m loving my new place and having a view of the lake again – I feel like I’ve been reunited with a long-lost friend. I love seeing the sunrise when I get up early enough and make it out of bed, and watching the moon hit the water. I’ve only seen it once so far and it was so beautiful. I’m in a new building so there are definitely growing pains – like trying to get on a working elevator! At least I’m getting a workout going up and down stairs.
There are so many good things ahead, but there is also a slight pull of grief, and a feeling of running from something, of wanting to be free. Like the girl on the swing in the painting beside me – swinging calmly into the sky, looking out into layers of greenery, not afraid to lose her footing because her sandals are secured safely to her feet.
I’m reading Rest is Sacred, by Octavia Raheem, and every word hits home.
That’s where you start.
A moment of surrender.
A walk through the labrynth of time.
A glimpse of the centre
the acceptance that this path
and journey are not linear.
It is a spiral.
Healing is not a straight line.
When things are good, sometimes we hold back because we don’t want to shake them too much… when things are shaky, we have nothing to lose and become more daring in our pursuits. Intuition is always my teacher, and striking up random conversations with strangers never fails. Yesterday I walked into a random cafe, and the woman beside me was surprised that the book I was reading about Iran was similar to the one she was in that very moment corresponding to a friend about. Coincidence?
I’ve been watching Julie Nolke’s videos to keep me sane about what’s happening in the U.S. right now, and by extension the rest of the world because there is just no way to escape it. She is hilarious!
She's Come Undone 