The Byrne Diaspora

Lovefest

Man, pictures are so much fun, I just keep posting 'em...this is (I think) the last roll from my play, Fistful of Love. I'm happy to report that the run went fantastically well. Every single show pretty much sold out. At the very last performance on May 31st, they had to seat four people in the sound booth because there wasn't an inch of space anywhere else! What's more, every audience was great - they laughed, squealed, cheered, even commented aloud. There was never a dull night.

It was just a perfect experience altogether. The play was so much fun; and so deep, I felt like I only scratched the surface of all its themes - only dimly comprehended all of the space it took up. And to boot, everyone involved was funny, friendly and brilliant; I feel like I made a dozen new best friends. 

Okay, sigh, enough nostalgia. Go look at the pictures!

Thanksgiving at the beach

Takin' it back again...

Last Thanksgiving, the American Academy of Religion had their big annual conference in San Diego. So Julie decided to spend Thanksgiving there...and TAKE A SURFING LESSON. How jealous am I!? We have been entertaining the idea of taking a sisterly surfing trip ever since.

See her pictures here!

Winter in summer

I have a backlog of pictures from the winter holidays that I've been meaning to post, so, what better time than a heat wave to be reminded of how deliciously cold we once were? :)

First, there are a few pictures from our visit with Laura and Joel here, from my stay at Yulan here, and Julie's holiday pictures (New York and Yulan) here!

Five years

This past weekend, Rajeev and I traveled up to Massachusetts for my fifth-year reunion at Wellesley. We had a wonderful time...the place is so magical to me. In my dreams - and I dream of Wellesley often - there are always rooms and buildings unknown to me. Like, on the far side of campus that I have never been to, I dream there is a row of stables that extends into infinity.

We explored Founders Hall and the Science Center - two labyrinths; one neoclassical, one modernist. We walked by the lake and ducked into the boathouse. We walked up stairways and down corridors long lost to me; we searched for hidden doorways I once knew (the secret bathroom on the 6th floor of the Science Center; the entrance to the steam tunnels near the greenhouse)...but did not find them. It seems I have gained new ways of magic, but lost the old. And because spring comes late to Massachusetts, we were there just in time for great pollen clouds - with every wind, a great mist of yellow shivered off the trees and swirled around us.

You can see pictures here!

Mark save the world

Newsflash! Mark Rogers - Mary's boyfriend - is playing an array of instruments (lap steel, mandolin and electric guitar) in what looks like an awesome play in New York City, called Imperia Save the World. It opens next week in New York at The Flea (which is where Clare's boyfriend Stefan used to be technical director, no? Small world!). Go see it if you can! I really wish I could....

A door in the air

Clare came to North Carolina for a couple of weeks - she just left yesterday. I miss her already! While she was here, she got to come see my play (twice!), and soak in the new construction at Melleray. In addition to all the abundant green growing things, work has begun on the pergola. It's an open lattice walkway, like a grape arbor, that will face in four directions - like a cross, from above - at the center of which will rise a stargazing platform. (Maybe now we will ACTUALLY get to see the Leonids, Dad!)

See the pictures here!