Have you ever done the Perfect Day Exercise?
Here's the prompt:
On a magical day,
you can live it exactly as in a dream
or a movie.
Choose where would you be.
Describe your surroundings.
Choose what activity you'd be doing.
Who would you be with?
Maybe friends, family, or alone
on a beach?
Write it like it's scenes from
a movie entitled
MY PERFECT DAY
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MY PERFECT DAY BEGINS . . .
Scene 1) An alarm goes off in the Times Square Marriott Hotel.
It’s 4:00 a.m.
A limousine is picking me up at 5:00 to take me to 30 Rockefeller Plaza for my brief appearance on the Today Show to talk about my two books Girdled and Gloved:From Radio to YouTube and All Poems Considered, and the upcoming Silent Dreams: The Musical I composed.
Cindy, my personal assistant is brewing coffee in the small dinette area.
The familiar aroma of coffee smells wonderful.
“Bagels or muffins?” she asks.
A banana nut muffin,” I say, “and a little butter and cream cheese, and orange juice.
I’m all dressed and Cindy has taken care of styling my hair — she’s great at using the right amount of mousse and hairspray.
Scene 2) The limosine driver holds open the door. I exit in a stunning black and white outfit with patterned leggings, boots, and silk tunic top made especially for me by Margaret Agner.
It’s called Black Orchid and is in shades of black, white and gray.
It’s called Black Orchid and is in shades of black, white and gray.
We stare at the beautiful golden statue in Rockefeller Plaza.
The Today Show studio is just inside on the first floor with windows looking out onto 7th Avenue.
In the Green Room there’s a bouquet of flowers and Savannah Guthrie whisks in and says, “Hello, glad you’re here, I’ll be back in a little while.”
The Today Show studio is just inside on the first floor with windows looking out onto 7th Avenue.
In the Green Room there’s a bouquet of flowers and Savannah Guthrie whisks in and says, “Hello, glad you’re here, I’ll be back in a little while.”
The interview is hot under the lights and is all it needs to be.
They’re more interested in who’s been cast in the musical.
I don’t think anyone has read either book.
They’re more interested in who’s been cast in the musical.
I don’t think anyone has read either book.
Scene 3. After the Today show we take a taxi to meet with a rental agent for the small apartment I will sublet for six months in a modest section near Union Square.
I’ve always wanted to live in New York and now that my musical, Silent Dreams is in rehearsals Off Broadway, I want to be available.
There’s a desk clerk who watches the entranceway.
No elevator, but I have a first floor sublet,
$1,850/month -- all I can afford for now.
(Reader: In my Perfect Day, I have to use Practical Magic, things that could happen. I cannot wish for a Million Bucks, but you can on your Perfect Day!)
Back to that small apartment I'm renting:
It has twin beds a tiny bathroom and kitchenette.
I frown, a little worried.
“Hey, it’ll be like college,” says Cindy. “We’ll get along fine.”
I could not do any of this alone.
Scene 4) Lunch is at the Russian Tea Room: While we wait, Cindy answers a dozen emails.
She knows me better than I know myself, and is good at P.R.
She knows me better than I know myself, and is good at P.R.
She shows me an e-photo of the garden and driveway on my house back in Athens, Ga., part of the renovation the Athens Restoration Crew is making.
“And we’ve made an offer for that home on Meadowview Dr. you said you always wanted.” reports Cindy.
After 2 Bloody Mary’s, clams casino and a salad, Cindy pays the bill and puts it on the special “Show Business” account.
Cindy was an accountant for R.E.M. earlier.
Scene 5) We take a taxi back to the hotel where I rest for an hour and then we take a cab to MOMA.
Yesterday we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Tomorrow, the Guggenheim.
Scene 6) After MOMA I rest again and we take a cab to the Roundabout Theater on W. 46th., where a small choral ensemble is rehearsing, “Hold On To Your Dreams!” just as we open the door.
Then the band plays the Overture I composed!!
So thrilling hearing this little Broadway band playing it just as I recorded it fifteen years ago.
So thrilling hearing this little Broadway band playing it just as I recorded it fifteen years ago.
We sit quietly in the back and just watch and listen.
I don’t want to be disruptive.
The director Anna Westfeld comes on stage with John Leguizamo who plays Leonard and Angela Lansbury as Vera Marlowe, (a character in the musical who played piano in the Silent Movies), and Gale Harold as Emil the waiter.
I hold my breath with this unexpected joy.
I don’t want to be disruptive.
The director Anna Westfeld comes on stage with John Leguizamo who plays Leonard and Angela Lansbury as Vera Marlowe, (a character in the musical who played piano in the Silent Movies), and Gale Harold as Emil the waiter.
I hold my breath with this unexpected joy.
“Let’s take it from your entrance Miss Lansbury, with the new blocking,” says Anna.
“Places.”
The stage is bare as no stairs have been built for the brownstone boarding house Miss Lansbury will descend from for her lovely entrance.
I hope the audience will applaud when they first see her.
(Scene 7) As we leave the little theater for our next appointment, an elderly man who’s been sitting in the back of the theater follows us to the lobby-
He says he’s the grandfather of Jonah, one of the musicians and says, “I read about you - I read your book — I had this mysterious feeling when I first saw you.
- A message came to me at that moment which said, "You must tell her that she will continue to be healthy and live to be a 100 or more, and see all her dreams come true.”
While soaking, and sipping, I hear Cindy negotiating with movie director,
Todd Haines’ agent about a screen play and/or buying the rights for my book.
Then Cindy’s on the phone with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director who has choral arrangements for three of my songs to add to their next secular concert: Hold On to Your Dreams, I Am the Music, and The Great Circle of Love.
Stay tuned for the Musical . . .
The stage is bare as no stairs have been built for the brownstone boarding house Miss Lansbury will descend from for her lovely entrance.
I hope the audience will applaud when they first see her.
Now they’re reading from the script - My script - My words — I don’t know if I can stand it.
(Scene 7) As we leave the little theater for our next appointment, an elderly man who’s been sitting in the back of the theater follows us to the lobby-
He says he’s the grandfather of Jonah, one of the musicians and says, “I read about you - I read your book — I had this mysterious feeling when I first saw you.
- A message came to me at that moment which said, "You must tell her that she will continue to be healthy and live to be a 100 or more, and see all her dreams come true.”
Scene 8) We go back to the Marriott.
Cindy gives me a massage.
(Cindy is also a registered Massage Therapist).
Then I take a long Epsom salts bath in the jacuzzi tub, and sip a pina colata.
Cindy gives me a massage.
(Cindy is also a registered Massage Therapist).
Then I take a long Epsom salts bath in the jacuzzi tub, and sip a pina colata.
While soaking, and sipping, I hear Cindy negotiating with movie director,
Todd Haines’ agent about a screen play and/or buying the rights for my book.
Next, I get a text from my son, a guitarist in a group The Reluctant Crows.
He’s excited that they’re to be featured in a popular Austin, Texas venue.
I’m thrilled.
He’s excited that they’re to be featured in a popular Austin, Texas venue.
I’m thrilled.
Then Cindy’s on the phone with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director who has choral arrangements for three of my songs to add to their next secular concert: Hold On to Your Dreams, I Am the Music, and The Great Circle of Love.
I change into a white outfit, white faux leather leggings, a long-sleeved silky white pullover and a pinkish chiffon tunic, low heeled white patent boots, and my Judy Garland white hat.
Scene 9) Just before dinner at Sardi’s we swing by The St. Luke’s Theater on 46th St., to pick up their manager to discuss plans for my:
One Woman Cabaret Show.
“Confessions of a Blue Tomato.”
Cindy is arranging for my piano keyboard and Blue Tomato Band Stand to be shipped to NYC along my 42 vinyl album covers Exhibit.
They will be part of the set for this intimate theater setting which seats only 175.
They will be part of the set for this intimate theater setting which seats only 175.
Tomorrow I am scheduled for a book signing at Brentano’s Bookstore on 5th Avenue.
Oops It’s Gone!
I’ll be at a Barnes and Noble!
Maybe not,
because
My Perfect Day is Over.
Now, What's Your Perfect Day?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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