Calendar Changes
My last three posts were written in early March and scheduled to appear while I was on a three-week vacation in California. As soon as I canceled the trip, I began to repopulate my calendar with meetings, book clubs, concerts, lectures, films, exercise classes and coffee/lunches with friends. And then, little by little, I began to take these same events off, first out of caution and then because of closures.
Some events were replaced by virtual gatherings, which are working surprisingly well. In fact, I feel more connected to some of my snow-bird friends in Florida and California than I would have been if I had just waited for them to return to the Berkshires. Last week we had virtual cocktails, this week high tea. Next week we have scheduled a pajama party. We share fears and doubts, recipes, jokes, and poems. We have a powerful need to stay in touch and support each other.
I just removed one note on my calendar that felt like a more powerful gut-punch than the others. Tomorrow I would have gone on line to buy tickets to the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Perhaps because of my recent trip to Cuba, I was especially looking forward to buying tickets to Contra-Tiempo, a “multilingual urban Latin dance theater company…with work rooted in Salsa, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop and contemporary dance.” But last week Jacob’s Pillow announced that for the first time in 88 years it is canceling its summer season. What my friends and I said we couldn’t imagine has happened. Summer in the Berkshires, an unparalleled collection of music, theater, dance, films, museums and lectures, will be severely curtailed, or not happen all all. Culture sets the Berkshires apart from other naturally beautiful destinations. Tourism drives our economy. What is a disappointment for some will be economically devastating for others. I have no idea which organizations and business will survive, and which will close.
According to the brochure, Contra-Tiempo “is an exuberant reminder of our capacity to connect, come together and celebrate.” This what I will hold onto in this time of uncertainty and dread. Virtually for the time being, and eventually in person, we will connect, come together and celebrate.