Howdy!
It’s that time again! The time to say hello, friends, how’s been the week?
In Iowa-related news, we were visited by the windstorm version of Paul Bunyan a couple nights ago. A town a few miles south of the farm had every large tree cut in half by a mighty wind-axe, and corn fields flattened by what I assume was the meteorological version of Babe, the blue ox. Three days later, and they’re still trying to restore power down there. Thankfully, no injuries were reported… as long as you don’t count worms.
Yes, worms. We had one of our live bait vending machines down there, and two days of summer heat makes for a bouquet that only Artaud could love. It was Grand Guignol for the nostrils. I don’t believe that I have ever been as thankful for summer allergies as I was yesterday while cleaning out the machine by hand!
“Now Michael,” the responsible ones of you might be saying, “why did you wait two whole hot and humid days before proceeding in this noisome task?” Easy. The town was in such a mess that state troopers wouldn’t let us in until yesterday!
This is what I love about life on the farm, there is always something springing up to be dealt with. Not only did I have to deal with the machine yesterday, but a man spontaneously wanted to rent a couple of canoes in the morning, my grandmother suddenly needed to visit the bank, my cousin needed a ride to a neighboring town, I had to get my car into the shop at two, had to send off my passport, visit the pharmacy, research Bread and Puppet theatre and do the daily chores…. Of these items on yesterday’s list, only the car and research were scheduled events over 24 hours old. Rigid flexibility is essential to getting things done and staying sane.
With that, if I don’t create a list and schedule of what I need to do for the day and “when it needs done”, I will be lost, a free-floating helper to other’s whims. The whole day will be spent helping fix the Jet Ski, babysitting my nephew, and helping the Chinese family move across town. (My Monday). There is nothing wrong with being helpful, especially if it’s for fun and profit (which it usually is), but there’s a danger in overindulgence of kindness.
This is not a problem with my family and friends asking too much. Everyone here is extremely supportive of my need to prepare for next year, and give me all the space I want. However, if I only look out for my own needs, I lock away the world that I find myself in. I become selfish, unhelpful and miss out on the reasons that I choose to return to Iowa every summer.
Dell’Arte International specializes in theatre of place, immersion into the surrounding and community that we find ourselves in. To lock myself away from where I am to prepare to be somewhere else (in a quarter of a year from now) denies the very principles that this school is founded upon.
Clearly, a balance needs to be struck. Living on the farm offers me a chance to explore this balance on a daily, trial-by-fire basis. Of all the benefits of spending my summers here, this is one of the most useful. It requires planning, discipline and flexibility. It requires not only saying yes, but adding “this is what I also need to get done today.”
Today, there is plenty to do!
Waffles!
ps. I was sufficently active only three times this week. I'm going to maintain my goal of four days a week. more updates later!
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