Out of Hibernation - Meeting Les

[mrdreamjeans]

I came up for air yesterday. When most bears are heading to hibernation for the winter months, I instead headed the other direction.... out of social hibernation:) After weeks of focusing mostly on the show, I was privileged to spend an afternoon with Nashobabear (Les Wright) strolling the historic neighborhoods of Boston. It is the first time that Les and I have met, but as has been my experience, the Live Journal connection and his friendship with lowfatmuffin (Bob) gave us an unique shorthand. It was like reuniting with an old friend, instead of meeting a stranger!

We packed a lot of conversation and banter into three hours. Les and I are of an age and we found common ground in our histories and experiences. I really enjoyed his company and the chance to put our lives into context for each other. He is truly excited about the opportunity (and determined) to return to the Bay area where he spent his college years and beyond.

Les’ partner Dale just landed a desirable job in the high tech industry for a company in Sunnyvale, CA and will be leaving after Thanksgiving for his new gig. I hope a few of my LJ California friends will step forward and help the guys locate a new home in the San Francisco area. They are leaving a beautiful home in Massachusetts and would love to find a similar Craftsman bungalow on the other coast.

Les is a handsome, hirsute, humble and honorable man. (My version of the 4-H Club:) I was/am mightily impressed and thankful for the time to get to know him a bit! Bob and Cameron’s (handlebear) raves for Les are well-deserved. Also in a nice positive twist of fate, it turns out that abearius (Jeff) and Les were grad students together in Berkeley. I find a similar intellectual curiosity and ferocious intelligence in both which is very attractive. I do like smart, articulate men:)

Thanks Les, for spending time with this vagabond actor. It’s times like this Veterans Day, wandering a city that holds many types of memories for both of us, that I will remember years after this National Tour of “Evita” is concluded. I am grateful that you are a “bear” who delayed hibernation (indeed, perhaps are emerging from a decade long self-enforced hibernation) to make time for a visiting solitary bear. I wish you success. It was a happy day, my new friend:) I am putting it out in the air that good things are to come your way and that you will be settled in the Bay Area when I arrive next March!

Comments

[ex-nashobabe711.livejournal.com]

You are incredibly sweet and kind, and very HAWT (as they say here in LJ-land). Thank you on all accounts. I will post my broadsheet on our wonderful first-time visit of yesterday anon.

As I was hunting to find your email to send you a quick note, I passed by LJ Friends page on the way... so, instead, this is my quick, informal bread-and-butter note, and an affirmation -- I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you, connecting deeply with you almost at first sight.

As I described my day to Dale, it was wonderful to spend quality social time (breaking out of isolation); it was an amazing experience to have made a real-life friend heart connection (and a doorway to a whole other fascinating universe -- yours -- which I look forward to exploring as our friendship grows); it was a true reconnecting for me, of stepping back into the rich, vast, loving, living network of Life.

The City of Life is still thriving. Thank you for drawing me back in, momentarily, and providing me a glimpse -- and the reassurance -- of precisely what I seek to find again.

You could also say, I'm just a big, ol' Big City fag who needs to be with kindred spirits. Thanks also for lighting a little fire under me to remember to keep reaching out and nourish my connection with Cameron, Jeff, and so many other folk.

No Snow Job, Just Snow:)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Howdy Les! Thanks for the kind words! It was fun showing you the backstage area of the Colonial Theatre and photographing you onstage on the set of "Evita". I think the photos will rock:)!

I get enthused about the process... about the work I love so much and you were very patient to let me show you my costumes, how the costume changes work, the set pieces and how they are stored and to give you a view of how we "gypsies" personalize our dressing rooms:) You're even my first friend to meet a member of the cast other than Tim (gotmoof) who met several cast members in NYC and already knew others. We did pack a lot of information into one afternoon!

I'm glad we did our sightseeing yesterday, as it's been snowing most of the day in Boston, actually blowing sideways at one point. That stuff can sting! LOL! It's the first time I've seen snow in many years other than at a distance on scenic mountaintops.

Remember - nourishment of the soul is a good thing and you have more than one quality cosmic cheerleader in your corner. I'll do my part:) In fact, I feel so inspired that I think I'll skip hibernation the rest of this year and next!

Re: No Snow Job, Just Snow:)

[ex-nashobabe711.livejournal.com]

WOOF!

[nlotic.livejournal.com]

"My version of the 4-H Club"

I was in 4-H as a child. "I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart.."

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Sounds like that pledge is as pertinent to your life as it was when you were a child. Just think, my version can now work for you too:) It's all about options! LOL!

So get this!

[mncuddlecub.livejournal.com]

So I'm sitting here thinking... oh this has not much to do with anything you wrote by the way :o)... anyway, I'm thinking while reading your journal how bummed I am that "Evita" is not going to be touring through the Twin Cities (as of now). I thought to myself, "maybe the next show he tours with will come through town", then chuckled to myself, "maybe I already saw him when I saw it before, I mean he's toured with the show more than once" I laughed, then stopped... wait a minute! I pulled out my program from the tour I saw, and wouldn't you know it, I've seen you in the show already!! Don't get me wrong, I want to see it again, and this time REALLY see you, and get to meet you in person and all that, but still it amazes me to think that years ago I saw you on stage and didn't even know you'd end up being a friend of mine....

It can be one small world :o)

PS> I like you with the full beard rather than just the mustache like in your old head shot :o)

hehehe, this was just to fun a discovery for me!