So I wanted to write a quick update and slap some photos up here, because it has been a long time since I did upload any pictures onto this thing.
So the last week or two have been very nice. There was one point where I thought I was starting to go a little crazy from not doing anything, but that passed and now I am embrassing it and really enjoying this time to revive my engine. I haven't been up to all that much, I've been spending a lot of time with David, seeing friends, going to dance classes, picking up my room and going through rep for my senior recital, and just trying to relax the best that I can. I have been wanting to go on long walks, but Boston has decided that it is going to be overcast with a chance of rain most every day, which has made it hard for me to really get the sun and vitamin D I want.
This week there's not all that much planned. David's show opens on thursday so he's in tech now and I get to see it on saturday with his parents, who are coming in to see the show. Sunday is the Tony awards so I already have plans for that too (perhaps my first time ever being with my extreme theatre friends on a Tony night, I'm actually really excited about that). And beyond that I'm just going to continue purging my apartment and packing some stuff up before I leave for Arizona next Tuesday. I'm excited!
I've been reflecting on graduating a lot over the last few days, it all started with a dream I had where Colleen was talking to me and she essentially just said, "Garrett, it's all over. Like all that stuff we were looking forward to, showcase, commencement, the dinners, all of it is completely over now," and I woke up really sad and with this deep feeling like I had missed something. But as I lay in bed I thought to myself, I'm not all that sad about graduation, in fact I'm really the opposite, I've been having a great time since I got my diploma and I have very little desire to go back to school.
Part of that is because it was hard being around all of my friends towards the end of the semester, as I'm sure yall caught, we were in less than the happiest of places. Ellen made a good realization when she said, "I jsut feel like every day a new thing is being taken away from us." And that is really how I felt through the end of school. But then, once it was all done I was fine, because now I'm starting new things again, getting my life back in order, and I also feel like I have a lot more control over my life because I'm no longer a slave to my class schedule and work load. I say that now because I'm unemployed.
I'm getting pretty excited to get to New York. David and I have been talking about it a fair amount and also what I'm going to be doing when I get there. This also goes with a goals sheet that I have been filling out for myself, just kind of laying out my goals for the next few months. I try to make my goals very specific, but the interpretation of achieving these goals general, because I don't want it to become a way for me to score my failure.
Some of the ideas David and I have been discussing are the ways that I am able to use the talents that I have to make money in the field I love. This means piano stuff. I'm not the most comfortable with the idea of cashing in on my piano playing because I don't have the needed confidence yet, but I'm told that when I get to New York and start auditioning and seeing the piano players that are being paid, I'll feel a lot better. But it includes musically directing, playing auditions, and my favorite idea David had that people do is offer to play for people who just want to practice. Most people can't play all their music and every now and then just want to go through their rep and need someone to play it. So if they just hand me some music a bit before I have a chance to practice and just play for them to rehearse. So chill, so easy, and also I know a lot of classmates who I think would be down (David suggested an Emerson Student rate to boost my classmates desire to score on that).
Anywho, that is where my mind is right now. I feel I need to get out of the urban place that I am, I really want to see mountains and nature so I'm excited that that is coming soon.
Ok, now for a little trip to graduation!
Graduation weekend is responsible for about five pound that I think everyone gained. SO MUCH FOOD. But GOOD food! Friday and Saturday were showcase and then a big dinner saturday night. Both nights I was kind of in my own world since I was still in performance mood so I actually don't have any pictures from that. BUT, the next night we had the commencement dinner, which is optional but most of the musical theatre kiddies really wanted to do.
This was the family as we were going home that night
So the next day was commencement, which means we all had to be downtown bright and early, Mom and David went to the Majestic to watch the screening of commencement, Papa, grandma and grandpa went to the Wang Theatre where the ceremony was. I got to line up and stand there for 2 hours. We had to be in our order for the ceremony, which was fine because it means I stood next to...
Colleen! That was awesome, we both could not have been happier about that!
So the ceremony was fine, my name was announced as "Garrett Broadway Bell" which I thought was HILARIOUS.
After the ceremony we have a reception in the common where everyone gets to mingle and congratulate and hug one another, and take pictures. So many pictures.
So this is me with my teacher, Scott LaFeber (the one who directed me in City of Angels)
I love this one of me with the Grents
David and the Grents! I had a few issues with all of my pictures in that there were SO many people taking pictures at once that I don't think there are ANY pictures where everyone is looking at the same camera.
Here is another of Colleen and Ross
And here's me, Ross, Colleen adn Andrew
And another of me and Colleen
After the Ceremony we went to Beantown Pub where Papa got me my graduation shot of patron silver taquilla, done like a champion. And then we wandered over to the Omni Parker lounge where we had a nice drink and comfy chairs!
I love those last two photos!
Afterwards we went to my graduation dinner at Lucias in the north end. Obviously delicious, but I couldn't have eaten anymore if I had wanted to! It was such a wonderful weekend, I feel it was the perfect close to a great college experience. Weird to think that my college experience is over. Whenever I see a movie pop up that involves college students, or any students at all really it really seems strange to me, because I'm past that stage of my life now.
Well I must be off, this post is clearly long enough and I must get ready to meet a friend in Harvard Square!
