Sum>Parts

Posted on the Masslive Pets Forum:

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome
to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a
problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so
we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well,
I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have
you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where
to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And
with th at, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the d istance is a clubhouse and standing in
front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked
with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to
greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had
while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also
present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good
time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that
before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone &nbs p;gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So,
24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a
good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The
senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never
have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I
would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The
devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't
understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was
a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank
champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says,

"Yesterday we were campaigning......

..Today you voted."

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This play is worth seeing.

At the end of the first act, there was silence. No applause. No one moved. For two reasons: the audience had become riveted by a masterfully-written storyperformed by a fine cast and the house lights had not brightened enough to signal that intermission had arrived.

Exit 7 Players have bestowed upon Arthur Miller’s emotionally-stirring, "AllMy Sons" the highest honor: respect for the material and for the craft itself. Noted for their upbeat productions of such musicals as "Gypsy," "Sweet Charity" and "Cabaret," presenting this particular drama now is as timely as it was when it opened on Broadway in 1947. There’s not an old bone in its body because "All My Sons" is about timeless concerns – family and business, love and ethics, courage and cowardice – huge subjects that beset ordinary people.

Director Jennifer Curran has stated, "This is the story I needed to tell. What we can choose to ignore, what we can and cannot live with and what we cannot forgive." Her emotional connection with the script is reflected in the performances, especially those of Kate Keller (Jennifer Bauduccio), Joe Keller (Fred Piel), Chris Keller (Charles Holt) and George Deever (Dan Derby). The conflicted Kellers and the accusatory Deever are superb. Special kudos go to
Bauduccio who stepped into a demanding role less than two weeks before the opening. As Anne Deever, Lea D. Oppedisano plays an establishment daughter, a far cry from her most recent Exit 7 Players role as Charity Hope Valentine in "Sweet Charity."

Once again, Paul Hamel (Set Designer/Technical Director/Set Construction) has fashioned a set that complements the play’s theme, especially as represented by family and business: the Keller’s house dominates the stage but visible across the road is the factory.

There are strong similarities between "All My Sons" and Miller’s play "A Death of a Salesman." But to paraphrase a line from "Salesman," more attention must be paid to "All My Sons" because, to paraphrase a cosmetic’s advertising pitch, it’s worth it.

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A "stranger-friend" (someone I know online only so far - yet to meet in real life) sent me this email today. It struck an awful lot of chords with me. With permission, I pasted it below. Thanks for sharing L!

~~~


The super bowl...

The score was 7 -3 Pats in the lead,we all just got done eating
some really good Chinese food,sitting back and talking about the
superbowl ads.

Talking with my Dad,I started to notice something was wrong,Was
sure what it was but he didn't look right to me,enough to where I
walked over to my older brother,and told him this.I didn't have panic
in my tone ,just concern.My brother was finishing up what he was
doing,and I walked back to my father.He was Grey in color and his head
now was hanging-He was sitting on a high bar stool at the kitchen
island.I went back to my brother with panic in my voice and just
said-Now.

He jumped up and cause a down hill effect-My younger brother
jumped up also.When they reached him,it was just enough time to hold
him up-he went limp.As they started to yell get him on the floor.

I went and called my husband who was in the celler with some
friends.At the top of the stairs-I couldn't breath-I couldn't seem to
get the one word I needed to come out of my mouth-Dan.

But somehow did.With two steps he was at the top of the stairs.

Walking back into the room with everyone,I watched them lower my
father to the floor.White and not responding.All I have read on first
aid,stoke and heart attacks-some how felt locked away in a box
somewhere.Scared out of mind,I was worth nothing. :0(.

I walked into my bedroom,by myself and said a prayer~It was then
when one of my friends came in and told me not to go back out there.I
then understood,I was the only one who knows CPR that was here.The
locked box,unlocked.

Walking back out -with my legs shaking,I saw something-My family
and friends all taking a roll in calling 911,getting my dads legs up
over his head,putting his head at a lowest point.My dad had everyone
holding him.I joined in -finally.( Very mad at myself,for letting fear
strip me of being able to help).Some color came back into his face and
lips,and he was sweating bad.I went and got a cold cloth,and what was
minutes seemed like hours for the EMTs to come.

Our lives changed in seconds-we went from wanting the Pats to win,to the world just stopping.

With all the flashing lights out front,fire trucks,and cop cars.

My dad spoke," What the hell am I on the floor for"-Music to my
ears.We are not sure what happened yet-he is in the hospital as of this
morning,and they have been running tests.

I learned alot here-My family is wonderful,and what The real stuff
in life should be.How it can be taken away in a split second.When the
world was watching the Pats and the Giants-thinking it was the most
important thing.Someones other world was flipped upside down.

Always be kind to others,and take the time to smell the
flowers.You just never know,when its going to be your world in turmoil
or you for that matter.

I've learned something bigger last night.

Thanks for reading..

~~~~

Update: Dad is fine and should be home today. It was low blood sugar. I think what touched me so much is that this family, this is exactly like mine. So, that means its probably a lot like yours. And that would mean that we're all just folks. Aren't we? Just getting through our days, paying bills, washing dishes and looking out for each other. Complaining about the politicians, the kids. Looking at the mess in our cars or our family rooms. Hating to wash dishes and hoping our partner's will have them done when we get home. Getting that last cup of milk before bed and hoping that our little ones sleep through the night.

And then there are those like my co-worker, who go to sleep every night praying her little one is still with her in the morning. Or when she drives away to run an errand.

Perspective.

Tom Brady didn't win it. But a friend's father is going to be okay. And we had an evening with good company and great food.

Yeah... perspective is good.

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