We have become people that frequently are in an audience watching theater. While Ilene and I have always loved seeing live performances, and have done so with above average consistency, yet over the past few years it appears we have been on an escalating cycle of the more we consume, the greater our hunger. The above three were all seen in a single weekend.

How we got to this point is a product of several intertwined factors, each increasing the likelihood that we would wind-up viewing a couple dozen plays per year. First, I have the brain of a 5 year-old  that needs constant entertainment. Be it plays, movies, concerts or museums, I like to watch, and to lose myself in stories, and or, marvel at some new scientific discovery. I insisted on taking Lane to his first play at six months, and he was hooked. He fell in love with the theatre, and in high school and college was both on stage as well as working as a lighting designer. He was involved in show-so we saw those, and his passion resulted with us adding him to our season tickets.

           

   We also have a circle of friends that are very culturally aware; this increases both our desire and opportunities to partake in the artistic life of our city, and any other city we visit. As many plays we see, we have friends that seem to see even more. Not that I'm implying it's a competition, just that it reinforces the notion that we aren't crazy

                           

I don't always remember to take a picture, but these seem to be those where I remembered in the past year. I understand that we are privileged to have the opportunity to see so many works, Tickets aren't cheap, add to this the events at museums, concerts, clubs, and fundraisers and the total is more than I believe it is wise for me to tally. In short it is a great luxury.
       

10 Years work

I started this blog thinking that it would be a way for me to preserve memories, both current and those residing deep in my parent's past. Far short of bestowing upon them immortality, but as close as I can come using a free online blog.  I even made out an extensive list of possible topics, "Jerry writes well, this is a wonderful idea." I was going to post their tales of school-yard games, soda-shops and proms, progressing to stories about their first date, first apartment, having children, a complete catalog of  precious memories.  I figured and plotted how to "Tag" and then search by name, by date, even create a timeline, and then merge that with generic listing of historical events. Yes, I  thought out all the details, well except one, the fact that my mom and dad had no interest in investing the time needed to write all their stories down.

I must admit I was hopeful at first, then slightly confused why they had not eagerly jumped at the opportunity to spend several hundred hours providing content for the Lubell Family Blog.  I tried to help them get some old stories and photos posted, autobiographical morphing into biographical.  Some  Old Pictures and Memories, Something I wrote about my mom's 67 Camaro, but even I began to tire of pushing square pegs into round holes; so this became a vehicle for recording events in real-time. Since Heidi was fine with me, her brother, posting whatever I pleased, but also not really that interested in sending in stories, the blog has become dominated with me promoting something about Lane's latest accomplishment.

Yes, I am fully aware that the amount of time I've invested in this blog in completely out of proportion to its value. Perhaps I'm just smart enough to recognize that I could make better use of my time, but not so clever as to actually give-up, then reallocate my energy elsewhere. I guess I justify this activity with the fact that I write these posts while eating my lunch at my desk, and so maybe it's no more worthless than surfing the web or playing a video game. The reason I created this blog never came together, the reasons I continue stem from a force-of-habit and the fear I'll regret a decision to stop.      

Larry Lubell

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Now onto some actual content...

I can't express how proud I am of the way Ilene and Steven are working together to keep Mayer Alloys, the company Ed founded, not just alive, but moving forward. They are helped by the solid team Ed built and his legacy of integrity that continues to open doors.  

The business, brings Ilene to Detroit rather frequently, while I miss her while she's away, I'm glad she is taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time with Steven, other family and friends.

   

 Steven Ruzumna and Milton Roberts at Antonio's Cucina Italiana.

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I think the picture came out pretty well considering, I hate the way I look in ALL photos.

and there were a few tech glitches with Steppenwolf's equipment.

Ilene and I arrived, uncharacteristically, a few minute early to see Marie Antoinette. While in the lobby I spotted a small area with a backdrop for photos. It was a pretty clever idea on the part of Steppenwolf theater, they figured non-celebrities would jump at the chance to take their picture under any condition that creates the impression of being on the "Red carpet;" so people will post the picture on social media, which will promote their play. Wait, even more brilliant, one must enter your email address so they can send the pictures, thereby building a database for marketing.   See they had a sort of photo machine set up and pointing towards the backdrop. . Really  it was an inexpensive DSLR camera hooked up to an iPad all mounted in this display case.  You would touch the screen where it says "Start", and it would click 4 pictures 5 seconds apart, then let you enter your email address.  Great idea, the problem was who ever set this up must have been no taller than 5 feet, so even when I placed us as far back as possible, my head was cut off. This required that you bend, twist, or sit on the floor, those are NOT the Red-Carpet look poses that a photographer is after.

The woman before us, I'm taking a guess that she did not work for a Tech company,  pushed  "Start" so hard the iPad nearly twisted out of the case, and then stood so close to the camera, that she ended up with 4 shots of her stomach. A friend of hers entered her email; so someone now has probably posted an out of focus shot of her mid-session- Isn't Facebook wonderful?

Lane J. Lubell Graduates

Am I proud of Lane graduating High School?

No!

 

I understand if that strikes some as an odd thing to say, it's just that I never had any reason to contemplate the possibility that he would fail to graduate. As I have explained to Lane frequently, this is perhaps the downside of possessing a record of high achievement - expectations tend to get rather lofty. Sure I get that there is something inherently unfair about me suspending the hoops so high off the ground- But damn it, you keep jumping through them.

I don't want anyone to think that I'm not extraordinary proud of Lane, that I don't get how hard he works, or that I don't appreciate his accomplishments. While I am in the habit of "reminding him" of items that he, or I, put on his "To do list," I do also write him lengthy texts filled with glowing praise. When I take issue with his overly brief responses, he will reply "Dad, you're the only one that sends an 800 word text."

OK, so getting a diploma I took as a given, but I am proud of how well he did, and how that success opened the doors to Northwestern. I'm in awe of the dedication to complete, and the caliper of writing in his 3 act play. I am genuinely impressed by the laser-like focus he direct towards his films and other writing projects. I do understand the daunting task of opening Avid Media and needing to find, match and sync several hundred audio clips to an equal number of video clips, knowing that upon completion, hundreds of hours of editing await. I was thrilled watching him and his friend Hunter perform songs at Old Town School of Folk Saturday night, great job Lane finding a woman that can really sing.

But what might impresses me most is Lane's sense of empathy and loyalty, it is sincere, and I have no question that it explains his ability to surround himself with such a great group of friends.
One more thing: I cannot adequately convey how much happiness he brings to my life each and every day. He is a best friend, an artistic collaborator, a person that never disappoints and one that I know will never stop making me proud.

Now I can go home and get upset that he didn't put back my WaWa and overdrive pedals.

 Ed and Steven drove in in order to celebrate Lane's graduation, I know Lane appreciated them being able to watch him step forward to the next stage of his life.

Lane is going to miss the comfort of having an apartment to hang-out in each day after school. 

When my and dad gone most of the winter, he had the place to himself, when they were home he had the joy of their company.  

October

Lane and his friend Dante out at the movies.

This is why we have to "Over see" Lane when he goes clothes shopping.

I still find it so strange to watch Lane fence in an "Open".

He has to fence NCAA fencers. These kids are in college.

Clearly he was not going to win or come in the top 8, but I was really proud that he gave each opponent a run for their money. He scored touches on each person he fenced, and even won some matches.

Catherine Cook Girls SoftBall
They won the season.... Undefeated.

With all of my Medium Format SLR Film Cameras, I ended up taking this with my iPhone. In fact I take almost every picture up here with the iphone. One I always have it with me. Two the Bronica cameras weigh about 15 lbs in the case. Three, I can't afford the $35,000 Hasselblad digital camera system I want.