Greenville, Pt 2; and Hartwell, GA

Hartwell, GA, looking out onto the lake from Michael & Candace Pufall's lakehouse

Days 18 & 19

Monday, November 6 (Day 18): We had two performances each on both Monday and Tuesday - 10 am and noon - for school groups, although there were some seats available for the public, too. The morning performances are a struggle for everyone, due to fatigue; but we played a good round of Zip-Zap-Zop to warm up before the first show, and got  through it. The kids always start a little unruly; I think the first three actors have it the toughest, due to the kids not being settled. The kids do settle into it, and about halfway through, when they hear, “shit” for the 8^th time or so (we were able to leave “shit” in these shorter shows, although the F-bomb was still censored), they can let it land on them without the laughing or comments which they seem to need to release with the earlier expletives.  I needed some encouragement to get through the first show, so I dedicated this show to my mom, Alice Arrigo, and thought of her whenever the letters mentioned mothers.

Gorgeous evening sky with the wee but waxing moon

We had planned talk-backs after all four of these shows, but because the first kids had to get back on busses before the next group’s busses could deliver them, we could not do it after the 10 am shows. The noon show on Monday was extremely exciting for me, as I knew I had special friends in the audience – my college professors, Michael and Candace Pufall, who live just an hour away in Hartwell, GA, came to the show!  I dedicated my performance to them. It was a stronger show for me, partially because I knew they were out there; but also just being more warmed up helps. There was a talk-back afterwards, and here’s an interesting thing: A student stood up and said that he noticed there was no mention of Jesus Christ in these letters, and there should have been, because people should always have hope and hope is in Jesus Christ.

Well.

(We are in the south, after all).

Bill handled it much better than I could have, saying he picked these letters blindly (I’m not sure the kids always understand or remember the concepts that we are actors, not service personnel, and that these are REAL letters, not a made-up story); Bill said he was not looking for any particular philosophy coming through when he picked the letters; and he said he felt there IS a lot of spirituality in the letters, as many of the letters talk about God, prayer, faith being a vehicle of change, and faith being the only way to have hope; two letters even quote scripture!

Lord help the narrow-minded. My dad always said, “Don’t put God in a box.” We know so little, but some of us think our path is the only path.

Anyhoo…the cast then met briefly in the lobby with Robin Witt and her college class of students; Robin is a Chicago director and Griffin Theatre Co. member, but also teaches at a college in SC.

I then got whisked away by Michael and Candace, spending the night at their lovely home in Hartwell, GA.  

Michael & Candace in their lovely and homey kitchen

We got to talk and reminisce a lot over lunch on the way home, and later in the evening (until midnight – boy was I tired!), but inbetween, I took a quick nap when we got to their place, then we spent from 5:30 until about 9:30 at a “Friendship Force”  dinner and meeting. This is a group – mostly made up of retirees – which I’d never heard of. They meet once a month, and their main focus is hosting foreign visitors in their homes (and likewise American members would be hosted in homes elsewhere). Michael and Candace explained that it’s a more personal way to visit a foreign country, and really get to know the people in the community you are visiting. (Their website can explain it better than I!)

Friendship Force of Lake Hartwell - Candace & Michael on close left

Michael and Candace and two other couples were the hosts for the November meeting, which meant they had to be there early to set up and late to clean up, and help provide desserts. Since I was there early, I got to meet a number of really interesting people – mostly good friends of the Pufalls; I talked for awhile with John & Grace Williamson; John is a Vietnam veteran and he and his bride of (I think they said) 50 years of marriage coming up. He said he thought of his time in the service simply as a job, because “the family needed shoes,” and he knows it was hard on those at home. I met Judy, an OT at the public schools, so we had some things in common to talk about. I met Chuck Thorne, who was so sweet and friendly, and knowing I was coming to visit, said he had already been on my website and reading my blog (Hi, Chuck!).

THE MEAL: It was all potluck, and the theme was Thanksgiving. Lordy, lordy, it was delicious! (wish I'd taken a picture!) Michael’s pumpkin pie and Candace’s pumpkin bars were especially good! Michael also arranged for me to sing a bit of a blessing at the beginning, so with Candace’s guitar, I played and sang two verses of the hymn, “For the Fruit of All Creation.” They were a lovely, gracious, appreciative audience; I had so many people come up to me afterwards, and sweet, tech-savvy Chuck said he would put a link to my website on the Friendship Force website, and would put together an order for my CD’s, for any interested folk.

Chance on left, Sadie on right

Chance (with the tongue action :-), and Sadie

When we got back home, we were (again) greeted by the siblings, Sadie & Chance – they are beautiful and friendly, and it was nice to be around dogs. We had some wine and looked at old pics from my senior year at Coe (my cheeks were so chubby back then! seeing all my friends looking so young - and thin! - was delightful!); we talked about the last 10 years since Michael and Candace had their home built and moved in; we talked about family. It was just so lovely and wonderful, but way too short! I couldn’t keep my eyes open by 11pm, but struggled and made it until about 11:45. It was a short night’s sleep, but the guest room was comfy and I never moved once my head hit the pillow!

Tuesday, November 7 (Day 19): We got up about 5:30 am to shower and have some breakfast together. The sun comes up over the lake over which their home looks, so it was so lovely! We hit the road by 7 am for me to make it to my 8:30 call time at the theatre. It was hard to end the visit, but hopefully it won’t be another 14 years before we see each other again!

Me & Michael

The 10am show on Tuesday was nearly pure torture for me, I was so tired! I really felt like I would fall out multiple times; I had to concentrate so hard on keeping my knees bent when I was standing, and not closing my eyes when I was sitting. My head felt so woozy. I have at least 20 minutes to sit or stand, before my first monologue, and it is a pure test of endurance to stand for even 10 minutes when feeling this much fatigue. Once I go forward for my first monologue, I’m fine while I’m doing it; but get that swaying sensation each time between the monologues. I again needed encouragement, so dedicated the first show to my college friends who are in MN, especially thinking of Shep, Jackie, Amy, and Matt (Brett and I went to Boston with them last summer).  For the noon show, I dedicated it to my brother Greg & his wifey, Candi. The noon show was a really great show for everyone, and the audience – though mostly younger (middle school?) kids – was really rapt in their attention. There were some adults and families. This was was one of the first audiences who clapped before we bowed; the audiences don’t seem to know it’s over most of the time. 

Willie Jennings, III with Ryan and Damian (Ryan and Kevin looking on)

During the talkback, an Iraq vet (he was so young! Maybe under 30?), who had stumbled into the show while there purchasing “Nutcracker” tickets for his wife, spoke up. Willie Jennings III, a marine who was part of a rescue unit, was deployed four times. He said he wished he’d have known about this show prior to coming as he’d have brought his wife and others; “It was the best 8 bucks I’ve ever spent.” He thanked us, and wanted to shake everyone’s hand; he came up afterwards and talked to us all, talking about his PTSD, his difficulty getting work, and again thanked us for telling these stories, saying that now, most people never think about the soldiers who are still fighting. He was a blessing to all of us. He said he brought back a number of American flags from Iraq, which had traveled with him while he was there; he had one left and had been trying to find the right thing to do with it; he said he wanted to give it to us (to Bill and the tour); wow, talk about something to move you and fill your spirit! Bill said we would be honored to have it and that it would travel with us, like Leonard Cowherd’s uniform which Mr. and Mrs. Cowherd gave to Bill (Leonard’s letters are featured in the show). He got Bill’s mailing address, and will send it. 

After that heartwarming meeting with Willie, we were all energized. We ate and drove the hour and a half or so to Charlotte airport, and traveled the rest of the day to get to Jacksonville, FL (with a layover, of course!). We didn’t get to our hotel until about 11:30pm, and knowing we had to get up at 5:30 am and do three shows, and then drive at least four hours to Miami Beach (how will I make it through the next couple days? I guess you’ll find out if you check back!), we fell into bed for a very short night’s sleep.

Sunrise over a misty lake at the Pufalls in Harwell, GA