Lisa Higbee

Oscar the fledgling had a fun-filled day. He jumped out of his box 3 times. Luckily Manolo the cat didn't notice. He chirped a few times. He seems to like it when I sing. He likes recorded music also, especially my musical theater mix. I gave him some birdseed. I think he might be ready to fly soon. I wonder how I will know when he's ready to face the world?

On my summer solstice walk tonight, I rescued a baby bird that would probably otherwise have been food for a wandering cat or dog. He is a cutie. I think I'll name him Oscar. So far he is enjoying living in a white box that is meant for storing school papers. He has a birdbath (plastic plate filled with water) and some bread crumbs. I think he's settling in. So far Manolo the cat hasn't really noticed him. I think that's a good thing. More to come soon!

Tonight there were fireworks in Washington Heights and Inwood. I heard them as I left the church and crossed the street with my friend Jessie-- suddenly the evening was alive with the tumult of celebratory explosives. My friends from the class I'd just attended walked decidedly back toward the cacophony of sound. Wanting to join them, I quickened my pace... then remembered that I've been sick and need my rest. Somewhat reluctantly I parted ways and walked toward the peaceful slope leading to my home. Shining faces were all turned to watch the fireworks above the trees in the distance. For a few, brief, happy moments, strangers chatted about the festivities in Fort Tryon Park and enjoyed the beauty together.

Has anyone ever read or seen this play? I saw a guy reading it on the subway and the title was catchy. Read a synopsis and it looks totally cute.

I saw 'The Miracle Worker' on Broadway yesterday, and Yes! It was incredible. Yes! Go see it if you can, or at least see the film version or your local theatrical production. Or read the play by William Gibson. There was so much richness there... class struggles, family struggles, giving service, searching for meaning, dealing with loss, losing pride, finding love. I absolutely loved this show and highly recommend it for children and adults of almost any age. May God bless the creative people who brought it into existence.

I'm having another flashback. I'm remembering the first time I saw Les Miserables. It was an epic event. It began when my sister got the original Broadway soundtrack for her birthday. She listened to it over and over. I begged her to let me listen to it over and over. I was amazed. I was moved. I'd never heard anything like it. I think I was about 12. We bought the piano vocal music. I learned the songs by heart and could sing and play them. I read the book, the unabridged version. I think I read it a couple of times. I would come straight home from school, go to my room, and just digest that book. Some of the French history was lost on me, but the courage and goodness of the priest and the transformation of Jean Valjean and the drama of Fantine and the romance of Cosette and Marius and the suspense of the chase from Javert kept me awake long into the nights. Then an amazing thing happened. Les Mis came to our home town on tour. I couldn't eat, I couldn...