There and Gone

Another play has come and gone. My first brush with Shakespeare has been met with some degree of success. I got to create a character and live in him. I met some wonderful people. I learned about myself, and I learned more about theatre. Now it is all gone. My script is recycled. My Mecutio only lives in the photographs and video taken (that do not really capture the life of the play). Most of the people I met I will rarely talk to again, and I will see them even less. Less than 24 hours after the last performance, even my costume is washed and sorted with the other hundreds of clothing items, lost in a sea of anonymous fabric, one day to be consorted with another character, whose future wearer will have no idea the life it once held on stage.
So what can I take from this? So many things in life are wonderful, thrilling, and brief. I have the memories of the people I have met and being a part of something pretty remarkable on stage. I have gained a new love of Shakespeare, and the knowledge and joy that comes from this is immeasurable. A few of the people I have met I'm sure I will keep in touch with. Perhaps the experience itself can teach me something. I was a part of something special, and now it's gone forever. But that is life. There are so many wonderful things in life that are so transient, and I take them for granted. As I grow older, I realize my friends have changed dramatically. I did not know many of the people I hang out with the most a year ago. Who knows how long they will be a part of my life. As my friends continue to move, get jobs, and start their lives, I know our relationships will change. I know the next step is to start a family, and while this is exciting, I can't help but know this will further change the people around me, and, some people will stop being a part of my life. I cannot take any of them for granted. Each relationship has taught me something. Some people have made me more reflective, some have made me laugh, some have made me more cautious with my heart. All have brought be joy at one time, and a few have brought me sorrow. It's time to move on. It's time to recycle some parts of my life. It's time to remember fondly the times I had, and know they have shaped me. It's time to put some relationships away, and know they will will have a new life with others.
The transient nature of theatre has taught me to cherish the moments I have, even if they are brief. Even for a moment, I can show someone kindness. For a moment, I can laugh with someone. For a moment I can make someone feel loved. I am reminded of this as this brief moment on stage flutters away like a whisper in the wind. I love these moments. This is why I do theatre.