Hi Stacey

Alright, Stacey!

This is pretty wild! The headline for my horoscope today is “enjoy it.” Actually, the full text is: “You’re worked so hard to arrive exactly where you are now. Enjoy it.“

I read the directive at 2 AM, when I was up with insomnia. It helped! Even though the command was my own resolution. For some reason seeing it in the co-star official type validated the import of the sentiment.

Stacey, my horoscope is not wrong. I did build this life with my own two hands. And in many ways it is a dream life–not just any dream life, my dream life.

See one of my go-to bonding questions for getting to know people in a group is, “If you had to live the same day over and over, what would you do?” I’m never not interested in people’s imagined ideal days. It’s fascinating what gets included and what doesn’t. Some comedians don’t include any comedy. Some people forget to eat, others only eat. My mom included doing the laundry in her dream day. There are other notable bits, like no one wants to go to an NBA game every night. I, however, would go to a concert every night–if it didn’t interfere with theatre.

Naturally at some point I came up with a canned answer to my own conversation-starting question. It’s been a while, but my ideal day was something like:

morning: dance workout and hot shower, iced coffee and pastry at a cafe, writing until 2 or so

afternoon: delightful green lunch with a collaborator or friend, maybe walk outside, teaching a class or mentoring another writer

evening: light dinner with Dern (out) before play rehearsal or improv or going to a show or a movie

night: off to dessert or a karaoke bar or a cozy lounge with friends/artists

So, Stacey, if you are aware of my life you know, I am indeed just about living my dream! On paper. (On blog.)* To the point of my last post, I should be grateful. And I am! But (Little Mermaid riff) I want mooore! (Continuing the bit–) I wanna be where the socialists are. I wanna have, wanna have universal health care. Walking around without wondering, what’s that fear? Oh, if I’ll go broke renting from venture capitaliiists?

This girl I knew once advised, when it comes to asking the universe what you want, be very specific. So if it helps at all to write it here, to you: I really like my days and my life, but I’d also like for all that to be more stable. I’m not looking for gobs of wealth. I’m looking to maybe own a condo, with a yard for Dern, with a room for guests and another for foster teens, to pursue artistic projects with less terror in my heart, for everyone to have healthcare, an assault rifle ban, for all people to have equal rights, and a nuremberg for oil executives. Just that, Stacey! (I’m sure there’s more I’ll think of later.)

Anyway, if you sent me the memo, I appreciate it. I did enjoy today. Danced, hot shower, iced oatmeal cookie coffee at the cafe with banana bread, read, wrote. Ran into a playwright and an old improv teammate. Both so fun and reassuring. “I Want It That Way” blared as I walked in too. The rain is nice. I have a little time to journal before a double date at the Mexican spot with one of our favorite couples.

Let me know if I’m writing too much. Keep looking into the mirror, and I will do the same. See you there.

xoxo

Alice

*For some reason I am worried I’ve told you all this before. That seems to be happening more and more to me, Stace. Like last week I rubber cemented a photo of The Globe on my dream board. Dern told me I had the exact same photo on my collage going into 2019. I find myself outlining the same idea in a new shape over and over. Anyway, if any of this is repeat info, I apologize. I should probably read through this correspondence in full now that it’s been two years. I’ve forgotten things.