maya angelou

last night, i went to see maya angelou at the paramount theater. i really didn't know what to expect, since i usually associate poetry with small, intimate readings at cafes and the like... plus, the only other productions i've seen/heard about at that venue are things like concerts and musicals :)

it was so wonderful though! i'm so happy that janice had an extra ticket and thought to invite me, because i don't think i would have otherwise thought of going. as we were leaving the theater, she said that she felt "richer" from being there, and i couldn't agree more...

the theme of her sharing was "rainbows in the clouds". her refrain went something like this: "when it seems like the sun ain't gonna shine anymore, god put a rainbow in the clouds" :) she talked about the people and the poetry that had been rainbows in HER clouds; how poems had demonstrated to her that other people had felt how she was feeling and that they had survived (and thrived!) and how that enabled her to also survive too. it's really about having hope, and knowing that we are part of a collective experience. she encouraged us all to be thankful for the rainbows in our clouds, and to take advantage of opportunities to be rainbows in other people's clouds too.

she also said something very interesting about courage being the most important of all the virtues, because only when you are courageous can you truly be/exemplify any of the other virtues *consistently*. we can be kind, or patient, or loving erratically (that's what it sounded like when she drawled out that word!), but we must be courageous to be those things in all situations and circumstances.

you'd think that someone as accomplished as dr. angelou would be really serious, but she was so warm and down to earth, and surprisingly funny! she shared a secret survival tip with us all: the most important thing is to always be able to laugh... :)