Thursday, January 7, 2010

New decade

We embark on a new year, new decade. Last night I went to the gorgeous production of "Der Rosenkavalier" at the Metropolitan Opera, one of the perks of living in Manhattan (note that the seat cost less than $30). It's an opera with music sublime and the overarching theme of the inevitable passing of time--and the wisdom to accept it. The Marschallin (princess) has an affair with a young count (always a soprano dressed like a boy), and she correctly warns him that sooner or later he will leave her for a younger woman. Which he does quickly. But the princess accepts that this is part of life, and at the end says she loves him for the love he has for the young girl. It's a sad, beautiful moment, filled with acceptance. (Strauss wrote that the affair with the young count was not the princess's first nor her last.)

All this touches on the matter of living with or without partner. A new novel I've written deals with the subject, as it did in "Living Alone Creatively." In the new book the protagonist has an on again, off again romance with a successful, altogether desirable physician who is the pursuer. The protagonist is filled with ambivalence, saying that his two cats provide him with the affection he needs. At least most of the time. I guess that, living alone as I do, it's a theme high in my mind. Ambivalence about partnering is usually hanging around.

My friend Michael Lowenthal, an excellent writer and person, has been in a gay relationship most of his life. He lives in Boston and wrote me recently that he finds the relationship a grounding point that allows greater freedom rather than a cause for restriction. I'm not sure how many people have achieved that--I know several for whom I'm sure it's not true--but Michael is a smart guy and I loved reading what he wrote. He's achieved an admirable goal.

Happy 2010 to those of you nice enough to read these words.
 

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