past meet present

last night, I spent the evening immersed in my parent's past life.

I love thinking about people's past lives. on my wbar radio show "stunt casting" last fall, caroline and I would ask ten questions to our guest, and my favorite question was always about his or her "past life," the person that you used to be that may or may not be radically different from the person you are now but who crafted the person you are today. hearing about people's past lives can be hilarious, shocking, impressive, all of the above.

for example, I spent my high school career going to church twice a week for bible study and captaining the girl's water polo team. that person is unrecognizable to the friends and acquaintances who know me as a producer and theater kid.

so when I was invited to dinner with three of my parent's oldest and dearest friends, I couldn't bear to refuse the chance to glimpse into the cool period of their youth where monday nights meant singing drunkenly around a steinway, rehearsing for a cabaret that would never be performed. remembering your parents used to be people who weren't defined by their relationship to you makes them more likable. not that we don't love our parents (maybe not just out of obligation), but I love that they used to be people who lived for nights out and music and new york like I do.

as austin put it, "the apple clearly never even fell off the tree."