It is difficult to sustain a bad mood in a co-op.
Monday evening, for example, I retired to my room after greek pasta salad and rhubarb pie (complete with perfect lattice). I had managed to stay moody even through the pie and ice cream... I intended to stay put in my room, arms crossed and lips pouting, but then Barbara came trotting down the hall.
"MAGIC SHOW! MAGIC SHOW!"
Shreeyash was delivering on our requirement that he perform a magic show for us if he came back to stay for a week. Having just finished the revisions to his dissertation (following his defense last week) he was in fine form. Most of our conversations having consisted of cultural analyses and articulate explanations, it was delightful and strange to see him slip into a magician's persona complete with bumbling "I don't know if this will work" comments strategically placed before the fantastic breathless shock of a delivery. What a talent it must take to blend unruffled confidence with the joy of apparent surprise at your own tricks!
(Gracias a Glenn's influence about musical theories of the written word, I studied the rhythm of the magic show as a musical structure... generating modest insight only, probably of most interest to you, dear readers, when you're under the influence.)
(shreeyash celebrates his doctorate with dignified magic... & a foil blindfold)
Shreeyash performed card magic, thought predictions, and the psychic cutting of an unpeeled banana (quite a sight). He threw cards through a piece of newspaper held up by two lovely talented assistants in mini-skirts. He juggled a bottle, hammer and knife. He pushed a glass through the table (or did Kate?!). His pen kept ending up behind people's ears. He ended up performing a good hour long show, all improvised with some of the objects around the house... what a Monday night event for one's living room.
What impressed me most was his ability to command our attention and awe, even in the midst of a group of VERY antsy, smartass people. Kudos to, errrr, The Great Shreeyashini! Nay, DR Shreeyash. Congratulations.
