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October 29, 2004
Nostalgia
I’m heading to exotic Fresno today for my tenth anniversary high school reunion, and then to Santa Barbara for a raucous Halloween doing “research” in Isla Vista, the college ghetto attached to the University of California there.
In Fresno I’m promised two giddy nights with five former colorguard girls and threatened with a viewing of the “video yearbook” (do I really have to look back on my fluffy bangs and once-unplucked eyebrows?). Since I think I could pass the rest of my life without returning to Fresno and not feel the slightest pang of regret, this trip is all about good company—and the strange lure of a solitary four-hour drive. I’ve got my Ipod car adapter plugged in and ready to go. In heavy rotation today: the second movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor as performed by Leif Ove Andsnes, who had me on my feet with most of the audience at Davies Symphony Hall the other night; and “Fond Farewell” from Elliot Smith’s posthumous album.
In Isla Vista, I’m expecting 25,000 intoxicated and scantily clad students roving Del Playa, the seaside party strip. Last year I tagged along with a band of students, friends of friends—they had me dress up with them as eighties breakdancers and we toted a boombox and cardboard that we laid in the street and did the caterpillar on. This year, barring a flash of last minute-inspiration, my husband and I will probably be venturing into the mob sans costumes. The funny thing is that I never attended Halloween festivities when I was actually a student at UCSB. I was too terrified by the school’s party culture. Nostalgia works in mysterious ways.
Incidentally, the second Mark Morris Dance Group program at Cal Performances last night was wonderful, particularly the world premiere “Rock of Ages” (set to Schubert’s Piano Trio in E-flat and danced by four strong women, though co-ed and all-male casts are also slated) and 1985’s daffy “Marble Halls” (set to Bach). I’ll post a roundup of reviews and my own thoughts early next week.
Posted by Rachel at October 29, 2004 12:48 PM
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