Why Adults Need to See Live Puppet Shows

From The Puppet Showplace:

Why do adults need to see live puppet shows?

Because the Internet can't heckle you back.

Because it's fun to see the soul of an old lady in a tomato.

Because if you watch talking furniture onstage it's less likely you will start talking to your own furniture.

Because the revolution is never over. Because it's fun to watch adults in a state of arrested development.

Because it's healthy to arrest your development for short periods of time.

Because nothing out of Hollywood can actually reach out and touch you.

Because old memories need to be kept young and new memories need to be made.

Because where else can you see 4,083 uses for felt & the common coat hanger.

Because even though you can't see the puppeteer's hands, you know what they are doing with them.

Because the world has too many televisions and not enough storytellers.

Because it's nice to know your trash is being put to good use.

Because instead of dumbing down, puppets smarten up their audience.

Because if you can't join 'em, beat 'em with a stick (says Mr. Punch).

Because the news doesn't run enough happy stories.

Because most puppets are actually smarter than most politicians.

Because the worries of the world never stop, but you can put them on hold till the end of the show.

Because why should kids have all the fun.

There's a job at this place that I really want to apply to.

Didi and the Kids

Wow. I just had my order taken at Haley House Cafe in Roxbury by Didi Emmons herself, as she struggled to keep up the pace for the long line of customers, clean the tables and restock the coffee and silverware supplies, on this packed Sat afternoon at the cafe. She is the head chef here, but it's pretty crazy to see a famous chef like her putting in the time to do the grunt work that is usually done by low-wage college students and starving artists.

Then I was distracted from job cover letters by watching her tie the aprons on to two 10 year old girls, as they came in for their nutrition/cooking class, assuring them that although she was off to a meeting, this week's "guest chef" would be as nice as she is. I had read that Emmons was offering these classes, but it was pretty awesome to see the co-owner of Veggie Planet interacting with kids who clearly felt comfortable with her.

Despite all of the crap going on in the world (like the Supreme Court's brilliant decision to enable the deaths of countless DC residents), it's hopeful that there are such talented, creative and righteous people right here in my own [adopted] city of Boston.

[As I write this, a young African-American boy with a mohawk in an apron just wandered into the cafe to use the restroom. so cute.]