Re: Rent

[Guest guest]

Bless you for sharing your wrenching story with us, . That

you are regaining your health means everything ...

Much love from Ilena

www.BreastImplantAwareness.org

>

> Last night I went to see the movie Rent. I have to share my Rent

> story here because I hope that it will touch at least some of you.

>

> 10 years ago when Rent first hit Broadway I was working in

Theatre.

> Rent was the big buzz and we played the music during rehersals

etc..

> I had not seen it, but it was close to me because we shared the

> music. It was during this time when my illness had gotten so bad

> that I was first experiencing days when I could not get out of bed

> or take care of my baby. It was also at this time that my career

as

> an actress came to an extremely abrubt halt when my 10 month old

son

> was ambulanced to the hospital on the opening night of my show. I

> was literally pulled offstage to be escorted to the hospital where

> he spent the next 5 days in ICU. I have never, since that moment,

> performed as an actress again.

>

> Last year I was invited to go see the traveling production of Rent

> when it came to town. I watched it in awe and cried through the

> majority of the show. The themes in Rent are of living with AIDS

and

> dying among friends. It is about seizing each day as it comes and

> suffering together with unconditional love. I related to the show

on

> so many levels. I felt myself dying and not living my life to the

> fullest. I became accutely aware of how much I missed my life as

an

> actress and of how much time has been wasted lying on the couch.

It

> was almost more than I could take to watch the characters

suffering

> and yet still enjoying each moment they have left.

>

> Last night we went an saw the movie version. It is the 10th

> anniversary of the original Broadway release. By the time the

> credits were rolling I was curled up in a ball sobbing

uncontrolably

> in the middle of the theatre. I have come through my illness and I

> am learning to enjoy life again. I can dance again just like Mimi.

I

> can look forward to acting again. I have moments of inspiration

just

> like Rodger, and I have lost so many people and so much in my life

> just like Tom. I have too much in common with this cast of

> characters, most of whom are dying from AIDS.

>

> The music from Rent is wonderful! If you have no interest in

seeing

> it I urge you to at least get ahold of a copy of the song Seasons

of

> Love and listen to the lyrics closely. It is an inspiration about

> living each and every minute of your life to the fullest. It is

also

> about celebrating the life of someone you have lost. I think on

some

> level we can all truly relate to this musical, maybe more so than

> the average moviegoer.

>

> I will be playing this music over and over again to remind myself

of

> what I have left to accomplish, and of how I have regained the

> ability to make it all happen!

>

> Love,

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you so much for sharing that!

My daughter, who is 13 years old, wanted to see that movie with

friends last night. I had no idea what it was about. They ended up

not seeing it, but I am glad you shared your experience, so I know

what she will be watching. I may even go with her. It sounds like

a very emotional experience.

I hope your baby is okay...and I thank God you are healing!

Thanks !

HUgs,

Patty

>

> Last night I went to see the movie Rent. I have to share my Rent

> story here because I hope that it will touch at least some of you.

>

> 10 years ago when Rent first hit Broadway I was working in

Theatre.

> Rent was the big buzz and we played the music during rehersals

etc..

> I had not seen it, but it was close to me because we shared the

> music. It was during this time when my illness had gotten so bad

> that I was first experiencing days when I could not get out of bed

> or take care of my baby. It was also at this time that my career

as

> an actress came to an extremely abrubt halt when my 10 month old

son

> was ambulanced to the hospital on the opening night of my show. I

> was literally pulled offstage to be escorted to the hospital where

> he spent the next 5 days in ICU. I have never, since that moment,

> performed as an actress again.

>

> Last year I was invited to go see the traveling production of Rent

> when it came to town. I watched it in awe and cried through the

> majority of the show. The themes in Rent are of living with AIDS

and

> dying among friends. It is about seizing each day as it comes and

> suffering together with unconditional love. I related to the show

on

> so many levels. I felt myself dying and not living my life to the

> fullest. I became accutely aware of how much I missed my life as

an

> actress and of how much time has been wasted lying on the couch.

It

> was almost more than I could take to watch the characters

suffering

> and yet still enjoying each moment they have left.

>

> Last night we went an saw the movie version. It is the 10th

> anniversary of the original Broadway release. By the time the

> credits were rolling I was curled up in a ball sobbing

uncontrolably

> in the middle of the theatre. I have come through my illness and I

> am learning to enjoy life again. I can dance again just like Mimi.

I

> can look forward to acting again. I have moments of inspiration

just

> like Rodger, and I have lost so many people and so much in my life

> just like Tom. I have too much in common with this cast of

> characters, most of whom are dying from AIDS.

>

> The music from Rent is wonderful! If you have no interest in

seeing

> it I urge you to at least get ahold of a copy of the song Seasons

of

> Love and listen to the lyrics closely. It is an inspiration about

> living each and every minute of your life to the fullest. It is

also

> about celebrating the life of someone you have lost. I think on

some

> level we can all truly relate to this musical, maybe more so than

> the average moviegoer.

>

> I will be playing this music over and over again to remind myself

of

> what I have left to accomplish, and of how I have regained the

> ability to make it all happen!

>

> Love,

>

>

[Guest guest]

- wow, that is a pretty amazing story. It seems like Rent

was the beginning of the end 10 years ago, but now it symbolizes a

new beginning. I think as you open yourself up to the new

possibilities, you will find that the universe will provide you with

what you need. Before I got the implants, I was almost a

Pollyanna. I somehow thought that everything would be fine, and

things happen for a reason, and that all good things would come my

way. Once I got sick from the implants, I was thinking " who was I

to think that I could lead a charmed life when so many others are

suffering " . I mean I didn't lead a charmed life, but compared to

the implant illness it seemed that way - I was date raped when I

was 27 and given a lovely parting gift, my first husband was an

alcoholic and that marriage caused me alot of pain, I suffered with

endometriosis, then early menopause, I lost my 24 year career to a

downsizing - but I still had so much hope until I got the implants.

At least they're out of my body now, that is such a huge load off my

mind.

Sis

>

> Last night I went to see the movie Rent. I have to share my Rent

> story here because I hope that it will touch at least some of you.

>

> 10 years ago when Rent first hit Broadway I was working in

Theatre.

> Rent was the big buzz and we played the music during rehersals

etc..

> I had not seen it, but it was close to me because we shared the

> music. It was during this time when my illness had gotten so bad

> that I was first experiencing days when I could not get out of bed

> or take care of my baby. It was also at this time that my career

as

> an actress came to an extremely abrubt halt when my 10 month old

son

> was ambulanced to the hospital on the opening night of my show. I

> was literally pulled offstage to be escorted to the hospital where

> he spent the next 5 days in ICU. I have never, since that moment,

> performed as an actress again.

>

> Last year I was invited to go see the traveling production of Rent

> when it came to town. I watched it in awe and cried through the

> majority of the show. The themes in Rent are of living with AIDS

and

> dying among friends. It is about seizing each day as it comes and

> suffering together with unconditional love. I related to the show

on

> so many levels. I felt myself dying and not living my life to the

> fullest. I became accutely aware of how much I missed my life as

an

> actress and of how much time has been wasted lying on the couch.

It

> was almost more than I could take to watch the characters

suffering

> and yet still enjoying each moment they have left.

>

> Last night we went an saw the movie version. It is the 10th

> anniversary of the original Broadway release. By the time the

> credits were rolling I was curled up in a ball sobbing

uncontrolably

> in the middle of the theatre. I have come through my illness and I

> am learning to enjoy life again. I can dance again just like Mimi.

I

> can look forward to acting again. I have moments of inspiration

just

> like Rodger, and I have lost so many people and so much in my life

> just like Tom. I have too much in common with this cast of

> characters, most of whom are dying from AIDS.

>

> The music from Rent is wonderful! If you have no interest in

seeing

> it I urge you to at least get ahold of a copy of the song Seasons

of

> Love and listen to the lyrics closely. It is an inspiration about

> living each and every minute of your life to the fullest. It is

also

> about celebrating the life of someone you have lost. I think on

some

> level we can all truly relate to this musical, maybe more so than

> the average moviegoer.

>

> I will be playing this music over and over again to remind myself

of

> what I have left to accomplish, and of how I have regained the

> ability to make it all happen!

>

> Love,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Patty, my bouncing baby boy is now a 9 year old 4th grader : )

which means that it would have been 8 years ago that I stopped

acting... oops I guess Rent had been out a while when we were

listening to it on the set.

I want to tell you a few things before taking your daughter to see

it. I am extremely liberal and open minded and I brought my 9 year

old son with me. He loved it! It opened up the door for a lot of

discussion afterwards. But I know that not everyone has the same

world views that I do. The main characters in the film are a

gay/transvestite couple, a lesbian couple, a heterosexual couple,

and a single guy. It really embraces all kinds of love in a very

open way. There is heroin addiction and death. This is not your

average happy go lucky sing-a-thon! I would personally highly

reccommend for your daughter to see it so you can openly disscuss

the serious life issues it brings up, but you may not feel that she

is ready for that. I just don't want you to be surprised. : )

> >

> > Last night I went to see the movie Rent. I have to share my Rent

> > story here because I hope that it will touch at least some of

you.

> >

> > 10 years ago when Rent first hit Broadway I was working in

> Theatre.

> > Rent was the big buzz and we played the music during rehersals

> etc..

> > I had not seen it, but it was close to me because we shared the

> > music. It was during this time when my illness had gotten so bad

> > that I was first experiencing days when I could not get out of

bed

> > or take care of my baby. It was also at this time that my career

> as

> > an actress came to an extremely abrubt halt when my 10 month old

> son

> > was ambulanced to the hospital on the opening night of my show.

I

> > was literally pulled offstage to be escorted to the hospital

where

> > he spent the next 5 days in ICU. I have never, since that

moment,

> > performed as an actress again.

> >

> > Last year I was invited to go see the traveling production of

Rent

> > when it came to town. I watched it in awe and cried through the

> > majority of the show. The themes in Rent are of living with AIDS

> and

> > dying among friends. It is about seizing each day as it comes

and

> > suffering together with unconditional love. I related to the

show

> on

> > so many levels. I felt myself dying and not living my life to

the

> > fullest. I became accutely aware of how much I missed my life as

> an

> > actress and of how much time has been wasted lying on the couch.

> It

> > was almost more than I could take to watch the characters

> suffering

> > and yet still enjoying each moment they have left.

> >

> > Last night we went an saw the movie version. It is the 10th

> > anniversary of the original Broadway release. By the time the

> > credits were rolling I was curled up in a ball sobbing

> uncontrolably

> > in the middle of the theatre. I have come through my illness and

I

> > am learning to enjoy life again. I can dance again just like

Mimi.

> I

> > can look forward to acting again. I have moments of inspiration

> just

> > like Rodger, and I have lost so many people and so much in my

life

> > just like Tom. I have too much in common with this cast of

> > characters, most of whom are dying from AIDS.

> >

> > The music from Rent is wonderful! If you have no interest in

> seeing

> > it I urge you to at least get ahold of a copy of the song

Seasons

> of

> > Love and listen to the lyrics closely. It is an inspiration

about

> > living each and every minute of your life to the fullest. It is

> also

> > about celebrating the life of someone you have lost. I think on

> some

> > level we can all truly relate to this musical, maybe more so

than

> > the average moviegoer.

> >

> > I will be playing this music over and over again to remind

myself

> of

> > what I have left to accomplish, and of how I have regained the

> > ability to make it all happen!

> >

> > Love,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

I haven't seen Rent yet but I definitely will. Everyone I know loves it. I heard the director interviewed on the radio and he talked about how the cast was so inspired by the movie that they all hung around on the set 24/7, which he said was unusual. They filmed a lot of it here in San Francisco. I can't wait to see it. We need more movies about the precious nature of life, especially those of us who hold a more Burnesque view of the afterlife.

I really believe we are meant to treasure every moment as of it were our last, and there was nothing after that. Having been so sick really cemented this into my consciousness. I've taken to wearing a mala of tibetan skull beads around my wrist--sounds morbid, but it reminds me that death is just a moment away at any time. It helps me to appreciate the gift of being here right now.

Melinda

Rent

Last night I went to see the movie Rent. I have to share my Rent story here because I hope that it will touch at least some of you. 10 years ago when Rent first hit Broadway I was working in Theatre. Rent was the big buzz and we played the music during rehersals etc.. I had not seen it, but it was close to me because we shared the music. It was during this time when my illness had gotten so bad that I was first experiencing days when I could not get out of bed or take care of my baby. It was also at this time that my career as an actress came to an extremely abrubt halt when my 10 month old son was ambulanced to the hospital on the opening night of my show. I was literally pulled offstage to be escorted to the hospital where he spent the next 5 days in ICU. I have never, since that moment, performed as an actress again. Last year I was invited to go see the traveling production of Rent when it came to town. I watched it in awe and cried through the majority of the show. The themes in Rent are of living with AIDS and dying among friends. It is about seizing each day as it comes and suffering together with unconditional love. I related to the show on so many levels. I felt myself dying and not living my life to the fullest. I became accutely aware of how much I missed my life as an actress and of how much time has been wasted lying on the couch. It was almost more than I could take to watch the characters suffering and yet still enjoying each moment they have left. Last night we went an saw the movie version. It is the 10th anniversary of the original Broadway release. By the time the credits were rolling I was curled up in a ball sobbing uncontrolably in the middle of the theatre. I have come through my illness and I am learning to enjoy life again. I can dance again just like Mimi. I can look forward to acting again. I have moments of inspiration just like Rodger, and I have lost so many people and so much in my life just like Tom. I have too much in common with this cast of characters, most of whom are dying from AIDS. The music from Rent is wonderful! If you have no interest in seeing it I urge you to at least get ahold of a copy of the song Seasons of Love and listen to the lyrics closely. It is an inspiration about living each and every minute of your life to the fullest. It is also about celebrating the life of someone you have lost. I think on some level we can all truly relate to this musical, maybe more so than the average moviegoer. I will be playing this music over and over again to remind myself of what I have left to accomplish, and of how I have regained the ability to make it all happen!Love,

[Guest guest]

I love the Tibetan beads! It probably sounds morbid to most, but not

to me! I grew up around Tibetan monks. The Zen viewpoint, although not

a Tibetan one, is more along the lines of what you are saying, that

this is it and there ain't no more. I've studied Theology for 20 some

years, I am ordained in 4 different religions, and it never ceases to

amaze me how parallel and yet different each belief system is. The

most important thing is to be comfortable in your own belief and not

to live in fear. The bottom line is, it's a mystery! : )

Go out and enjoy Rent! I've been listening to it all day and have

accomplished quite a bit of house cleaning that I have neglected for

some time now. Hehehe If I'm going to live for today I may as well

have a clean house that I feel good about, right? LOL

hugs,

PS Melinda, I can tell by your email address that we probably have a

lot in common. : )