Kyla Gardiner - Theatrical Lighting Director
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
My Mother's Red Shawl - El Rebozo Colorado
Kyla Gardiner - Theatrical Lighting Director
I had a tiny bit of my cervix cut out this morning. It was a
preventative procedure to remove pre-cancerous cells. The nurse was very
careful to stress that the cells were not cancer. I was a bit sad because I
have always been oddly proud of my cervix. I looked forward to the end of a pap
smear when the doctor would say, “Looks healthy!” Like when the dental
hygienist tells you you’ve been doing a good job flossing, I felt comforted and
a bit self-congratulatory. But the last time I had a pap she said, “Looks like
high grade dysplasia”, hence the procedure. And I know it’s not directly my
fault, but I can’t help but feel as though I should have flossed more.
I can’t think of the red shawl without thinking of mothers,
and then my mother and how much I miss her. Particularly on days like today,
when I have little bits of my cervix cut off, because that seems like a mom
thing. My dad took me to the appointment, which I was very grateful for. And
afterwards he asked me if I wanted a coffee, which I did. I didn’t really want
to drink the coffee, but I wanted to hold it, and to smell it, and to remember
something a barista said to me one rainy morning – that coffee heals the
darkness of the pre-dawn.
I have been fantasizing recently of getting away for a
bit. In my fantasies I am sitting on a sunny porch gazing across a lake while
drinking wine and smoking clove cigarettes like a badass. I am talking to a
good friend about a book I just read because I’ve been there long enough to
read a whole book. In my fantasy I have a tan and look good in cut-offs, and my
friend and I laugh in a worldly way about the sad things. As the evening draws
closer it gets a little cold and we grab a blanket or a shawl, it could be the
red shawl, to keep us warm. Later, when I am back at home and unpacking things
I notice that the shawl smells a little bit like clove cigarettes and reminds
me of what a nice time we had.
Jorge JoséO'Reilly - Primo/Sobrino - Amigo - Campeón de Rugby
Art Bergmann Singer-Songwriter- Guitarist
Homero Aridjis Poeta
Zippy Pinhead Musician
Caitlin Legault Art Model
Holly McRea Model - Poet - Creation Conduit.
Lisa Ha Model - Volunteer - Friend
Carmen Alatorre Diseñadora de vestuario
Roberto Baschetti Sociólogo, Investigador Histórico - Amigo
Jennifer Froese Youth Worker
Rachel Cairns Actor
Jennifer Landels Espadachina
Judith Currelly Pilot- Artist
Jim Erickson Set Decorator
Alexandra Hill Soprano
Georgina Elizabeth Isles Figure Model
Emma Middleton Actor
Mark Pryor Author/Lawyer/Assistant DA Travis County TX
Brother Edwin Charles Reggio, CSC Mentor & Teacher
Veronica Vex Burlesque Dancer
George McWhirter Poet
Raúl Guerrero Montemayor Padre-Compadre
Alexandra Waterhouse-Hayward Maestra
Shirley Gnome Singer/Provocateur
Yeva & Thoenn Glover Dancers/Choreographers
JJ Lee Writer
Jacqueline Model
Cathy Marsden Psychiatrist
André De Mondo Wanderer
Colin MacDonald Saxophonist/Composer
Nina Gouveia Yoga Instructor
Stacey Hutton Excercise Physiologist
Colleen Wheeler Actor
Sarah Rodgers Actor, Director,Mother
Tim Turner - Real Estate Agent
Kiera Hill Dancer
Johnna Wright & Sascha Director/Mother - Son/Dreamer
Decker & Nick Hunt Cat & 19th century amateur
George Bowering Poet
Celia Duthie Gallerist
Linda Lorenzo Mother
Katheryn Petersen Accordionist
Stefanie Denz Artist
Ivette Hernández Actress
Byron Chief-Moon Actor/Dancer
Colin Horricks Doctor
Ian Mulgrew Vancouver Sun Columnist
Jocelyn Morlock Composer
Corinne McConchie Librarian
Rachel Ditor Dramaturg
Patrick Reid Statesman, Flag Designer
Michael Varga CBC Cameraman
Bronwen Marsden Playwright/Actress/Director
David Baines Vancouver Sun Columnist
Alex Waterhouse-Hayward Photographer
Lauren Elizabeth Stewart Student
Sandrine Cassini Dancer/Choreographer
Meredith Kalaman Dancer/Choreographer
Juliya Kate Dominatrix