Vacation Day
Today I took a vacation day away from the office. My plans were to stay in the city, but mentally get away. But it doesn't look like I followed my plans. Originally, my plan of action was to attend a breakfast hosted by a local film organization. For the guest speakers they were going to have a casting director and a VP of a movie studio. Then, I planned to hang out at the beach. I live in L.A., but its been years since I've actually been down to the beach.
Then last night, as I was on the computer, I noticed blurbs popping up about Pope John Paul IIs Funeral. It started at 1:00 AM California time.
I decided to stay up and watch some of it.
Normally on a work-day I don't have to be into my office until 9:30 am . So I can get plenty of sleep no matter how late I am up.But staying up until 2:00 am to watch TV, then try to get up by 6:00 am to get to this Entertainment Industry Breakfast - just was not a good idea. I did wake up at 6 am. I drank a gallon of coffee . Then I tried to get dressed and ready. Realized I would have to stop off at the ATM machine. And then realized there was no way I was going to make it in time. And I was to wired on coffee to go back to sleep. So I was up and awake and there was nothing I could do about that.
So instead, I decided to treat myself to breakfast at House of Pies in Los Feliz. Its been such a long time since I've gone out to a restaurant for breakfast, it was a real treat. I read the Los Angeles Times and had French Toast with eggs and bacon.
As I sat there having my leisurely breakfast I started to question ... Basically, I chose watching the Pope's Funeral Mass on TV over the chance to meet a Casting Director and Movie Studio VP. Thats what happened when I stayed up way to late in order to wake up in time the next day. And I knew I was doing it when I did it. I knew it would seriously hinder my ability to wake up so early.
Yes, I was raised Catholic . But I became a born-again Christian in my 20s, attending mostly Pentecostal churches for a long time. In my 30s, I attended a really great Catholic church for a while, mainly because I couldn't find a Protestant church to attend, and that certain Catholic church had tons of activities. After moving to Hollywood, it took me years to find a church. I tried two independent Christian churches for a while, and now I attend a Presbyterian church.
So obviously Faith and Religion are important to me. But I think I found the Pope's Funeral important because we have so really few Great Leaders these days. And as I watched it, I didn't want to turn it off. I was moved by how people of so many different religious groups came to the Funeral. Even the leaders of the Lutherans and Methodists. The Jewish Rabbi of Rome was there, it turned out he was one of the Pope's closest friends. Its amazing to see the entire world Stop and Take Notice .... over the death of one man.
And you know, The Pope started out as an Actor & Playwright in his home country. Now that I find really amazing.
