Branson - Part 3
Little Accidents In Jurassic Park
Prologue
What have I done this month? Let’s see - I witnessed raging anti-semitism in Bucks County at a school board meeting, I tailed some New York City developers charged with creating an entertainment venue on a ship, and saw a new head coach installed in an NFL team. And when I wasn’t rolling sound, I was deep in the edit on my short documentary - with excellent guidance and help from Alexandra. Stay tuned for more info on that project. So, in general, you know, the usual.
I also turned fifty, and in customary fashion, I was on the road while it happened. In Indianapolis. So there.
All is well with the commander.
Project: Branson
Cast of Characters:
Richard - Himself
Sam - Himself
Chris - Director
Ryann - Producer
Ro - Assistant Camera
Ben - Director of Photography
John - Gaffer
June 26, 2021
Loo-Loo Clubland
A bit of a later start today, and yet I was awoken before my alarm was set to go off by the thunder and rain of an intermittent tropical squall. I opened my curtains and a flash of lightning lit up the sky over the edge of the world, illuminating the fissure of the night. The thunder was like a wolf on a chain, loose, playful, and ready for adventure, while the rain was like a slow, gurgling brook, quietly meandering through the wild grasses.
As I arose I thought to myself, today will be a great day no matter what, because I have everything I need to withstand the elements. Rain cover for mixer - check. Rain jacket - check. Waterproof bag - I'll improvise (thank you, Ro!) But before heading out, and due to the early rising, I made my way into the villa kitchen and prepared myself a green tea and some granola with yogurt. I knew there was a "breakfast sandwich" for me somewhere in the Headland House, but I honestly don't really know where that is. The granola, smelling like raisins and cinnamon, was filling, and even after I noticed that the expiration date on the yogurt was from December, I felt fortified and ready to capture all the sound, everywhere.
Once on Necker, we jammed to get ready and then headed out with Sir Richard on what was to be a five-hour tour of the island. We saw lemurs, went sleuthing for giant tortoises (there are seven), observed the flamingos (and seagull) feeding, spotted scarlet Ibises, cooed at the runner ducks, and melted by the miniature horses. Oh, and there are bunnies for the grandkids. We also saw all the houses, Richard donned his crown on the outdoor loo, showed us what Necker cost to buy in 1952, and had several coffee and teas along the way. Chris nailed when he said it was like "Jurassic Park," with all the birds flying in a flock across the pond as we made our way. Totally amazing.
At the Elder's Temple, I noticed there was something off with Richard's transmitter - it wasn't sending any sound. When I inquired, he told me he had had a "little accident" and it had dropped into the toilet. Well, of course, this isn't the first time I've had equipment damaged, and while this could happen to absolutely anyone, I will admit that the list of folks who have done this specific maneuver includes only one other entry - Ricky Martin. Welcome to the club!
And then, lunch. Once again, the food was simple yet refined. A caesar salad. Roasted sweet potatoes. Bread, butter, potato chips, and a brownie for dessert. What else can be said?
Richard and the family had gone off-island for lunch, so the crew was left to stand by until they returned and had a proper after-meal siesta. Several of us also dozed off and then, with the help of Helen, Ben, Ro, and myself went to the watersports area for the first lesson in kite surfing. I'm not sure if I was alone in my misconception, and while it makes perfect sense now, I had just assumed we were going in the water. But no, you first have to learn how to handle the kite on land. So, we had a proper kiting lesson - first with the trainer kite and then with a standard-issue marine kite. It was thrilling! And yes, I think we'd all like to stay a bit longer to continue our studies. Ro even considered applying to be the junior concrete-road-palm-leaf embosser just to stick around a bit more.
After all this hard work, it was time to... get back to work. Once again, Richard was in the interview seat and Chris was behind the lens probing for insights into the mind of the man behind Virgin Brides. Okay, so that was a fail, but you cannot succeed unless you try, and the list of failures is always going to be longer than the list of successes. Just make sure the successes are really well done. Like seat-back videos! Or flying through Syndey harbor attached to a helicopter. But not like jumping off the roof of the Palms in Vegas. In the end, your legacy is how you live on through your children. You want to leave this Earth having done more good than harm. It's really about how your family and friends will remember you. Richard would like to feel like he made a difference, and he's planning to do more in the next twenty years.
After wrap, we boated back to Moskito. As I stood on my balcony, I wondered if I'd have time to go in the ocean and then I saw Ro and John paddling about the cove below. Quickly, I donned my trunks and ran toward the shore. Ro got a snorkel and facemask and went off to explore the caves and schools of fish around the bend. John spotted a sea urchin. The water was blindingly crystal clear. It flowed through the imagination and rectified Neptune's straight lines. I waded out a bit and then floated on my back, arms outstretched. I closed my eyes and let the saltwater surround my body, weightless, my ears dipping below the surface, silent. The water gently churned around me, its warmth like being in a bed, a comforter, a soft cloud. I felt at home in the brine, buoyant, free. I felt at peace, and when I opened my eyes I was reborn.
After a pina colada, Ben re-emerged with the post-massage aura of a beatified saint. He looked the same, but now he was glowing. His cheeks were pink and he walked with a bounce. He too had been reborn but through the kneading hands of an expert technician.
Dinner was the best fish sticks in the universe, plump and thick; they were the platonic ideal. And there was wine.
Tomorrow - last day, best day!
Also Of Interest
This sounds like an alt-version of “The Last Of Us,” but apparently a “whiskey fungus” has encrusted an entire Tennessee town. Drunk zombies?
Real estate for the apocalypse.
New Jersey gets everything wrong via Bon Jovi. Even Ed Harris.
Oblique Strategy Of The Day
“Shut the door and listen from outside.”
All good thoughts,
Avi