I am part of a team that is reorganizing the theater. We have ventured into the room that was once a shower, and pulled out hundreds of costumes aching for fresh air. Some landed in the dumpster due to mold or shredded sleeves, but most are in remarkable shape. The challenge lies in finding the right one when we are preparing for a show. 

 

In my efforts to revamp the shop I work in, the one with sewing machines, bins of fabric, and a rainbow of buttons, I have gone through each shelf. Some are quite obviously material for our craft, while others are less so. I came across a stapler, and wondered where to put it. Not with the lace, or the extra socks, or bobbins. I placed it in a cabinet beside the colored pencils and tracing paper. 

 

The next day I was emptying a drawer that I rarely open. It had glue, and empty binders. And a stapler. I cheerfully put it next to the other one, feeling a dose of satisfaction. With two of them together it made sense. They belonged. 

 

This week in a zoom group we talked about instances we made it through a difficult time. The stories were varied, and yet similar. The circumstances were all over the place, and yet the heartbeat of commitment to what we love vibrated through each one. 

 

Someone remarked that she felt less alone, having heard that other people have struggled too. Miles apart, and yet side by side.