Hamilton

 

I love the theatre!  The Hamilton play  was excellent, even brilliant, but the soundtrack changed my life. Lin-Manuel Miranda is exo-brilliant. (and yes I just made up that word)  I was not able to see the play performed live until April of 2022.  But it was not for lack of trying.  Seeing it live on Broadway was out of the question.  Hamilton  was all the rage in pop culture, so I had to find out why.  I listened intently as Alexa played the soundtrack.  I was immediately hooked to the story.  I conjured images and scenes in my head.  I replayed the soundtrack until I memorized most of it. 

As soon as it traveled, I was on the hunt for reasonable tickets. Disney did America a favor by debuting it in 2020 during the pandemic. I subscribed.  (I still have Disney today because of this.)  I was mesmerized by the images that synchronized with the lyrics that I had already memorized. I was not disappointed. 

There is something very special about live performed art.  Recordings are great, but live performances are magical.  So, I was pacified with the Disney replays, but I was gonna see it live!  I planned an entire trip in 2021 to see it in Atlanta.  We were in the parking deck when the show got cancelled due to COVID.  (talk about heartbreak)  As a plan B, my girlfriend and I went to one of the oldest night clubs in Atlanta and drank beers instead. (lol)

I finally had my opportunity in April of 2022.  I drove to Greensboro to see it.  It was brilliant, and I was thrilled.  I had to suppress my excitement and urge to dance as I mouthed all the words to the songs.  I’m sure I was getting on nerves of those behind me as I bopped silently along.  I wasn’t alone.  There were several other super fans in the crowd.  It was a perfect day, doing something I cherished.

During the time between 2015 and July 2020 my life was changed by the lyrics of this soundtrack. There were so much about this depiction of Alexander Hamilton’s psyche that I related to.  I felt so compelled and driven to do more. Here are a few lyrics that really resonated with me

Alexander Hamilton

Theres a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait… In New York you can be a new man…

My Shot

I’m not throwing away my shot… I’m young scrappy and hungry just like my country

The Story of Tonight

When  our children tell our story, they’ll tell the story of tonight….

The Schuyler Sisters

Look around, look around, how lucky we are to be alive right now…

Satisfied

To your union, and the hope that you provide, may you always be satisfied….

Wait For It

Death doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints it takes and its takes and it takes. We keep living anyway, we rise and we fall, and we break and we make our mistakes… I’m willing to wait for it…..

History Has its Eyes on You

When I was young and dreamed of glory, you have no control: who lives, who dies, who tells your story.  I know that we can win, I know that greatness lies in you, but remember here on in, history has its eyes on you.

Dear Theodosia

I’ll be around for you.  I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll make a million mistakes.  I’ll make the world safe and sound for you…

Non-Stop

Why do you write like its going out of style?  Writing day and night like its going out of style. Every day you fight like its going out of style….

The Room Where it Happens

When you got skin in the game you stay in the game, But you don’t get a win unless you play in the game.  You get love for it, you get hate for it, you get nothing if you wait for it, wait for it (wait)

God help and forgive me. I wanna build something that’s gonna outlive me…

Hurricane

I’ll write my way out…

Its Quiet Uptown

There are moments that the words don’t reach. There is suffering too terrible to name…The Hamilton’s move uptown and learn to live with the unimaginable….

Who lives Who dies, Who tells Your Story

Who lives who dies, who tells your story? Who lives who dies who tells your story? Who lives who dies who tells your story?

If I had to sum up the impact of this entire play, it is in one question.

Who lives who dies, who tells your story?  It is why I started writing books.  It is why I share, even “over share” like I’m running out of time. Its why I’m writing this blog.  It is why I have podcasts.   When I die, I want people to share the narrative I gave them in my own words.  I want to inspire people beyond the grave.  I want my grandchildren’s grandchildren to know how I feel about them and their future.  I want to remember the basic and boring moments of my life when my memories began to fade.  I am the lead super heroin in my life, deserving of being heralded. ( we should all feel this way because the opposing alternative it unacceptable)

This soundtrack really made me answer these questions, so much so, I changed my entire path so that I can help others do this very thing in publishing their stories.  We are running out of time, don’t wait for it.  We have so much to do.  Don’t throw away your shot, because history has it’s eyes on you.  Even as the world turns upside down, and life brings about the unimaginable, you can create something that is going to outlive you.

There’s a million things I haven’t done, but I assure you, I’ll die crossing them off my list.

Abundance Always. 💓Bliss