You got 36 hours

“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it. “– Steve Jobs

At the end of each year I often find myself in a retrospective mood. Don’t you? We so often hear (or say) “Life is short!”. What does this mean? Is it really possible to measure time that is left to us and use it in the most efficient and wonderful manner?..

Simona Hofmann is asking herself the same question tonight on the modest stage of Teatro Palino, Baden, Switzerland. Her second solo performance came out first days of December, and today is the closing play. She has got 36 hours. What happens afterwards? Is this the end? Or a beginning? An illusion?

Last year Simona came out with her first grotesque and provoking solo piece “Night explodes your dreams” where an oversized handbag played a role of a mobile stage and a centerpiece. This time it is a gigantic white stiletto – a home, a prison, a ship to sail, to run away from false expectations and imposed dreams… There is almost no text, and imagination of a viewer is floating together with the plastique of the heroine, surreal sound and a beautiful light set up.

Photo by Reto Lanzendörfer

I feel like I need white stilettos too these days…but it is winter and the reality presents unromantic hairy boots or clumsy plastic ski shoes (if you get lucky!)… But you know what I need more than the white stilettos right now? I need good books! It is one of the few elegant ways to get through winter.

With a shame and horror I realized the other day that I haven’t read a single book in several months. Sure I have excuses, but the fact is inexcusable in any case, so being stuck for a millionth time at another train station I stepped into the book shop and studied the shelves. My choice for now: “i Steve” – inspirational thoughts of Steve Jobs, and a novel by Jean-Michel Guenassia “Le Club des Incorrigibles Optimistes” (the Club of Hopeless Optimists).

I knew very little about Steve Jobs before his resent untimely departure. The guy was a genius and an optimist with the big “O”. A novel of Jean-Michel Guenassia (through which I struggle with great pleasure…why struggle?.. It’s in French!) is an intense intrigue and a tender story about real friendship.

What are you reading these days? And what are you listening? Today (again being stuck between the trains – figuratively speaking) I discovered a new musician: Gruff Rhys. I even bought - the scandal in these days of free media stuff! - one of his songs on iTunes: “Shark ridden waters”. Another song was called “If we were words”. Beautiful title, isn’t it? It got me thinking. (Yes, perhaps I do have too much time in my hands…) If you had one word to describe yourself what would it be?

I’d like to reserve one: “Happy”.

Happy coming Christmas everybody.

Love,

AB