My 20s was my ‘starving artist’ period – I was a dancer with a regional company, the Red River Dance Company. In one show we had a number called “I’m Still Here” by Stephen Sondheim. (Shirley MacLaine made it famous in the film POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE.) My friend Kathy sang the heck out of it and I loved it. But only now that I’m in my 50s, do I really GET it!
The song talks about being proud of our life experience. The line “I GOT THROUGH ALL OF LAST YEAR, AND I`M HERE” well s…t boy howdy, do I get that!
It’s the culmination of all that we go through – the “hell-and-back’ experiences as Martha Beck says – that make us who we are. Every experience is different, but there’s something we can all share. So these hell-and-back experiences have made me what I am, and I wouldn’t trade a minute. Without them, I wouldn’t be much of a life coach, and this is what I’m meant to do! I love being at the point in my life where my Essential Self (the real me) can say without hesitation to the Social Self “sit this one out, I’m going on tonight!” I’ve got my mojo workin’ and it’s “fun and a half”!
Funny how my favorite things have come out of some of life’s “bum times… well, I’ve seen ‘em all, and my dear, I’m still here.”
(check out the lyrics below or go to YouTube to see Shirley in action! )
I`M STILL HERE
(Stephen Sondheim – modified for SHIRLEY MacLAINE’S character in Postcards for the Edge)
GOOD TIMES & BUM TIMES.
I’VE SEEN ‘EM ALL &, MY DEAR,
I`M STILL HERE.
PLUSH VELVET SOMETIMES,
SOMETIMES JUST PRETZELS AND BEER,
BUT I`M STILL HERE.
10 YEARS OF BRACES, VOICE & TAP
TOURING IN PLACES OFF THE MAP
GIVING AUDITIONS ON ZANICK’S LAP.
NEVER FEAR.
MY MOTHER DREW UP THE CONTRACT,
SO I’M HERE
I’VE DONE COMMERCIALS & CLUB DATES & TALK SHOWS.
GEE, THAT WAS FUN AND A HALF.
WHEN YOU’VE DONE COMMERCIALS & CLUB DATES & TALK SHOWS
ANYTHING ELSE IS A LAUGH!
BLACK SABLE ONE DAY,
NEXT DAY IT GOES INTO HOCK,
BUT I`M HERE.
TOP BILLING MONDAY,
TUESDAY YOU`RE TOURING IN STOCK,
BUT I`M HERE.
FIRST YOU`RE ANOTHER TRUE BLUE TRAMP,
THEN SOMEONE`S MOTHER,
THEN YOU`RE CAMP.
THEN YOU CAREER FROM CAREER TO CAREER.
I`M FEELING TRANSCENDENTAL
AM I HERE?
I`VE GOTTEN THROUGH
“HEY, LADY, AREN`T YOU WHOO-ZIS?
WOW! WHAT A LOOKER YOU WERE,”
OR, BETTER YET,
“SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE WHOO-ZIS.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO HER?”
GOOD TIMES AND BUM TIMES,
I`VE SEEN `EM ALL
AND, MY DEAR,
I`M STILL HERE.
SMOOTH SAILIN’ SOMETIMES,
SOMETIMES A KICK IN THE REAR!
BUT I`M HERE.
I`VE RUN THE GAMUT A TO Z.
THREE CHEERS & DAMMIT,
C`EST LA VIE!
I GOT THROUGH ALL OF LAST YEAR
AND I`M HERE.
LORD KNOWS
AT LEAST I WAS THERE
AND I`M HERE
LOOK WHO`S HERE!
I`M STILL HERE!
The year: 1977
