Tuesday, July 6, 2021
I lived a big part of my growing up years at the Ritz. I was never on that stage; I was too scared to do that. Honestly. I speak before people - sometimes large crowds - in my adult life. But as a kid I guess I was too busy figuring out how to play my own character to risk the stage. But always, always, always I have admired those who can bring characters to life. Literature - theater - humanity came to life for me at the Ritz even if I was the guy selling the popcorn. To this day I could recite virtually every line in almost every play ever done at the Ritz. I watched them, in fascination, again and again and again. And that love of theater has carried me into adulthood. I've had very few regrets in life but if I could go back and talk to my younger self I'd say, "get over yourself and try it out." That is past. But even without being on that stage, I was changed - for good - by the Ritz. And let's be honest: the Ritz was lots of people. It was the Murphy family for sure. But it was, above all else, Peg Murphy. I'd like to think if I'd walked into her room at the end of her life she would have remembered me. But I was just an off-stage popcorn seller - Peg was always the star. And I remember her with gratitude and affection. She changed our little town for good: like the "music man" she helped us to believe in ourselves even when we could not hit the right notes. Prayers for the Murphy family - my high school classmates. And well done, Peg Murphy - rest in peace.
