Dear Jennifer - You are a Beautiful Person

This is the first, an potentially the last, serious posting that I will write on my blog.

To say the least, New York can be overwhelming and downright abusive. This is most true for people pursuing the arts because we will likely never make enough money to make sense out of it. Although I have grown to accept this, it still sucks and I find it hard to keep myself motivated and positive.

That was until I met Jennifer.

I haven't spoken about her to too many people yet because I knew that writing these words down would be the best homage I could pay to her.

I met Jennifer at the Apple store. I couldn't quite tell how old she was because she was clearly recovering from some heavy radiation therapy, and it had probably aged her more than anything else ever could. But her age didn't matter. I knew from the moment we shook hands that this woman "got it".

In this world there are three types of people.
Those who-"get it"
Those who-"could get it" &
Those who-"can't get it"

"It" is life, "it" is relationships, "it" is biology, "it" is whatever you want it to be. Most people don't get it but could if they tried. Few people can't, and even fewer people are born just knowing. I don't know where Jennifer had come from on this imaginary scale, but I knew where she was.

I find it easier than I should talking to people who have battled cancer, but I've known too many afflicted to not be understanding. I wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy, but there is a lightness and intelligence that comes from cancer victims that is nothing short of remarkable.

Jennifer is a screenwriter, and is constantly immersing herself into her work. We had a great conversation about bad movies that I won't soon forget, but three things stuck out to me more than anything.

The first was her relationship with her father. She had informed me that he, like herself, was a writer. Jennifer told me about the musical her father had conceived, which won a Tony by the way. I saw the love and pain in her when she said that he had never seen it come to broadway, and how proud he would have been. My tears were barely holding back.

Jennifer also gave me a fundamental lesson in writing. She said, "writing for the screen comes from the inside out. Writing for the stage comes from the outside in." This is why I do theater.

The last and most important things that Jennifer told me was this.

Everyone has at least one story that they can tell better than anyone else. You just have to find it.

So Jennifer, I continue writing for you in the hopes that I do find my story. I won't soon forget you.

Brian Dann