No Day But Today

Halfway through the overnight flight from NY to London, after I had resigned myself to a sleepless flight, I scanned through the dozens of movie and TV options on the personal screen in front of me, and settled on Rent. With Siena sleeping soundly, I put my headphones on and turned the volume up. The opening notes struck me, connecting me at once to the 15 year old Lia hidden within. With no shame I sang along and bopped my head to some of my favorite songs. It's amazing how music can not just bring back memories, but feelings; and at a very formative time in my life, the music and message of Rent changed me. In the most Disney-fied way, it broke through my sheltered bubble and showed poverty, disease, heartbreak and hope. The music cemented my love of theater and "no day but today" became my rule to live by. I pictured myself laying in my childhood bed listening to the rent soundtrack in my Discman (look it up kids), like I did on many nights, wondering about my future. Would I be an actress? (no, but I would be in Rent on Broadway once), would I marry Michael Bruno? (no). Fast forward to 2013, watching Rent the movie (they made Rent into a movie?!) and so many of the questions I had, have answers and "no day but today" is still my rule to live by.