Norm! Plus, Wax Taber
A belated Monday hello.
Growing up in Boston, there was always one easy way to tell the tourists from the locals: the tourists always asked for directions to Cheers.
The Bull & Finch Pub had been around since the 1960s, but found international fame when it was used for exterior shots for the bar in NBC’s hugely successful sitcom Cheers. Over time the venue became less of a local watering hole and more of a tourist trap, and at some point in time the original Bull & Finch name was changed to, yep, Cheers.
I don’t know any Bostonians that ever went to the bar, particularly after it became famous. I do know, though, that as much as we griped about those “damn tourists looking for that stupid bah,” we loved the show that brought about its popularity.
Every Thursday night I’d watch the series, usually with my Nana—a woman whose loud, almost barking laugh belied her slight stature. Nothing made her laugh harder than Cliff and Norm, and I know she would’ve been heartbroken to hear of George “Norm” Wendt’s passing last week. I hope that if there is any sort of afterlife, he’s up there enjoying a beer and she’s laughing—way too loudly—at his jokes.
Coincidentally, my husband, son, and I spent the weekend in Boston and for the first time in my life I did the Freedom Trail! If you’re not familiar, the Freedom Trail is literally a line on the sidewalk that can take you from one historical hotspot to another. You can do it as a self-guided tour, or pay a load of money to have a tour guide dressed in colonial garb take you around and tell you stories about the who, what, when, and where of each stop. We paid the money and our guide did not disappoint.
We also spent some time with friends and family, ate a lot of great food, and checked out a Titanic exhibit, where we saw items salvaged from the wreckage. Other than the fact that it was about 15 degrees colder than it should have been this time of year, it was a really nice weekend.
A few other highlights from last week: My husband and I got out of the house (on a school night!!) to see Pat Benatar in concert. I’ve wanted to see her live since I was a kid and I’m so thrilled that not only is she still touring, but she sounds incredible.
I also had an interview published in Next Avenue with John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band. He was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago, yet he continues to make music and tour regularly. As he told me, “I’m playing and singing slower than normal. I fall sometimes. My balance is worse, my speech is worse. But I'm still singing it, so I’m still bringing it.”
Speaking of interviews, I hope you had a chance to read my interview with Alexander Parsons last week.
A few things I learned from him:
You don’t need to come from a creative family to find success in the arts.
A curious mind and thirst for knowledge is key to a thriving artistic career.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate technology into your work.
On Wednesday, some outtakes from my conversation with him will be shared with paid subscribers, along with his recommendations of things to read, watch, listen to, and do. And on Friday, I’ll share my interview with editor Wax Taber, who recently worked on the critically acclaimed docuseries The Class.
That’s it for now! Thanks for reading! Wishing you a week full of art and creativity!
Born and raised in Boston and have never been to cheers.
I remember Nana laughing at that show.
Love the memories💕