ONCE upon a time

I used to work on South Anne Street in Dublin. It was the 90’s and all I had to do to listen to Glen Hansard “live” was to open the summer sash windows of our second floor Theatrical Agency office. Perched perfectly adjacent to the reliable Bewley’s coffee crowd, Hansard’s acoustic busking added to the sensory experience that was Grafton Street. It was all very potent, unless someone burnt the beans.

I’d wander over there on my breaks to get some fresh air and inspiration. Some weekends I’d pay to hear him sing with his brilliant band The Frames. I saw no compromise, he’d stared in Alan Parkers The Commitments but the bills still needed to be paid, and in a pre-social media world this was the only way an influencer could be heard.

Falling scene from the Irish movie ONCE staring Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Once Cast: Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová

Then in November, 2007 I met him at L.A.X. with fellow singer and musician Markéta Irglová. We were the only people at our carousel. It was a quiet time, pre American fame. We had been on the same flight from Gatwick with the then leader of the opposition party in Ireland (and soon to be Taoiseach of the country) and Leonard Nimoy (Spock from Star Trek) all flying coach! The elegant Aerlingus stewardess’ had been so embarrassed—it was such a full flight they couldn’t bump any of the spontaneous A-listers to first class.

The then duetting couple said to me they didn’t care that their bags hadn’t arrived yet, the whole thing was so surreal they were delighted to pause for a moment before the swirl kicked off again. I had just seen Once (their soon to be Oscar winning micro budget movie) at a screening in London the night before, and was delighted to share my joy at what felt like a fresh and heartfelt Irish tale. They were so gracious, if a little overwhelmed as they’d just been given an Oscar run in L.A. and now had to do their first press junket.

This was a regular conversation between contemporaries saying, “Can you fuckin’ believe this?”
I really couldn’t!

Starfleet and The Academy

I had been recently playing with the power of my mind and the practice seemed to be paying off. The night before I’d seen two more Star Trek heroes of mine in the flesh: Counselor Deanna Troi, and Captain Jean Luke Picard when I’d gone to see the “Next Generation’s” Patrick Stewart as Macbeth in the West End. The Gielgud Theater door was festooned with fans who were startled, as was I at Marina Sirtis’ post show appearance.

Here was Deanna the only symbol I had ever known of what I felt I was becoming, an Empath who used her power of awareness to be “truly helpful.” And she appears in the flesh just as I was embarking on my final “mind training” trip to Temecula for a Keneth Wapnick Academy 10 Class. And then I fly there in the same cabin as Spock, and the soon to be leader of Ireland!

I truly felt like a member of “Starfleet.”

Falling Slowly Best song Oscar 2008

The Once cast and I collected our lagging bags. There was a suited driver at the curb with a hat and a sign with their names. They laughed a little shy, and smiled back at me popping their eyes. “Good luck!” I nodded, beaming.

And off we went deeper into the Dream of Awakening.

Oscar winner Glen Hansard sang his heart out for 55 years, remaining humble and passionate and today in the early morning hours took a dramatic turn on his motorbike ahead of his new album tour.

He’s been singing to me all day—reminding me of some of the most poignant miracle moments of my life.

It’s been quite a nostalgic time. We lost Brenda from The Academy on July 16th and they’ve both left me with gratitude and a continued Call to shine, what is authentic, Eternal and True.

Your will be done, you holy child of God.
It does not matter if you think you are in earth or Heaven.
What your Father wills of you can never change.
The truth in you remains as radiant as a star,
as pure as light, as innocent as love itself.
And you are worthy that your will be done!
—A Course in Miracles (T-31.VI.7)

 

 

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