Monty Python Live (Mostly) - my memoir
When I was 10, I had a devastating crush on Mike Palin. Wore his picture in a locket around my neck.
When I was 11 I was the only one in my junior high school that knew what Public Television was - and had to explain it when I showed up for Halloween wearing a handkerchief, a Hitler-like mustache, and a Monty Python T-shirt. I was so very alone, but I’m sure Graham would have been very proud…
When I was 12 I sat first row at New York’s City Center (while my Mom was in a balcony seat) and watched the boys perform live. At intermission I left for Michael a silver ID bracelet that was engraved “I LOVE YOU” and a note. A month or so later, I received his postcard from Sheffield, England, signed, “Your friend, Michael Palin.” I still have it.
When I was 15 I wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper criticizing the Catholic Church for trying to ban people from seeing Life of Brian. It was published! We were Catholic, but my parents were pretty proud of me.
At 18, the walls of my bedroom were lined with pictures from the Holy Grail book and newspaper clippings of my heroes.
When I was 20 I wrote to Michael and sent him a gold star pin the week he was hosting Saturday Night Live. He wrote me back that he had worn my pin throughout rehearsals, so I should blame myself if it was a bad show. He also pitched Ripping Yarns, the bastard.
I had all the vinyl albums (still have the 3-sided one!), all the books. Both, passing mediums…
Life happened, and technology, but the groundwork for a life-saving and sobering sense of humor as an organic, analog being in a digital world had been well established.
I would not miss their farewell performance. I am so grateful for the simulcast! We had a better view of them than a seat at the O2. At first I was disappointed that only 60K were watching in North America, but then I realized that was equivalent to filling the O2 three times over. And I also realized this world-wide event was really a very private party. They could not have made a dime, but hell - this was their gift to us. They did it for us. They really wanted to help give us closure, I think. A real class act with a huge heart - and so very, very wise.
They sang to us and helped us sing along. I wanted Uncle Eric to serenade me with his guitar forever. Gilliam’s animations - drawn with his own markers and photographed one frame at a time… Seeing those works again on a very big screen was sobering. ”Done the old-fashioned way,” I said.
I proudly yelled, “Albatross!” during the intermission. There were 100 in the theatre with me - I was the only one who yelled it. Several times. Angrily! A la Cleese: ”Al-ba-TROSS!”
At the end, I heard grown men sobbing behind me. My tears had already started.
Today, the day after seeing Monty Python Live (Mostly) - I am really having a hard time pulling myself together. I am in tears at this moment. I feel like I am losing a best friend - not Mike Palin, that dear heart, but what all six created with their shared energy and brilliant talent: Monty Python and all it stands for as its own entity.
That there has never been a dissension, that they can still make room for one another with grace and do business together speaks volumes. I’m sure it happens, no one’s perfect and everyone has an ego to overcome, but for the sake of the entity Monty Python, they put it aside. And in another act of grace and mercy, they put it down. Peacefully, lovingly, unselfishly.
I am mourning and will continue to mourn. Today at work I had to tell myself that somewhere, someone is doing Michael Palin’s taxes. It made me feel better.
I have been given this great, great legacy and have been allowed to partake in history. What’s left is to remember the lessons and to live it! And look forward… to reunions in the sky and endless serenades - making God laugh and very, very proud.
When I was 11 I was the only one in my junior high school that knew what Public Television was - and had to explain it when I showed up for Halloween wearing a handkerchief, a Hitler-like mustache, and a Monty Python T-shirt. I was so very alone, but I’m sure Graham would have been very proud…
When I was 12 I sat first row at New York’s City Center (while my Mom was in a balcony seat) and watched the boys perform live. At intermission I left for Michael a silver ID bracelet that was engraved “I LOVE YOU” and a note. A month or so later, I received his postcard from Sheffield, England, signed, “Your friend, Michael Palin.” I still have it.
When I was 15 I wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper criticizing the Catholic Church for trying to ban people from seeing Life of Brian. It was published! We were Catholic, but my parents were pretty proud of me.
At 18, the walls of my bedroom were lined with pictures from the Holy Grail book and newspaper clippings of my heroes.
When I was 20 I wrote to Michael and sent him a gold star pin the week he was hosting Saturday Night Live. He wrote me back that he had worn my pin throughout rehearsals, so I should blame myself if it was a bad show. He also pitched Ripping Yarns, the bastard.
I had all the vinyl albums (still have the 3-sided one!), all the books. Both, passing mediums…
Life happened, and technology, but the groundwork for a life-saving and sobering sense of humor as an organic, analog being in a digital world had been well established.
I would not miss their farewell performance. I am so grateful for the simulcast! We had a better view of them than a seat at the O2. At first I was disappointed that only 60K were watching in North America, but then I realized that was equivalent to filling the O2 three times over. And I also realized this world-wide event was really a very private party. They could not have made a dime, but hell - this was their gift to us. They did it for us. They really wanted to help give us closure, I think. A real class act with a huge heart - and so very, very wise.
They sang to us and helped us sing along. I wanted Uncle Eric to serenade me with his guitar forever. Gilliam’s animations - drawn with his own markers and photographed one frame at a time… Seeing those works again on a very big screen was sobering. ”Done the old-fashioned way,” I said.
I proudly yelled, “Albatross!” during the intermission. There were 100 in the theatre with me - I was the only one who yelled it. Several times. Angrily! A la Cleese: ”Al-ba-TROSS!”
At the end, I heard grown men sobbing behind me. My tears had already started.
Today, the day after seeing Monty Python Live (Mostly) - I am really having a hard time pulling myself together. I am in tears at this moment. I feel like I am losing a best friend - not Mike Palin, that dear heart, but what all six created with their shared energy and brilliant talent: Monty Python and all it stands for as its own entity.
That there has never been a dissension, that they can still make room for one another with grace and do business together speaks volumes. I’m sure it happens, no one’s perfect and everyone has an ego to overcome, but for the sake of the entity Monty Python, they put it aside. And in another act of grace and mercy, they put it down. Peacefully, lovingly, unselfishly.
I am mourning and will continue to mourn. Today at work I had to tell myself that somewhere, someone is doing Michael Palin’s taxes. It made me feel better.
I have been given this great, great legacy and have been allowed to partake in history. What’s left is to remember the lessons and to live it! And look forward… to reunions in the sky and endless serenades - making God laugh and very, very proud.
It's funny how he doesn't remind me too much of my big boy. To this day, most people avoid choosing a black cat. The shelters have a hard time moving them out. I would love to have a black cat rescue and have my house full of them!
