It is good to be back on the Hill. Hello, dorms. Hello, stage. Hello, sand. Hello, canteen, dining hall, A-frame, village. Hello trees and gnats and creeks and sun. Rain, heat, cool breezes. Sore feet, sore back, sore core. Hello, old friends. Glad to meet you, new. It's good to be back on the Hill.
Today I walked down to one of my favorite places in Cherokee, the Cherokee Coffee Shop. A twenty minute walk down from the Hill, crossing by the backside of the theatre, down by the museum, along the Oconaluftee River with its children playing and its fishermen, the sun beating down on my back, shade relieving the heat, and then I'm there. Chai. Conversation with a new friend from the cast who's made her way to the shop as well.
Then I'm working on lines--I have those this time around, and I'm walking back along the same path, smiling at the river again, and up, up, up onto the Hill. I have a salad for dinner, sitting outside, enjoying the cool evening air. I grab an apple and head to the stage, where we block the powerful Trail of Tears sequence at the heart of Unto These Hills.
It is good to be back on the Hill. To be back among the Cherokee and folk who respect their culture. To be among artists and creators and friends. To be a part of the community.
Yesterday evening, I wandered into the boy's dorm--I've moved up into the new dorms this year (yay AC and clean bathroom and kitchen!)--and laughter drew me to someone's room. I joined the conversation, beginning to get to know a couple of the new guys, hoping I to be welcoming and that they will enjoy the Hill as much as I do. That they will enjoy to wonderful opportunities given to them by this setting. I think they will.
Even as I spend time meeting new folk, being back here feels like a homecoming. It is good to be back on the Hill. Four days in, and I can already tell this summer is going to be wonderful.
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