Al Zylstra

It has been 19 years and it still feels like yesterday we said goodbye

So, I have decided to embark on a new project this year. I want everyone to know who means the world to me and to whom I will be eternally grateful to have in my life. So, each month, I am going to write a post about those who celebrate birthdays in that month.

Kathie

Kathie is the daughter of my sister, Anna. She is so much like her mother in so many ways. She is strong, resilient, passionate, gregarious, loving, stubborn and will kick your ass if you deserve it. I am truly blessed to be her uncle.

Debbi

Each and every day, I consider myself fortunate to have found the missing part of my soul that resides in Debbi. She is another one of those people that is strong, resilient, powerful, passionate, honest and so brave. She has been my partner in my career for more years than she hasn’t. I have learned more from her than anyone else in this whole wide world.

Sharon

Sharon is the one person in this world that started me on my journey to being the man I am today. She can still, to this day, take me back in time to when we were both so, so, so young and carefree.

Barb

Barb and I met just about 4 years ago and we have since that time, become family. She is my friend, Pat’s better half (in every sense of the word). She is smart, funny, warm, loving, giving and a true soul. Even though we have only known each other for a short time, I consider her one of my dearest friends and part of my “logical” family.

NOW STREAMING!

I started working on this project over a year ago and it is one that I am most proud of. I was approached by Peg Keenleyside a while back about becoming involved with Delta Stage Works – a cadre of amazingly talented people. I jumped at the opportunity and I am so glad I did.

They put together, what I think, is one of the most timely and entertaining productions about the Covid-19 pandemic.

This show is now available to rent on Vimeo

There is a promo code for a 10% streaming discount – STAGEWORKS10

So, you have been on this planet for 65 rotations and I am so glad that you chose the last 18 of them to be with me.

Today is my sister’s birthday. Miss her more than ever.

Well, here we are; almost the end of 2021. Where the heck did this year go? It seemed to have flown by and, thankfully, it was a year that was a lot less dramatic than 2020.

So, here is a brief recap of 2021 – a year so much better!

January – It was month three of working at home and renovations on the house continue

February – Give my husband a project or an idea for a project and away he runs. February is also a month for quiet reflection. My dad passed away on February 1, 2003. Then, my mom’s birthday on February 12. Finally, to cap off a crappy month, February 20, is the date my amazing sister passed away.

March started off quietly but quickly devolved into “days of our lives” in the aquarium and then it developed a plot twist

April came in quickly and with it came more ambivalence. The gardens that Alex has so tenderly cared for started erupting in new life EVERYWHERE.

May brought in a new purchase – one that I felt we had to have.

June – Not too much happened but, it was on June 8, 1949 that my parents were married. Alex’s green thumb grew to an entire green hand.

July of this year saw a heat dome the likes has never been seen in the Lower Mainland. During this horrific heat wave, over 800 British Columbians lost their lives including our dear sweet neighbour, Maggie. July also saw a brief hint that this pandemic was starting to show signs of weakening. Live Theatre was showing some signs of coming back.

On the work front, I discovered that I suddenly had over a month’s worth of holidays that I needed to take. Due to travel restrictions, it was obvious, we weren’t going anywhere. So, projects that we had been discussing took shape. The first project was our new pond. This project took a week.

August – project number two – our greenhouse. This took another week’s worth of vacation.

September brought in a return of one of my favourite gigs: Stage Managing the Dragon Boat Festival. But, before the festival took place, we were able to secure another week to go and visit Kitimat, BC. Home of our good friends: Chad and Jenn.

October – Home Renovations continue – as they are wont to do.

November – And yet another Stage Managing Project – Whoop! Whoop!

Which brings us to December – I have nothing to report because, as of this writing, December hasn’t happened yet. I suspect that December will be as hectic as the rest of the year. I do know that it will be busy with visiting people in our bubble. Christmas Eve dinner will be me, Alex and the boys. Christmas Day will be spent at friends. Boxing Day will be spent at home where we will have friends coming over for a social. New Year’s Eve will be spent at friends.

So, on behalf of Alex and myself, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2022.

18 years ago today, I married my soulmate. He is warm, kind, generous, compassionate, occasionally a bit grouchy. I am so glad that we are walking this path together.

Happy Anniversary, Babycakes. I love you more than words can ever say.

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THEN & NOW, Pandemic Life Stories – a devised-theatre project tracing the highs and the lows of lockdown life over the past 18 months.
Sat. Nov. 13 @ 7:30 pm and Sun. Nov. 14 @ 2:00 pmOrder tickets online at deltastageworks.ca
Ticket Prices have dropped!!!
Sat. Nov. 13 – click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/185127851387

Sun. Nov. 14 – click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/187386617417

ABOUT THE SHOW

THEN & NOW, Pandemic Life Stories – A Staged Reading at Genesis Theatre, in Ladner, BC. A devised-theatre project created over the course of a year by the Delta Stageworks artist collective; featuring a cast of both professional artists and community members. From community interviews, local news events and the exploration of our own lived experiences of living through the monumental changes of this last year and a half, comes a multimedia theatrical evening of stories that follow the ups and downs, the laughs and the lows of the lockdown life we’ve all been experiencing since March 2020. 

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLY ONLINE BY GENERAL ADMISSION

Directed by Cory Haas

Featuring: Cameron Bancroft, Renee Iaci, Eric Keenleyside, Peg Keenleyside, Marilyn Norry, Sandra Patterson and (on Zoom) Vera Mayor, Lorne Patterson, Nick Keenleyside and Sam Bob

Stage Management by Al Zylstra

Videography by Cliff Caprani

Produced by The Delta Stageworks Artist Collective

Introducing my newest gig:

THEN & NOW: Pandemic Life Stories

Over the past year Delta Stageworks has been developing a collaborative theatre project Then & Now, Pandemic Life Stories. Through interviews we’ve gathered with people in our community, from news events and the exploration our own lived experiences of what it’s been like to live through the monumental challenges of this last year, we’ve arrived at a multi-media theatrical evening of stories to share with you – Delta audiences – at the Genesis Theatre in Ladner. Come see a cast of 10 community and professional theatre-makers for a LIVE and LOCAL theatre experience that traces the ups and downs, the lows and the laughs of the lockdown life we’ve all been experiencing since March 2020. 

Tickets will be available on Eventbrite. Currently, only the Saturday performance is up but we will be offering a Sunday Matinee, too.

Show times are Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 14 at 1:30 pm at the Genesis Theatre in Delta ( 5005 45 Ave, Delta, BC V4K 1K4).

*Note* Due to Codie-19 restrictions and regulations, there will be no intermission.

Live Stage Reading will be $21 and $15 will be for streaming the show in Mid-November.

I am very proud of this project and hope that everyone who is in the area can come and check it out or stream the show.