I’m en route today from my mountain lair to another mountain lair – Salt Lake City, thence to Park City, Utah. The Pirate and I are heading to Sundance.
The thing I hate most about travel is that it never goes the way I think it will. I always think that I’ll be able to sit down on the plane and concentrate on getting some work done, but that never happens. I can’t concentrate with other people around me, and I always end up feeling self conscious, as though people are looking at me and thinking “Look at that woman, pretending to work.”
This is where introversion most bites me in the ass. Being an introvert means that I live inside my own head, and in my own head, I’m freaked out all the time about everything I ever do, say or think. Will I be able to make this left turn? Will my credit card be accepted? Will I be able to find a parking spot? Will I get into a grizzly accident? These are fair concerns, but I am always able to make the left turn, my credit card is always accepted, I always find parking, and I’ve never been in a grizzly accident. I have no basis for the worry, but worry I do.
So, I will get on the plane and worry that there will not be enough space to stow my stuff. Then I will worry that the person in front of me will put their seat back. It’s stupid worrying about that, because one should only worry if something is a possibility, not if that thing is a certainty. Then I’ll worry that, while I’m engaged in reading something that requires my close attention, my husband will hear or read something amusing that he’ll want to share with me. Then I’ll worry that the flight attendant will want to know what I want to drink, whether I want a mylar bag containing the battered remains of three tiny pretzels or whether I wish to give up my trash to her. Tomato juice, no, and please take it. Maybe I’ll make a sign and stick it in my ear where she’ll be able to read it.
It’s occurring to me that perhaps what I need to be a better traveler is gin. And that 9am in California is 5pm in London – a lovely time for gin.
I Love You But Fuck Off 
On this flight all I’m gonna hear is my bagpipe and you won’t want to hear that, ’cause I’m learning a new tune. I’ll totally get you gin, though.
This is me. I live in my own head but the rent is way too high. I go to sleep and wake up wondering, worrying, thinking. I wish I could make it stop sometimes.
All that out of the way.
You saw many of the films I did not get a chance to at Sundance. I have lived in Utah for 14 years and have mostly viewed the festival as only a local can. Over the last few years, I’ve thrown myself into it, watching films, enjoying the atmosphere. I can’t look back now because it has become one of my favorite times of the year. I enjoyed reading your reviews of films and your recent retrospective post.
Looking forward to reading more 🙂
Thanks for reaching out! I’m always nervous at Sundance because it seems like the festival is really disruptive for Park City residents, but there is so much amazing stuff to see! I’d love to hear more about your Sundance experiences.
I’d imagine that the savviest of PC residents has learned to navigate the waters of Sundance, so no worries!
I’m not from Park City myself but Sundance was never anything more to me than a festival that came to town every year. Sundance ’11 rolled around and for some reason I decided to volunteer. I was hooked from the moment I donned that volunteer jacket. I chose to stay closer to home and volunteer in Salt Lake City.
Have you been to a venue in SLC yet? If not, you must make your way over next time you’re in town for the festival. It’s a different experience, more local. It’s hard to explain the atmosphere. I never did make it out to Park City this year but I know there is a lot to offer in the way of the whole experience there.
I was able to watch: Crystal fairy, Sightseers, Hell Baby, This is Martin Bonner, The East, Gideon’s Army, S-VHS, Breathe In, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete
Martin Bonner was one of my favorites of the bunch. Simple with interesting character development, charming, no big time actors, honest, not too overdone. Kind of how Sundance used to be, I suppose. I must say I did like your review of The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete.
I wish I had immersed myself in the festival a long time ago, but I guess when you live somewhere, it’s harder to see the value in things you’re surrounded with all the time.
Do the films in SLC have the same opportunities to interact with the directors/producers/crew as the Park City venues offer? I do appreciate being able to hear from the directors themselves about their decisions and their process.
Maybe next time, we’ll have to try out SLC. I have no experience of the city apart from the airport, which is nice enough.
Sorry for the lateness of my reply!
Yes, many films that are shown in SLC actually have a good chance of at least the director showing up for Q&A. I think the amount of interaction is starting to slowly go up as the years pass. It’s a bit on the riskier side because you never quite know if filmmakers have traveled from PC to be there but when they do, it is beyond awesome.
I felt this local article summed up the situation in SLC pretty well in the first paragraph: http://tinyurl.com/ajrkmgp
It’s looking like I’m not going to get to Sundance next year (my husband has opted for going to bagpipe camp instead), but perhaps the next time we go, we might try some venues outside Park City!