Portia Nelson
Portia Nelson was a true renaissance woman: author, singer, composer, lyricist, painter, photographer, and actress. She has appeared in such films as The Sound of Music, Dr. Doolittle, The Trouble with Angels, and The Other, and she appeared on the television soap opera, All My Children, as Mrs. Gurney for many years. She appeared in Broadway in the award-winning musical The Golden Apple.
Over the years, Portia has written the music and lyrics for many revues, television specials, and films. Most recently, her song "Make a Rainbow" was sung by Marilyn Horne at President Clinton's inaugural ceremony.
As a singer, Ms. Nelson has recorded five show albums for Columbia Records, three solo albums, and was included in the Smithsonian collections, Cole Porter Songs and The American Popular Singer.
There's a Hole in My Sidewalk has been made into a musical based on the book, and has played at the York Theatre in Manhattan. Portia directed, wrote the music and lyrics, and performed in the production.
Portia passed away in 2001.
“Chapter One of My Life. I walk down the street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It still takes forever to find a way out.Chapter Two. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I'm in the same place! But it isn't my fault. And it still takes a long time to get out.Chapter Three. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it there. I still fall in. It's a habit! My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.Chapter Four. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.Chapter Five. I walk down a different street.”
“I walk down the street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I fall in.I am lost... I am helpless.It isn't my fault.It takes forever to find a way out.I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I pretend I don't see it.I fall in again.I can't believe I am in the same place.But, it isn't my fault.It still takes me a long time to get out.I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I see it is there.I still fall in. It's a habit.My eyes are open.I know where I am.It is my fault. I get out immediately. walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I walk around it.I walk down another street.”
“Any day of the week I would choose to be "out" with others and in touch with myself... then to be "in" with others and out of touch with myself.”