Guest Post of Awesomeness

Michele has graciously offered to guest post for me while I'm away at Blissdom.

Please enjoy her lovely post and I'd love if you'd show her the love you often show me.

What I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up

 

I was an abandoned child.  My biological mother left me with relatives when I was four years old (whom I call “Mom and Dad”).  She left to make a new life in Las Vegas.  My half brother and half sister went to live with their father (we don’t know who my biological father is).

 

As a result, I had issues.  Hell, I still have issues. I was an introvert to the extreme.  Mom and Dad (my great-aunt and great-uncle) were much older than other kids my age.  They had no interest in amusement parks or play dates, so I stayed home.  I taught myself how to read before Kindergarten.  I had a lot of time on my hands.

 

One day, something magical happened.  I was watching TV and realized that those were real people playing pretend.  They could be anyone they wanted to be.  I told my Mom I wanted to act and be a performer.  To this day, I don’t know what prompted her to action.  I mean, doesn’t every little girl want to be an actress… or a ballerina… or a princess?  She made it happen somehow. 

 

I took tap, jazz, ballet, singing, acting, and piano classes.  And I was good at all of it.  There were headshots, agents, and auditions.  Lots of rejection, which oddly, I never minded.  I was in a professional dance/singing troupe.  I did plays, musicals, commercials, and print ads such as catalogs and brochures.  I have video evidence.  Thank God they’re all still on VHS.

 

The most surprising of all – and anyone who knows my mother can attest to this shock – my mom was not a “stage mom.”  She pushed me towards doing my best.  Learning my moves, learning my lines, and doing what I needed to do, but she wasn’t pushy.  Believe me, I witnessed pushy.

 

My contemporaries were Heather O’Rourke and Drew Barrymore.  They were my age.  When Heather died, it really hit hard.  You just don’t think about death at that age.  The highlight of my career might sound strange, but it was not getting a role.  I lost a role to Drew Barrymore.  If I’m going to lose a role, who better to lose it to than Drew-frickin’-Barrymore?  It.Was.Awesome.

The end of my career can be summed up in three words:  Fourteen.  Awkward.  Braces.

 

But.  For the ten years it lasted, it gave me the option to be someone else.  Someone who’s biological mother actually wanted them.

Comments

[Headless Mom]

Oh.My.Gosh. I had no idea about all of this, and I've followed Michele for almost 3 years! I'd bet you have dozens of other stories to tell.

Wow.

[Jenn]

I can't even imagine what that must feel like. Headed over to check out your blog now.

[NikkiMoon]

Wow, what a story you have there. My 13 year old Daughter loves to act. She has had a leading role in every school play she has tried out for from 1st grade - 8th grade. After much discussion she decided to drop cheerleading (oh thank heavens what a money pit) to go after her acting dreams doing community theater. She auditioned for her first real play and she made the call back list. After much waiting she was notified she was picked for one of the 3 girl spots.
The funniest thing about her role is she gets to play a totally self absorb teenager and she is the exact opposite. I have no idea where this will lead her but I will support her never push her. Thanks for sharing.

[Erika]

Wow. I saw your head shot first and thought, Glamour Shots!! LOL (I had those done, they were the height of awesomeness. I wore a gold sequined tube top and a blue satin sailor hat with elbow length gold lame gloves. Fabulous.) but the meat of your story was so much more than that... thank you for sharing.

[Domestic Extraordinaire]

wowza.

You have such a story.

((Hugs))