Tag Archives: theatre

Roles

“Actors do tend to get pigeonholed. People want to know who you are so they can put you in a box. It’s lovely to be known for such diametrically opposite roles.”
– Tom Hiddleston

I was just sitting here reflecting over last weekend at Oz (read that blog here if you missed it) and something dawned on me.

This has been a year of some awesome roles for me. (And quite diverse ones, at that!)

I’ve been an actor for a long time, and it just occurred to me that most of my very favorite roles and on-stage moments have happened in 2013. This has been quite a year!

Here are a few examples:

Started the year off as Elvis. Yep, you read that right. Elvis.

Ok, so I was a country hick trailer park chick dressed up as Elvis for the “Elvis and Jesus: A Tribute to the Kings” nativity scene. In July. In Florida. (Did ya get all that?) Oh yeah, you have to check this play out if you’ve never heard of it. Radio T.B.S. It’s a hoot. And, incidentally, this was the first time I’ve ever received an ovation mid-show. My Heartbreak Hotel was apparently awesome. Or….hilariously bad. Eh, either way, they clapped. Booyah.

Next?

“Mother” in the show Life With Father.

Pretty awesome role. Even got to do a TV interview for it. (Read that blog here if you’re interested.) Yep, very cool stuff.

Then, I got to play a flooz.

You just can’t beat that. (Gloria Rasputin in Bye, Bye, Birdie.) Even had to tap dance and do a split. Well. Sort of…

And then last weekend, as my regular readers know, I got to be both the Wicked Witch and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, at the Autumn at Oz festival in Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

Yep. As you can see, this has been a year that I have stepped “out of the box” somewhat. I have been blessed with these varied roles and have enjoyed every minute of becoming someone completely different each and every time I’ve donned a new costume. And, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I’ve actually enjoyed watching myself blossom as an actress as I’ve stepped into these roles. I wasn’t so sure I had it in me, but apparently I do. I’ve been kinda proud of myself. How about that?

Pretty cool stuff.

But you know what’s even cooler? Knowing that at the end of the day, after the costumes are neatly put away and silence drowns out the applause, I get to step into a few even better roles.

This one, for example:

“Of all the roles I’ve played, none has been as fulfilling as being a mother.”
– Annette Funicello

I get to be these awesome teenagers’ mom. How freakin’ cool is that? Just like all of the other roles I’ve been blessed with, this is another one that I wasn’t sure I would know how to play. And sometimes I still falter, sometimes I don’t always follow the script or get my lines right, but all-in-all I think I’ve managed to do a pretty darn good job. I sure have some awesome little co-stars, that’s for sure.

All it takes is to turn on the radio or the TV and within minutes you are hearing some new horror story about the awful things teenagers are into these days. Each time this happens, I say a silent little prayer and thank my lucky stars that I have the kids I have. Now, I’m not saying they’re perfect – far from it – but the problems that we have are just normal, everyday problems. Nothing drastic and severe like some poor parents have to go through. I hope my kids know how proud I am of who they are, and who they are becoming. And I hope the role I’ve played in their lives has had a little something to do with that. I like to think it does.

Another role I’m pretty blessed with?

Being the one this guy loves.

“If you age with somebody, you go through so many roles – you’re lovers, friends, enemies, colleagues, strangers; you’re brother and sister. That’s what intimacy is, if you’re with your soul mate.”
– Cate Blanchett

My gosh, I sure do love this dude. We have been through many phases in our relationship – and I think that’s why the above quote speaks to me so much. We’ve been all of those to each other at some point, and we just keep going strong.

When it comes to love, I’ve tried out quite a few roles. I tried being the submissive wife. I’ve tried being the girlfriend who gives up everything she really loves to try to keep the peace. I’ve tried sacrificing who I am to make someone else happy. None of these roles seemed to fit.

And now I know why.

“I’ve had disappointments and heartbreaks and setbacks and roles I didn’t get, but something always came along that either made me better or was an even better role.”
– Lee Majors

Finally, I get to play the best role I’ve ever played.

Myself.

It has taken me a long, long time to finally get to enjoy this role. Took some trial and error, I admit. But finally, finally, I think I’ve figured out this role pretty well. And it sure is nice to be allowed to play it.

I think I’m right where I belong.

This is the role I’ve been waiting for.

Are you playing the role you’re meant to play? Make sure you are. Life is just too short for anything else. Trust me.

***

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, blog, blogging, change, dating, family, friendship, heart, heartbreak, inspiration, inspirational, love, mother, motivation, motivational, parenting, passion, performance, plays, problems, Quotes, relationships, roles, theatre, writing. 3 Comments

Oct. ’13

No Place Like Home

I’m baaaack!

Ok, so actually I’ve been back for four days already. And each and every one of those days, I have started to sit down and write about my weekend in Oz, only to find myself at a loss. There’s so much I want to say, yet no words have managed to break the surface that would be adequate enough to accurately do this experience justice.

If you’re just joining me, I wrote last week about an awesome gig that I stumbled upon – I was asked to play both the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, at the Autumn at Oz festival in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. (Read that blog here if you missed it!)

While I enjoyed every minute of my one day as the wicked witch…

(Photo credit: Angela D. Bowles)

… nothing compared to the thrill I got from playing the role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, for the rest of the festival.

(Photo credit: Jeremy Halsey)

I had no idea how much I would fall in love with that role. And this was not your run-of-the-mill stage acting. This was interaction. Talking to the kids. Getting down on their level. Stepping into their imaginations and letting yourself get transported back to that time when you yourself believed in that land “behind the moon, beyond the rain…”

(Photo credits – Left: Jeremy Halsey, Top Right: Vanessa Schilling, Bottom Right: Megan Wrappe)

I have never felt myself come alive more than I did when I waddled down that yellow brick road in that massive pile of tulle. I’ve asked myself what it was about it that got to me so much. Was it being a ‘princess for a day’? Was it getting to feel pretty? Was it regaining that feeling of innocence for a short while? Was it just the overall feeling of being transported into a world where anything is possible, fairy tales really exist, and good always trumps evil in the end?

Yep. Probably all of that.

But mostly – it was the kids. Oh my gosh, those kids!

I saw some of the cutest sights I’ve ever seen in my life this past weekend. So many adorable little kids came dressed as their favorite Oz characters. We saw everything from little tinmen, scarecrows and cowardly lions to wicked witch wannabes and little Dorothys to…my favorite…little mini-Glindas. (And not to mention quite a few adults dressed as their favorite Oz characters as well – there is definitely no age limit to the love of all things Oz.) I so wish Glinda could have whipped out her camera and snapped pictures of all of this, but something tells me it wouldn’t have seemed very natural to have a cell phone stashed in her pretty pink bubble. (I was already called out once for my non-authenticity when a sweet, precious little girl came up to me and asked, “Glinda, is your wand real? Does it really do magic?” To which I responded, “Of course!” Same sweet, precious child then threw that little hand on that little hip and with a voice about 10 decibels lower than before, stated, “Show me.” Yikes. What’s a good witch to do, ya know??) So, yeah, Glinda with a cell phone? That was a no go.

Thanks to Facebook, though, and one of my co-Glindas (there were more than one of us working the weekend shifts), I was able to snag a cute one of the Lollipop Gang kids that showed up…

(Photo credit: Terrilynn Bell Collins)

Is that not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? We should have hired them on the spot!

Unfortunately, these little cuties showed up on the one day (Saturday) that I was dressed as the wicked witch, and therefore, I didn’t get to have much interaction with them. Although I think I did a pretty good job of being ‘evil,’ it definitely didn’t last for very long periods of time. As soon as one of the kids expressed any fear whatsoever, I immediately broke character and explained that “it was all pretend and I wasn’t going to hurt them…” (To which one adorable little boy responded, bottom lip poofed out and all, “Y-y-y-you’re not gonna hurt me? Pwomise?”) *sigh*

So, contrary to what the men in my past will tell you, being an evil witch did not, in fact, come natural to me. Who knew!?

Heck, even Toto wasn’t scared of me….

(Photo credit: Wendi Wagers)

The weekend ended with three performances for school groups on Monday morning. With these groups, rather than just walking through the park in character, one full cast performed a shortened version of the movie for the guests. A wonderful review of our performance can be found by clicking on this link. Katie Hodges did an excellent job of describing the process and was very complimentary to our acting abilities as well. You’ll see some great photos of the show as well in her review. I know each and every one of us were thrilled to read this and very humbled at her kind words.

All in all, I’ll have to say this was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Like Dorothy, I made some wonderful friends along my trip down the yellow brick road, and it is a time in my life that I won’t soon forget. Hopefully, we’ll all keep in touch and maybe even be able to do this again next year. If you missed it this year, and want to come see what all the fuss was about, keep your eye on the website for Autumn in Oz. Tickets sold out fast this year, so bookmark this site and start checking back in August 2014 to get your tickets for next time!

It’ll put a smile on your face, just like it did mine…

(Photo credit: Becky Miller Zaragoza)

So blessed to have been a member of such a fantastic cast.

(Above photos by Megan Wrappe)

(Above photos by Jeremy Halsey)

(Above photos by Becky Miller Zaragoza)

(Photo by yours truly)

Whew. Tired of pictures yet? If you’ll notice, that Glinda sure is a diva. She was even taking selfies in the bathroom…

(Photo by: Oh heck, you know….)

Shameful.

Well. Now it’s time to go.

While it definitely was fun pretending for a while, and even helped me discover a side to me that I may not have even known had ever existed (especially that selfie diva side…sheeesh), it still always comes back to the same ol’ lesson that Dorothy learned.

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

No matter how much fun it is to temporarily escape once in a while, and even though you may meet some wonderful friends along the way, you always end up finding your way back to where you belong. With memories tucked away, pictures to remember it all by, and … finally … a blog written about my experience, I am back home. Back where I belong.

There truly is no place like home.

***

“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, autumn at oz, beech mountain, experience, family, friends, glinda, good witch, home, land of oz, north carolina, theatre, wicked witch, wizard of oz, yellow brick road. 8 Comments

Oct. ’13

Off to See the Wizard

“Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?”
– Glinda, the Good Witch of the North

Well. I guess my answer is, “both.”

A few weeks ago, I was asked to play Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, for the Autumn at Oz festival in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, coming up this weekend, October 5-6. And then, a few days later, I was asked if I could also double as the Wicked Witch for a few shifts.

Um. Ok?

At first, I had no clue what any of this meant. I mean, yeah, I had heard about this festival way up on top of the mountain near where I work. But I really had no idea what all the hoopla was about. Now, I was pretty sure that I could pull off the split personality required to be able to switch between good and evil (heck, I do that all the time in my daily life…easy peasy…), but what did all of this really mean? This isn’t your typical ‘play’ that I’m used to performing in. No weeks and weeks of rehearsals, no constant run-throughs, not even a stage. What was this festival all about? I didn’t have a clue.

Well, now I do.

In my two-week crash course in learning about the festival, I have come to find out that this is actually kind of a big deal. Back in the festival’s heyday (early 1970s), this thing was evidently a sight to behold. The land of Oz has been recreated high atop a mountain in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, complete with a yellow brick road, Dorothy’s house (pre- and post-tornado), the Emerald City, and everything in between. There were even ‘balloon rides’ like Dorothy takes at the end of the movie (which, for this ski-resort area was a modified ski lift). Unfortunately, the combination of the owner’s death just prior to the park’s grand opening, and a mysterious fire only five years later, worked together to shut the park down in 1980. (Click here to read an article that I’m not too crazy about, but that does give some back story.) In 1993, the park re-opened, on a much smaller scale, and is now open to the public only one weekend a year with the name, “Autumn at Oz.”

And boy, is it popular!

This year, 6,000 tickets have been sold. SIX THOUSAND TICKETS! And they are completely sold out. Apparently this is something you want to get tickets for well in advance. (Click here to ‘like’ Autumn at Oz on Facebook and stay up-to-date with the information for next year if you’re interested in taking your own little stroll down the yellow brick road!)

As for my part in it – well, this is how it works.

On Friday, I get to leave work early (woot! woot!) and travel up to Beech Mountain. A few of us will have a photo shoot for promotional purposes (upcoming brochures and whatnot). For this, I’m Glinda. (Yay! Somebody has to make me all purty and whatnot.) Then, we all get settled into our condo for the weekend. Saturday and Sunday, I will be the wicked witch working in 2 hours on/1 hour off shifts. There are three of us (shhhh….don’t tell the kiddos that….) that alternate shifts as the wicked witch. There are two places along the yellow brick road where the witch is situated – her ‘lair’ and the poppy field – so two of us are working at all times, with one getting an hour break.

Now, this is the part that scares me.

As an actress, improv has never really been my ‘thing’. Give me a script, and I can be whoever you want me to be. But tell me to do stuff on my own, and I freeze. Well, guess what Saturday and Sunday is? Improv. Lots and lots and lots of it. For two hours at a time, I have to “be” the wicked witch. No script, no lines, no blocking. Just be the witch. Now, everyone who knows me well will probably say that shouldn’t be a problem for me. I mean, come on. Helllo? It’s Melissa. Mean Ol’ Witch? Duhhhh. Perfect casting. But nonetheless, here I am. Terrified. What if I mess up? What if I’m not scary enough? What if I’m too scary? What if a kid kicks me? (Hey – it has happened in the past, so I hear.)

Well, I guess I just have to put my big-girl witchy britches on and just wait and see.

So, as of Sunday night, the public festival is over. But not for us. A full cast of characters (just one each this time) will remain behind and do two performances on Monday for a few school groups that will be coming through in two waves.

Now we’re talking.

This is when I’m Glinda. And this is when I have a script. Woohoo! A script! The kids will come through the park, stopping at the places along the yellow brick road that Dorothy stops at in the movie and the scenes will be reenacted for them. How cool is that!? After a few groups come through and our two performances are complete, there will be one more on-site photo shoot, and then it’s time to click our heels and head home.

Holy crap, I’m excited! 🙂

Check back here for a complete update when I get back. Can’t wait to post pics of myself in all this garb (oh yeah, selfies shall abound…) and experience something like I’ve never experienced before. New friends, new experiences, new memories….this is the stuff life is made of.

It’s time to head to Oz!

***

“What a world, what a world!”
– Wicked Witch of the West

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, autumn at oz, beech mountain, blog, festival, glinda, good witch, land of oz, passion, performing, Quotes, theatre, wicked witch, wizard of oz, writing. 3 Comments

Aug. ’13

34

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”
– Voltaire

Today, August 1, 2013, is the last day that I will ever be 34 years old.

As you get older, birthdays don’t seem to hold the same significance that they did when you were younger. Have you noticed that? You don’t really “look forward” to them anymore. In fact, at some point, they become something that you even somewhat dread. (Another year older!? Really??) But I have decided that, starting this year, I’m going to put a stop to that nonsense.

As I prepare to turn the page to 35, I’m going to take a moment to look back over the year I was 34. The good, the bad – everything notable that took place during my time on this earth as a 34-year-old. Each year holds special moments that are gone in the blink of an eye – moments that we will never get back and can only be relived through memories. They should be cherished and appreciated and yes, even celebrated – the bad, along with the good. But most important of all, they should be noticed. For these are the moments that make us who we are – the moments that shape and mold us into the awesome, unique individuals that comprise humanity, and that give each of us our own story to tell.

So, here’s mine.

Please join me as I look back over the 34 most notable events of my 34th year (in no particular order):

1. I started a blog. I had toyed with the idea for years, but I finally got up the courage to do it this year. And it has been AMAZING! If you’re reading this, you’re one of the reasons why. I’m blown away by how many people read this thing and by all the responses I have gotten from it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

2. I got my first writing award (and check!). I got up the nerve to enter a local writing contest and was shocked to get a letter in the mail saying that I had won first place in the essay category. Woohoo!

3. I got my first rejection letter. Yep. A real-life “your stuff isn’t what we’re looking for” letter. And you know what? I actually thought it was kind of cool. Really. You’re not a real writer until you get a rejection. Initiation complete.

4. I saw Niagara Falls. And it was AWESOME!

5. I saw my first marathon. A group of us traveled to New York for the Wineglass Marathon. Many in the group were running the marathon, some running the half marathon, and some, like myself, were just there to watch. There was NOTHING like it. One of my favorite running-related quotes of all time: “If you lose faith in humanity, go watch a marathon.” – Kathrine Switzer. There is so much truth to that. The feeling of camaraderie and “oneness” between the runners and spectators alike was something that I don’t even know how to put into words. This was definitely one of the highlights of my 34th year, hands down.

6. I ran a 5K in New York, and got my personal best time of 30:55. The day before the marathon, there was a 5k as part of the festivities surrounding the event. I decided to run it in, and ended up getting my best personal 5K time. My boyfriend captured this picture at the very moment that I looked up and saw the time clock at the finish line. I just love it. The picture says it all. It was nice to feel so proud of myself.

7. My son joined the cross country team at school. This was such great news to me. I was so proud of him, and felt like my running had made an influence on that decision. Since joining the team, he has gone on to race in a few races with me, and place in many of them (including a 3rd place overall finish for one of them!). I’m such a proud mom.

8. I ran my first 10k. Shortly after returning from the New York trip, I knew that I couldn’t stop at 5Ks. It was time to start training for longer distances. My first 10K was a trail run, and I ran it with my son. I wasn’t fast, but I was very proud. And it was the first time that the thought entered my mind that I might even be able to go further than that. Which brings me to #9..

9. I ran my first half-marathon. Wow. All of my hard work paid off and I crossed that finish line with possibly more pride in myself than I had ever felt before. Not too shabby for a 34-year-old, if I don’t say so myself.

(Here’s the blog entry about the half marathon if you’d like to read more: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/i-did-it/)

10. I watched my boyfriend Richard be inducted as the Master of the Ashe Masonic Lodge #594. This was actually very, very cool. I had never seen anything like this ceremony (I’m a chick – we’re not allowed, ya know), and I admit that I went into it thinking that the rituals and secrecy were somewhat silly. But I came away with a deeper understanding of how much this fellowship means to those men, and what good, kind, noble men each and every one of them are. I was so incredibly proud to be Richard’s girlfriend that day. I won’t forget it anytime soon.

11. I started attending a new church. My boyfriend and I, along with our kids, have started attending Bethany United Methodist Church. It has been nice to feel like a part of a church family again. I needed that.

12. I moved. I finally took the plunge and moved out of a place that I was unhappy at. It has made all the difference in the world. It’s such a great feeling to actually look forward to going home for a change. Definitely a noteworthy event from my 34th year.

13. We lost our pet, Chicago. Little Chicago was something else. While just a kitten, my daughter found him in an old trash can outside our home. He had been hurt badly (we still don’t know by what – or whom), and could not move his hind legs. Kelly carried him around like a baby for weeks, feeding him milk from a tiny measuring spoon and giving him little kitty pain pills that an animal-loving friend of ours had provided. I just knew the little guy wasn’t going to make it, but alas – he surprised us all. He was with us for four years. I pretended like I didn’t like the little guy (he had THE MOST annoying meow in the world), but I feel his loss more than I ever thought I would have. We miss you, annoying little Chicago. You were loved.

14. I saw my grandma turn 83. Such a spry, spunky little Grandma she is too.

15. I lost another grandparent. My grandpa, Paul Pridemore (who we all referred to as “Mr. P.”) passed away during my 34th year. Mr. P. lived a long, happy, healthy 96 years on this earth and will be missed by everyone who knew him. I’ll bet he wasn’t the type to dread another birthday. He served as a good example to live life to the fullest while we’re here. I hope I’ll live to make him proud.

16. I ran the path that my other grandpa, Greene Halsey, had walked to school. This is something that I had wanted to do for a long time, and finally did it during my 34th year. I’ll post the link to the blog if you’d like to read more about it. I was very proud to have finally done this. https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/uphill-both-ways/

17. I sang in public for the first time (sort of). Ok, so technically, I had done this before in musicals. And at karaoke. But getting up and singing with my boyfriend at one of his gigs was SO nerve-wracking. I couldn’t believe I had the courage to get up there. It was hard – and I was shaking like a leaf – but I did it. And have done it a few more times since. Definitely a noteworthy moment from age 34.

18. I lost Richard. Definitely not one of the happiest moments of age 34, but noteworthy nonetheless. Richard and I split up for 2 months. We both tried to move on, but we found our way back (thank God). I think we both grew up more during those 2 months than we had in a long time. Sometimes you just have to travel alone for a while (whether you want to or not) to find out what’s really important. And I definitely found out what was important. Him. I’m so glad he’s back.

19. I witnessed two little miracles. I saw the tiniest babies I had ever seen in my life – and they belonged to my sister. Her twins were born 10 weeks too early. Not many things have affected my life like seeing those tiny little healthy human beings. I’m so amazed at the technology that we have now that allowed for these two to survive.

Here they were then:

And here they are now:

(Again, if you’d like to check out the blog post about these little angels, here’s the link: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/week-old-miracles/)

If the 33-year-old Melissa didn’t believe in miracles, this 34-year-old Melissa sure as heck does.

20. I was the subject of a blog. My boyfriend and I were interviewed for a very public blog that was read by tons of people. How cool is that?! Definitely the first time that has ever happened. I was famous for a day!

Links: (Here’s the link to the actual blog: http://www.8womendream.com/55851/improve-womens-self-esteem / And here’s the link to my own blog post about the blog: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/self-image-part-2/)

21. I was on TV. Yep. My first TV appearance. I was interviewed for an art segment of a local channel regarding the role I was playing in an upcoming production. Awesomeness. Another first occurring in year 34. (blog link: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/fear/)

22. I starred in my first lead female role with Ashe County Little Theatre. I was so proud to have been cast as Mother in the show Life With Father. It took me a long time to become a part of this theatre, and this was such a monumental moment for me. I will remember it always. (Plus, my boyfriend’s son Riley got to play as one of my sons. Added bonus.)

23. My daughter starred in her first lead role ever. I have been involved in theatre for pretty much my whole life, but I never knew the meaning of “nervous” until I felt what I felt just before the curtain rose on opening night of Annie. Watching my baby girl stepping on to the stage in the title role was beyond anything I’ve ever felt before. I was so incredibly proud of her. Not only for her ability, but for her poise and humility throughout the production. This kid is going to go places. Mark my word.

(Related blog post: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/tomorrow/)

24. Lost a friend. Although I don’t count this as one of the highlights of my 34th year, I had a falling out with a very close friend. Looking back, I’m not so sure the problem was worth ending a friendship over (is it ever?), but it happened nonetheless. And it should be noted in this list. Perhaps I can come back with an update in year 35 that this has been mended? Perhaps. Either way. Friendship lost – duly noted on the list – moving along…

25. Mended a friendship. While we’re on the topic, I might as well mention that I regained a friend in my 34th year. This is a story that I hope to tell in a future blog, but for now, I’ll just say that it’s nice to have found my old friend again. And to know all is well. Everything always works out ok in the end, right? Chris, I’m glad you’re back.

26. Ran my first obstacle race. The Warrior Dash. *sigh* I don’t even have the energy to talk about this one anymore. If you want to read about it, I’ll post the link. You probably don’t though. It was NOT the best experience. But good or bad, it made the “34” list, so I guess it was notable.

(Blog link: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/warrior-dash-or-as-i-like-to-call-it-hell/)

27. Richard and I introduced each other to the fam. That’s a big deal. We were each thrown into the big, loud, happy mix at each other’s family get-togethers over the holidays, and then in a few events (some sad, some happy) since then. Nothing makes you feel like a “real” couple more than getting included in the family (dis)functions. 😉

28. We took our first ‘family’ trip to the beach. Richard’s family has this super cool tradition that spans the years (starting even before he was born) of all getting together to go to Myrtle Beach once a year. It’s a glorified family reunion, if you will. And this year, my kids and I were included. And that’s awesome. It meant so much to me to be included in something so special, and is definitely noteworthy in my 34 list.

29. Made it through a cancer scare. I was a basket case during the fall of my 34th year. We found a lump on my son’s neck that wouldn’t go away. 17 years ago, the same thing had happened to me when I was just a few years older than he was. And I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After excruciating weeks of waiting and worrying, a surgery was finally scheduled to remove the lump from his neck and have it tested. And – thank God – it was benign. There is no worry like that of a mother for her child. I gained a new appreciation and understanding for my own mother through this ordeal, and I hope to never have to go through anything like it again.

30. Got a standing ovation – mid-show. Now, THAT was cool. Of course, I was playing Elvis (sort of). And I sang Heartbreak Hotel. And I looked like this:

But still. Standing ovations mid-show just don’t happen. That was definitely one for the 34 list. Hands down.

31. Went to an AWESOME wedding. Now, you know if a wedding made the list, it must have kicked butt. Well…it did. That was the most fun I have had in a while. It was theatre-themed and full of people I love – how could you go wrong? I even blogged about it. (https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/completion/)

Thanks Jim & Rebecca for giving us these memories to cherish.

32. Visited the house Richard lived in when he was born. We took a little detour on the way back while we were in New York for the marathon, and swung by to take a look at the house that Richard lived in for the first six months of his life. It was the first time he had seen it since. That was a pretty cool moment. Very sentimental. I was proud to be able to tag along for that moment. That was a good “age 34” memory.

33. 4-mile Abingdon race with my son. Now, why did this make my list? Sure, I’ve run plenty of races by now – and quite a few of them with my son. But there was just something about this one. Most notably, when my son finished the race (well ahead of me, of course), he turned around and came back on the track to find me, and finished with me. It would be pretty difficult to leave that moment off of the top 34 list. Have I mentioned that I’m a proud momma?? (Blog post: https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/favorite-race-so-far/)

And finally. We’ve reached #34. I saved what I felt was the most notable event for last. (And incidentally, if you’ve made it this far – I’m impressed.)

34. I was in a car accident. In April of my 34th year, I was in a pretty bad car accident. I totaled my car but, miraculously, walked away with only a few scratches. You don’t come away from something like that without some sort of “indention” on your life. It leaves a mark. The only thing that remained intact from my accident, besides myself, was my drivers side mirror. I found the mirror at the accident site days later, and took it home as a reminder. True to my word (as I mentioned in a blog post shortly after – https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/reflection/), I keep this mirror beside my bed on my nightstand. I feel like it serves a reminder that I’m still here. I’m still here. Life didn’t stop at 34. And there’s probably a reason for that.

And I fully intend to spend the rest of my time here on earth figuring out exactly what that is.

So, thank you. Thank you, reader, for taking this trip down memory lane with me. You know – you would think that it would be hard to come up with 34 things over a year that were notable, wouldn’t you? But I actually found myself having to weed some out. Isn’t that crazy? It’s amazing how much you realize actually happens in your world when you sit down and take the time to pull each event out and shine a light of remembrance on it. We should do this more often, shouldn’t we?

Goodbye, 34. You were awesome.

Hello, 35. You ready? We’ve got a lot of work to do. Let’s get started.

***

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
– Oprah Winfrey

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: 34, 35, age, birthday, blog, blogging, daughter, family, friendship, half marathon, heart, heartbreak, inspirational, memories, motivational, photos, Quotes, relationships, theatre, writing. 4 Comments

Jul. ’13

Facebook

It has been on my mind for a while to do a blog about Facebook. I attempted to deactivate my account recently due to…well, I don’t know what really. I guess I just got sick of it. A lot of my problems lately have seemed to somehow stem from something Facebook related, so I was ready to be done with the whole thing. But my attempt was short-lived. I came crawling back. Like we all do. Don’t lie, you know you’ve done it too. This whole process got me thinking that I should blog about Facebook. You know – the good, the bad, the ugly, the whole nine yards.

Now, let me explain how this whole “blog” process works for me. First: something happens in my life, or I see something significant that strikes a chord, or an interesting thought pops into my mind…whatever the case may be…and I decide that I’m going to write a blog about it. Once the decision is made, the next step is to look for quotes. If you’re a regular reader, I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are very few (if any?) of my blogs that don’t end with a quote. Some also start with one, and most have them interspersed throughout the blog as well. I absolutely adore quotes. I am a lover of conversation and, to me, quotes are just noteworthy snippets of conversation between other humans who were going through something similar to what I was going through. Quotes make us feel connected to each other.

And I think that’s pretty cool.

So, back to Facebook. Once I decided to do a blog about this topic, I went about my usual method. I started searching for quotes. And here is what I’ve decided. Rather than droning on and on about the pros and cons of Facebook, like I had originally intended to do, I’m just going to let the quotes speak for themselves. People have already said it better than I have, so I’ll let them do the talking this time. Ready?

Here we go.

First, one that I think pretty much sums up the whole topic in a nutshell:

“I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time.”
– Betty White

Right on, little Betty.

Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s throw in another cute one from Betty just for our comedic pleasure:

“People have told me ‘Betty, Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with old friends…’ At my age, if I wanted to keep in touch with old friends, I’d need a Ouija board.”
– Betty White

Hehe. Oh, Betty, girl you cray cray.

Ok, moving along.

On a more somber note, here’s a notable one that really struck a chord with me:

“I feel like I’m part of a generation of people who are stuck in the past and are really self-absorbed. I mean, we’re actually taking pictures of ourselves and posting them on Facebook, and keeping in touch with people that should have been out of our lives 15 years ago.”
– Diablo Cody

That one touched right on the whole reason I wanted to write this blog in the first place. My recent disdain with Facebook began when I started having troubles with someone from my past giving me a hard time on Facebook. It took me much too long to realize that just because someone was a part of your past, that was no reason to carry them into your future solely due to their presence on some silly social network. *BLOCK*

Ok, I promised I wouldn’t talk much in this blog, so back to the quotes.

While we’re on the topic of not letting go of the past, here’s an interesting one:

“America’s Facebook generation shows a submission to standardization that I haven’t seen before. The American adventure has always been about people forgetting their former selves – Samuel Clemens became Mark Twain, Jack Kerouac went on the road. If they had a Facebook page, they wouldn’t have been able to forget their former selves.”
– Jaron Lanier

Wow. Again, I’ll try not to comment. Just let that sink in for a minute.

(And if you had to look up Jack Kerouac, don’t feel bad. I did too. Unless I’m the only one who didn’t know who that was. And if that’s the case, then I’m just kidding.)

Moving on…

What do you think about this one?

“I would argue heavily that the time that has been allocated to social networking used to come from television, and people are benefitting from it. People who are saying, ‘Aw, you’re spending all your time on Facebook…,’ well, I’d like to understand what that person used to do with that time.”
– Gary Vaynerchuk

I think this Gary dude might be on to something. I know I rarely watch TV anymore. Good thing? Bad thing? Eh, who knows. It’s not my turn to talk anyway, so I won’t hypothesize. I promised to shut up.

Moving along.

Ahhh, here we go:

I couldn’t find an actual person to attribute this quote to (and I HATE that), but it was too good not to post. Made me giggle. (Because, hey – I’m the QUEEN of posting pics on Facebook. Just ask some of my haters, they’ll tell you.)

Now, how about this one for you voyeurs out there (you know who you are):

“I am a Facebook voyeur. I feel bad about it because I never put anything on there, but I find it fun to sit there and watch peoples’ lives go by. Or whatever lives they’re presenting.”
– Eddie Kaye Thomas

Hmmm. That last part is a zinger, wouldn’t you say?

On that same note:

Yup.

And again:

“There is something decidedly faux about the camaraderie of Facebook.”
– Bill Keller

Hmmmm. Would you agree?

Let’s dig a little deeper. This one combines Facebook with one of my passions…acting:

“When playing a role, I would feel more comfortable, as you’re given a prescribed way of behaving. So, both Facebook and theatre provide contrived settings that provide the illusion of social interaction.”
– Jesse Eisenberg

Ouch. Ok, anyone else feel their toes being stepped on, or is that just me?

Yes. Here’s to hoping for that.

Or, how about this one in the “food for thought” category:

“With Facebook, you’re not really allowed to be unhappy. Think about it: There’s only a ‘like’ button. Yes, you can be angry, but it’s only lighthearted rage. On Reddit, perhaps because you can be anonymous, people are willing to be openly sad or angry. They are more honest.”
– Yishan Wong

(Let me break my “I promise I’ll shut up” rule here for a second with a loud, “DING DING DING.” Ok, I’m quiet again…)

Now, let’s explore the word “friend” on Facebook, shall we?

“I don’t need to go onto Facebook and pretend to have friends I’ve never even met. To my mind, that kind of destroys the meaning of the word ‘friend.’ I take exception to that. Because I value and respect friendship.”
– Stefanie Powers

Hmmm. What do you say to that? Do you consider all of your Facebook friends as “real” friends? Interesting. But I’m shutting up, remember?

[Wait, one more thing before I shut up. I think it’s interesting that there is a “close friends” list option. I think this should be renamed “people that are actually important in your everyday life.” At least that’s what mine should be named. How about yours?]

Ok, I am fully aware that these quotes and tidbits are all teetering on the ‘negative’ side. I’ll throw a few positive ones in for good measure, don’t worry.

But not yet.

Hehe. Ok, sorry.

Ok, positive. Positive. Hmmmm. Let’s see. Oh, ok, let’s see what Mr. Zuckerberg himself has to say about it:

” The thing that we are trying to do at Facebook is just help people connect and communicate more efficiently.”
– Mark Zuckerberg

Ok, Mark. I hear ya. Hey, Facebook is what gets my blog out there, right? I think you may be right. Or how about this one:

“No one has done a study on this, as far as I can tell, but I think Facebook might be the first place where a large number of people have come out. We didn’t create that – society was generally ready for that. I think this is just part of the general trend that we talked about, about society being more open. And I think that’s good.”
– Mark Zuckerberg

What do you think? Ok, I know I promised to shut up, but one quick thing here. You may not agree with me on the gay rights issue, and hey – that’s your conscience you have to live with, my friend – but I can tell you that more than one of my homosexual friends over the years has contacted me privately and thanked me for loving them and publicly supporting them with my Facebook posts and for not treating them like they were any different than I am. Think what you want about that, but as far as I’m concerned – if I’ve made even one person feel less alone with a Facebook post, then it’s all been worth it. I’m proud of that.

*Sigh*

Ok, I don’t know where else I can go with this blog after that. Yes, I tried to “run away” for a few days, but I came back. I guess it was a little something like this:

I don’t know that I was exactly ‘looking for attention’ (honestly, I was trying to hide from it), but I do get the ‘running away from home’ reference. Do I consider Facebook to be “home?” Well, I hope not. Not to that extent anyway. But you know what I do consider it?

Life.

Facebook is life. It’s a mixture of things that make you smile, make you sad, make you laugh, make you cry, and sometimes things that make you so angry that you try to run away for a while. But that’s just it. You can’t escape life. You can try not to look at it for a while, you can even try to pretend it’s not there and it’s not still going on if you’re not around to see it, but you know what? It is. Like Dolly Parton says,

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with a little rain.”

You gotta take the bad with the good, people. It’s all there for the taking. And whether you jump in there and show off, or whether you choose to just sit back and watch – either way, it’s life. It’s there and it’s not going anywhere.

And you’re a part of it.

Kinda cool in a way. Don’t you think?

Thanks for reading. I know I didn’t say much in this one – just sat here quiet as a little churchmouse (*giggle*), but I appreciate you coming along for the ride anyway.

(And hey – I’m willing to bet you clicked on a link on Facebook to get here, didn’t you?)

😉

***

“If you don’t take the chance to live life, what can you say at the end of it?”
– Naveen Andrews

***

[Footnote: Before I close out, I wanted to mention something I thought was interesting about this blog. I went back to edit before posting, as I always do, and I noticed that I alternated between capitalizing “Facebook” and not capitalizing “facebook.” I’m still not sure what the “correct” thing is to do, but I thought it was a little poetic that I didn’t know whether to attribute the importance of a capital letter to the name. Kinda what this whole blog is about, wouldn’t you say? Interestingly enough, I chose to capitalize. Deduce what you will….]

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, blog, expression, facebook, friendship, inspiration, inspirational, livinglife, motivation, motivational, passion, performance, photos, Quotes, sharing, theatre, views, writing, writing process. 3 Comments

Jun. ’13

Tomorrow

Well, it’s here!

Tomorrow night is finally opening night for ANNIE! And I couldn’t let this day go by without a blog shout-out to my daughter, Kelly. Tomorrow night, she will walk out onto a stage in front of a room full of people and say her first spoken line in a show ever.

Her first spoken line. And she’s Annie!

I am blown away by the transformation I’ve seen in my little girl over the past few months of Annie rehearsals. This is the girl who only showed up for auditions in hopes of possibly being one of the orphans (hopefully with no spoken lines), or maybe even just to help backstage like she has done in a few shows in the past. When she was cast as Annie, she was almost in tears. And not the happy kind either. I’m talking more along the lines of the “Oh-my-gosh-what-have-I-gotten-myself-into-help-momma-get-me-out-of-this” kind.

And I’ll be honest with you. I wasn’t so sure she could do it either.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I absolutely knew she was capable of it. The girl has got a beautiful singing voice and can dance like nobody’s business. And she looks the part, without a doubt. But to have the courage to get up in front of all of these people and act? I just wasn’t so sure. She’s always been a “behind the scenes” kind of kid when it came to theatre. I was the actor and she was the kid who would tag along with her mom to watch.

I remember taking her to her first professional theatre show (which was Annie, no less – at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia). At one point, after being mesmerized myself by the phenomenal performance taking place in front of me, I glanced over to see Kelly’s reaction to the show. And what was she doing? The little thing was turned around backwards in her seat staring up at the lighting booth and the spotlight operator. She was so much more interested in how they were making the show, rather than the show itself. Yep, she loved theatre – but in a much different way than her momma did. She wasn’t just interested in the acting. She fell in love with the process.

And now here she is – the lead role in the summer musical.

It still seems so surreal to me. It has been amazing watching her come out of her shell. She didn’t just peep her head out from the shadows to see what was happening on the stage. She made a huge, flying leap right into the spotlight. And let me tell you – this is where she belongs. And I think she’s starting to see that too. All she needed was a little confidence.

And this brings me to the point I’m really trying to make with all of this.

I’m so incredibly proud of my daughter. I mean, what mom wouldn’t be? But that pride doesn’t come from the fact that she’s Annie. Yes, she has learned to control her beautiful voice and sing songs that she thought she couldn’t manage just a few short months ago. Yes, she has studied hard and learned her lines and rarely misses a beat. Yes, she has done all of the things that make her a great little actress and has come a very long way since that scared little girl was given the news that she was going to be Annie. But none of that is what makes me the most proud.

What makes me the most proud is watching as her confidence and ability soars to new heights, and yet her ego and humility have not budged.

She is the most gracious, most appreciative kid I think I’ve ever seen. She takes compliments from people with a shy sweetness that does not indicate one little ounce of arrogance. She sent out a mass email to the cast and crew last night thanking everyone for their hard work – from the make-up ladies to the costume maker and everyone in between. She has learned first hand how much work it takes to create something this spectacular, and she appreciates each and every minute detail that has been put into making the show a success. That’s something a lot of actors never take the time to see. (I know I’ve been guilty of it myself at times. Too often, actually.)

To excel at something, even attain a bit of greatness at it, and yet still maintain a humble heart? That is something that is very hard to do. It takes a special kind of person for that. I think we could all learn a lesson or two from my little Annie.

And, in closing, I want to mention one more proud momma moment.

I too am in the show. And last night – our second-to-last dress rehearsal before opening night – I felt completely miserable. What is probably an ear and sinus infection (who has time or money to go to the doctor?) hit its peak last night and my body refused to cooperate any further. For the first time in my career as an actor, I had to miss a dress rehearsal. I couldn’t leave, of course, since I was little Annie’s ride home – so someone suggested that I go lie down on a couch in the lobby. So, I did. I took my feverish self to the lobby and crashed. And no sooner did I lie down, than I was out like a light. I only woke up about three times during the entire performance. And you know why?

Once was when Kelly was bringing me a drink of water.

Another time was when she brought a blanket she found in the dressing room to put over me.

And the final time was when she came to tell me the show was over and that it was time to go home.

There she was in one of her final dress performances in her first starring role, and yet she took every down moment she had between her many costume changes and stage appearances, to come check on her sick mom.

Have I mentioned how proud I am of my daughter? I want to be just like her when I grow up.

I know every mom is supposed to brag on our kids. It’s our job. But in my case? In my case, I’ve got someone pretty special here that calls me Mommy. She is definitely a star – on and off the stage.

So, break a leg, sweet girl! It’s your turn to shine.

***

“It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way
You always walked a step behind
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be
I can fly higher than an eagle
Because you are the wind beneath my wings.”
– Bette Midler, Wind Beneath My Wings

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, Annie, blog, community theatre, daughter, family, inspiration, inspirational, love, motivation, motivational, opening night, passion, performance, Quotes, star, theatre, writing. 2 Comments

May. ’13

Dress the Part

I noticed something interesting the other day.

This is my daughter, Kelly.

This picture was taken on the day of her 7th grade graduation. We curled her hair, she had a little makeup on, wore a cute little dress…she was looking pretty darn spiffy. Well, later that evening, she and I had to be at theatre rehearsal. (She was cast as Annie in our local theatre’s upcoming production – if you haven’t already heard me mention that about 3,000 times. I’m just a little bit proud.) She still had her hair curled, still had the little dress on, etc. And something interesting happened. When she stepped on that stage that night, she did the best she had ever done.

Now, granted, my daughter is capable of playing this role. She is beyond capable. But with this being her first large role (first speaking role, even), she’s a bit nervous and a little reserved. Up to this point, she hadn’t found her ‘sea legs,’ so to speak. But by golly, she was swimming that night. That girl was spot on. I saw more spunk and confidence than I had seen thus far.

After rehearsal, I told her what a great job she had done and asked what made her come alive like she did. She said, “I don’t know. I had my hair all curly and a dress on…I guess I just felt like Annie.”

“I guess I just felt like Annie.”

Kinda profound when you think about it. She dressed the part, so she felt like the part. Simple as that.

So, how does that apply to the rest of us?

Granted, I know we’re not all title characters in a musical. Most of us are just out here floating about in our regular everyday lives trying to make it through the day without any major catastrophes. But I think I just learned a pretty good lesson from my 13-year-old daughter. Whatever I want (need?) to be, I just have to “dress the part.”

Let’s take my running for example. Now, I’ve heard a lot of runners have mentioned this before so I’m not alone in this thought process. Sometimes I just don’t feel like running. I just don’t. I know I need to, I know I’ll feel good when it’s over, but none of that matters. I’m just tired and I don’t feel like it. But as soon as I put on my running clothes and running shoes…suddenly, I’m transformed. I went from a lazy bum on the couch who didn’t feel like doing anything at all, to an all-out runner who is raring to go. It’s that simple. I dress like a runner, so I feel like a runner.

Now, that’s a literal example. But maybe this can be applied in a not-so-literal way. Maybe it’s not always an outfit.

Maybe if you want to be a certain thing, you just have to pretend like you are that thing. You know?

You want to be happy? Dress the part. Slap on a smile and be happy. The first time you do it, you may just feel dumb…smiling for no reason like that like a big dummy. But the second time you do it, who knows? You might actually start to feel a little better. The third? Maybe even better. Eventually your smiles will not only fool other people into thinking that you’re actually happy…you might even start to fool yourself. How about that?

Dress the part.

You want to forgive someone who hurt you? Act like you have. Seriously. Just act like that. When those negative thoughts pop into your mind, tell yourself that that person is forgiven. You don’t have to mean it. Just say it. Again – at first, it will feel silly. You’ll feel like a liar. But the next time? Maybe it will feel like a little less of a lie. The next time? Even less. Eventually, maybe it just might not be a lie. Maybe it’ll even become the truth.

Maybe you can put on that little imaginary cloak of forgiveness and finally – finally – just move on.

Dress the part.

Fill in the blank with whatever you need to fill it in with. You want to be a more positive person? Act like you’re a positive person. You want to be a better friend? Be a better friend. You want to trust someone? Trust them.

You want to love someone? Love them.

Dress the part.

Start with baby steps. Then bigger steps. Then keep increasing your stride until you’re moving at full speed.

YOU alone have the power to change everything.

***

“Endeavor to be what you desire to appear.”
– Socrates

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, Annie, blog, change, daughter, dress, family, inspiration, inspirational, love, mother, motivation, motivational, performance, photos, Quotes, run, runner, running, self-fulfilling, theatre, writing. 1 Comment

May. ’13

Dear Me

“A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into.”
– Ansel Adams

I found this old theatre photo of myself as I was digging through a box of photographs over the weekend. This is from the play “Fiddler on the Roof” and shows me pictured with my ‘stage-husband’ John. We were 22 and 20 at the time the photo was taken. I knew John would get a kick out of this as well, so I sent it to him. After the initial “wow, that takes me back” kind of comments, we both started to realize how much has changed since this photo was taken. Or rather, how much we have changed. And in the conversation that ensued, John said something that really made me think.

Looking at that younger version of himself in the photograph, he remarked, “There is SO much I want to tell that kid.”

Yeah. Me too.

So, I think I will.

***

Dear Me,

Wow. Look at you. You look like such a little girl; and yet, you’re a 22-year-old married mother of two. How is that even possible!? You look so innocent and clueless. Oh yeah, now I remember.

You are.

You’re 22-years-old and you’re living in a life that you don’t even recognize. Just four short years earlier, you moved back to the small area where you were born, after having lived in a multitude of different places due to your military background. In fact, you had just moved here from a whole separate country. And you’re feeling just a little lost.

And wow – those past four years have been a whirlwind! At 18, you were declared to be in remission from the cancer you just battled. At 19, after finding out you were unexpectedly expecting, you delivered your first child – a beautiful redheaded baby boy. At 20, you got married, even though you knew it wasn’t the best thing for you to do at the time, but the pressure from family convinced you that you should. At 21, you delivered redhead #2 – a little girl this time. And now, here you are in this picture. 22 years old.

You’re confused. You’re rebelling. You’re unsure of yourself. In fact, I hope you don’t take offense to my saying this, but you’re pretty much a total mess. And you know it. But here’s what I want you to know.

It’s ok.

Really. It’s ok. Holy crap, kiddo, you’re 22 years old and you’re an unhappily married mother of two kids already. And a cancer survivor to boot. No wonder you’re overwhelmed. No wonder you look for your escape in this world of theatre where you can be anyone you want to be. No wonder you’re a little bit lonely…there’s not many people your age who have these kinds of things on their shoulders. You’re different.

And I know you know that. It’s painfully obvious in all that surrounds you. But I wish you knew that being different is ok.

In fact, one day, being different is what you’re going to like best about yourself. You’re going to realize that all that you went through at such an early age made you grow up a little faster than most. You’re going to realize that you have a deep sense of responsibility because of it. That you have a deep empathy for others because of it. That you are drawn to the theatre because it’s filled with others who are just like you. Right now, you struggle with being involved with the theatre because people in your world tell you that it takes too much of your time. And that’s not going to change, I’m afraid. But one day – you won’t care. One day you’ll come to realize that the reason you’re drawn to this is because it makes you feel like you’ve found your way home. You’ve found your little island of misfits and it’s where you belong. No need to try to fight it just because others don’t understand.

It’s ok.

And your marriage…oh, you poor girl. He is a good man, and you know he is. But he’s not the one you were supposed to marry. And unfortunately, you know this too. Yes, you do end up breaking his heart. But I promise you, he’s going to be ok. And you know something strange? Even though you’re getting ready to be divorced within the next year, the two of you will end up getting past all of this. And one day, years from now, I think you’re even going to consider each other friends. You’re going to work together to raise those little redheads and, even though you’re going to feel overwhelmed at times and feel like you don’t know what the heck you’re doing, they are going to grow up to be some really awesome teenagers. And the two of you are going to work pretty well as a team in parenting them when the need arises. I know you don’t want to be so young and already divorced, but I promise you it’s the right thing to do. I wish you wouldn’t fight it so much. Sometimes things happen and those things are going to disappoint you. And sometimes you’re going to have to disappoint others. But it’s part of the life process, my dear.

It’s ok.

You’re going to spend the next ten years or more trying to mold yourself into what you think some guy wants. And that’s sad. None of your relationships are going to work out because you’ll be so busy trying to be someone you’re not. Somewhere along the line in the midst of the unique way you grew up – moving from town to town – you somehow mistakenly learned that you have to mold and change yourself to fit your environment. And this has transferred itself over to your relationships. I wish you could stop that. No matter how much you try to fit that square peg into a round hole, it’s not going to work. You’re going to get your heart broken quite a few times because you’re just going to keep trying and trying to be what people want, rather than just be who you are. I wish I could stop you from that. It’s going to be turmoil, and it’s going to make you constantly feel like you’re not good enough. Oh, how I wish you could know what I know now.

It gets better.

One day, you’re going to finally figure out who the heck you are. And guess what? You’re going to realize that you kinda like what you discover. And you’re going to realize that the best relationships – the real relationships – are the ones with the people who like you. Not just the ones who love you (you’ll be loved a few times over the years, I promise), but with the ones who like you. The two don’t always go hand in hand, ya know. (That’s a very hard lesson to learn.) But when they do – oh, when they do – it’s nothing short of magical. Wait for it, sweet girl. Wait for it.

You’re going to be fine, kid. You think you won’t right now. But you will. You’re smart; you’re funny; you’re talented; and you’re determined. Those are some unbeatable qualities. Give yourself credit for them. They’re going to serve you well.

Now, get back on that stage and do what you love. Oh, and while you’re at it, give that kid beside you a big hug. Because even though you may not realize it right now, one day he’s going to be one of your closest friends. Because you know all of that turmoil that’s going on inside you now? He’s feeling it too. And one day, years down the road, the two of you are going to reconnect as adults. You’re going to realize that you were both going through similar processes way back then – both wading through a sea of outside influences and feeling uncomfortable in your own skin. You’re both going to finally come to terms with and accept the ways that make you different from some of the others. And in accepting this, you will see that what makes you different is actually what makes the two of you the same. And the older you get, the more you’re going to realize that those kinds of connections are rare and precious. And they’re the only ones that matter.

Keep up the good work, kid. I’m proud of who you’re becoming.

Love,
Me

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, blog, change, changed, dating, friendship, heart, heartbreak, inspiration, inspirational, letter, love, memories, motivation, motivational, passion, photos, Quotes, relationships, theatre, writing. Leave a comment

May. ’13

Reinforcement

“I love working with an audience. I love working with actual people who, you know, if they’re moved, you see it. If you say something they’re stunned by, you see their jaws drop. If they’re amused, they laugh – that kind of reinforcement, I totally adore.”
– Jane Pauley

As an actress, I really dig the above quote. There’s just so much truth to it. When I’m doing a show, I know exactly how the audience feels about it. If they like it, they’ll smile. If I did a good job, they’ll clap. If I was able to move them to tears, they’ll cry.

Don’t you wish it worked like in real life?

Seriously, think about it. How much of what you feel do you keep inside? How many chances do you let slip past to tell someone how their everyday, real life ‘performance’ is going?

I’ve been watching my daughter struggle with a very large theatre role. She’s practically brand new to acting (only small non-speaking roles in prior shows) and has now been cast as the lead. Now, you don’t have to be involved in theatre to know that being the lead of a show is going to carry some serious weight with it. Especially when you’re only 13. And even more especially when you’re a kid who is too hard on yourself like she is. She expects perfection to come out on the first try (and I’m afraid some of the others involved expect that of her to), and she gets so down on herself when it doesn’t. Poor kid.

But I’ve started to notice one particular person in the cast who can change her outlook around in an instant. Appropriately enough, that person is the one who plays “Daddy Warbucks.” (If you’re not familiar with the show, Warbucks is the one who ultimately adopts little orphan Annie in the end.) Warbucks is played by our friend Jeff Dreyer. And let me tell ya – Jeff is phenomenal with my daughter. She looks forward to the rehearsals when she’s working with him because she is comfortable with him. He’s so good to her and always tells her what a great job she is doing. When she makes a mistake, he’s always quick with a, “You’ll get it next time,” or “Don’t be so hard on yourself – you’re doing great.” I see what a difference this makes in her, and how much better she does after hearing this from him.

Which got me thinking.

How often do we do that for people? How often do I do that for people?

Someone doesn’t have to be performing on a stage for them to deserve positive feedback. So much of what those around us do in any given day sadly goes unnoticed. Things become routine and expected, and therefore no longer outwardly appreciated. (Every mother knows where I’m coming from, I’m sure.)

So, I want you to think about this. Is there someone in your life who deserves some recognition? Some appreciation? Some verbal applause?

Well, get to it. Give them some positive reinforcement. Give them a pat on the back. Thank them for what they do for you and how much they mean to you.

I’ll start by giving a little shout-out to my boyfriend, Richard. That man is a true saint at times…especially this week. I have been stressed to the max. There’s no one particular huge problem or anything…just a multitude of small things that are adding up and sending me on an emotional rampage. There have been times this week that I’ve just wanted to crawl under the covers and let the world go on without me while I take a sick day from it all. But I can’t. There’s too many people depending on me. I have to get up and keep moving, whether I like it or not.

And there he is to help.

He has picked up the slack for me so much this week, I can’t even list them all. He has made phone calls for me and run errands that I didn’t have time to run. And through it all – through my moods, my ranting, my venting – he has listened and responded with a calm optimism that I can’t help but be influenced by, no matter how hard my stubborn self tries not to be. I’m a very, VERY lucky girl to have this man in my life. I hope he knows how much he is appreciated. I hope he knows what a wonderful boyfriend he is, and how loved he makes me feel.

Good job, Richard.

So, who do you need to thank? Who makes a difference in your world? Who needs some applause?

Now is the time.

***

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
-Voltaire

Posted by Melissa Edmondson. Categories: Freestyle Writings/Musings. Tags: acting, appreciation, blog, daughter, family, friendship, gratitude, heart, inspiration, inspirational, kindness, love, motivation, motivational, performance, photos, Quotes, reinforcement, relationships, thank you, theatre, writing. Leave a comment

May. ’13

Destiny

“It is such a happiness when good people get together — and they always do.”
– Jane Austen

I want to tell you about the coolest wedding ever.

I can honestly say that I’ve never attended a wedding that made me want to write about it. (Not even any of my own.) But this one? This one was screaming, “Blog about me!” And so, I must.

These are my friends Jim & Rebecca. As you can see from the picture, they are standing in a theatre, which happens to be where they met. And thus, where they decided to have their wedding reception. And let me tell ya – this gal can throw a party!

After a beautiful, traditional, standing-room-only ceremony at a gorgeous little church, everyone headed over to the theatre for the reception. Not only were the drinks flowing and the many varieties of yummy food waiting to be gobbled up, but the “activities” were a blast. First and foremost: a photo booth, complete with costumes and accessories. Oh, how much fun we had in this thing!! See?

Now, you know it was a different kind of wedding reception when my boyfriend Richard’s 12-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl later bragged to my daughter about having to miss the fun. (She had back-to-back dance recitals that day – her dad had first shift duty, and I later took over for the second.) Ask yourself how many times you’ve ever heard a kid telling another kid how much fun a wedding reception was. It even got the ultimate seal of approval from Richard’s son when he deemed it worthy of the TLC show “Four Weddings.” If a 12-year-old says your wedding is worthy of a TV show, I think you’ve probably done something right.

(FYI – if you’re local and ever want to have this awesome addition to an event you’re having, you can contact the “Prints Charming” company [How cute is that!?] at 336-469-1313. Couldn’t mention this without crediting the people who made it happen!)

So, in addition to the uber-cool, kid-approved photo booth, there were also little collages set up around the theatre with memorabilia taken from the various shows that Jim and Rebecca have been involved in with Ashe County Little Theatre during the past three years that they’ve known each other. As a member of this theatre myself, I had such a great time looking back over the memories.

Which brings me to my own little personal recollection of the Jim & Rebecca story.

Jim and I were involved in another theatre together for a few years, and had both talked about our desire to join Ashe County Little Theatre, but had never taken the plunge. Finally, I decided to audition for a show…but didn’t make the cut. In fact, I blogged about this if you missed it (https://missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/rejection/). I came back and pouted to Jim that it looked like it just wasn’t meant to be to be a part of that theatre. Well, as time went by, Jim made his way over himself (I think his first role was in Twelve Angry Men.) He was thrilled to be a part of the group and often sent me messages about upcoming shows. I finally found my way back myself and was cast in Harvey.

Now, Jim had told me about this woman that he had met here at the theatre and was quite smitten with, so I was anxious to meet her. Imagine my surprise, when in walks Rebecca, the director of the show I wasn’t cast in a few years before.

Of course, we laugh about it now. And I told him at his wedding that he is officially forgiven for being a “traitor.” 😉

But seriously – at one point while I was walking around this beautiful reception in this theatre that has become my second home, I couldn’t help but be overcome with a deep sense of destiny. You know? Jim and I both felt a pull to this theatre…and my, how much our lives have changed since we found our way to it. I, too, met the man I love here. Not as an actor, but as a friend of a fellow actor. I first laid eyes on him at this very building. First held his hand in the fourth row.

Little did Jim and I know how much we needed this. By finding this theatre, we’ve found our way home.

Here’s to many happy returns for this beautiful couple that I am honored to call my friends.

***

“We need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet… I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things… all of it, all of the time, every day. You’re saying ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness.'”
– From the movie, Shall We Dance?