A year ago I had the honor of being cast in Listen to Your Mother DC. I wrote about the experience last year, and I wanted to share what I wrote, since it is almost time for the show again.
Michael said to me last week “Mom, you aren’t afraid of ANYTHING.” And I said “Michael, you have NO IDEA. I’m scared of lots of things Next week, I have to stand on a stage in front of 300 people and read something I wrote. And hope they don’t hate it. I’m not just scared of that. I’m terrified.”
“Wow, I’m scared for you.”
“Thanks, that helps.”
I spent all last week in a constant state of terror, stress reading my piece, and thinking about how much I didn’t want to suck. And then Sunday came, I went and got a blow out at DryBar, grabbed coffee, probably way too much coffee, and off I went. The cast, sans the lone man, got dressed together, picking out outfits and shoes, and laughed. We helped each other do our makeup. It was fun, and reminded me of college.
I forgot the nerves. I wasn’t even nervous.
And then it was the read through before the show, and the terror returned. The lovely Lara said to me after my turn, “your shaking. Stop shaking.”
We did a shot of vodka together backstage. That, was the best decision I made. I will forever be grateful to her for bringing the vodka.
It felt a little like taking the Bar again (minus the vodka), and I just wanted it to be over. Lara and I entered the stage holding hands. We were both wearing very high heels, and we worried about falling down the very steep steps.
When it was my turn, I took a very deep breath and remembered what you all had been telling me all week. To just tell my story. Somehow in the dark lights I found my husband, and my best friend in the audience. I saw Ann sitting in the front row. I was all of a sudden, no longer nervous. I just, simply, told my story. Like we were sitting at a bar, or in my house.
It no longer matter if I sucked, if everyone else was better. Because my story is my story. I was there for a reason.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said you should “do one thing every day that scares you.” And I did. And I am better for it.
Listen To Your Mother absolutely 100% changed my life for the better. I met amazing people, writers with amazing stories. I stood on a stage and told my truth, my story, because my story mattered.
Thank you for seeing me through this.
Make sure you check out THIS YEAR’S Listen to your Mother. It is an experience you will not forget!
May 4, 2014
2-3:30 PM
The Synetic Theater at Crystal City
1800 South Bell Street
Arlington, VA 22202
Click here for all LTYM: DC show info. BUY TICKETS HERE
Jodi blogs at Jodifur about life, motherhood, working, and shoes. Mostly shoes.
