On time...

As a grown up, I realize that through the course of life I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them I learned from my aunts. Now, I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are some things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all the nieces and nephews out there.They may not work for everybody and you may not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.

# 30 On time is fifteen minutes early

I know exactly where I learned this valuable piece of advice. It  was not from a parent or an aunt. It was from a director of mine, the late Kimber Cox. When I was twelve I got accepted into a theatre troop for teens at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN. It was called "And so Forth" and I felt like a Broadway star. Kimber Cox was the director and he was a wonderful man. He was tolerant of a lot of things, but tardiness was not one of them. He was very patient when it came to giggling or whispered conversations, however he would always say, "On time is fifteen minutes early," and then we would all have to repeat it back to him. This was a ritual every time we left and until we met again.
I always wondered why fifteen minutes was such a big deal. Why didn't he just tell us we needed to be there fifteen minutes early to begin with, then we would all have been on time. It took at least until I started driving to figure it out. If school starts at 7:15 and you get there at 7:15, you are guaranteed to be late. No matter what. By the time you park your car and get to your locker and chat with your friends, you are guaranteed to slide into homeroom at least fifteen minutes later.
The same goes for work. My shift starts at 4:45, at 4:46, I am late. If I arrive at 4:40, by the time I get upstairs, say hello to everyone along the way, gulp some soda, change my clothes and use the ladies room, I am royally late. If I arrive at 4:30, it is exactly enough time to do all of the things mentioned above and be in the meeting on time. Wow, it's amazing.
It took me a really long time to understand the full significance of this proverb, but now that I have it, I can't even tell you the last time I was late and it was my fault. Or really the last time I was late.
On time is fifteen minutes early. You'll never be late again.

Haunted Houses

As a grown up, I realize that through the course of life I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them were taught to me by my aunts. Now, I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are some things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all of the nieces and nephews out there, or really for anyone who will listen. They may not work for everybody, and you may may not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.

# 20 Haunted houses are not REAL

I know that it isn't Halloween. I also know that it really isn't even fall. However, recent events in my life have caused me to think about this fact. I was recently cast is the town of Sleepy Hollow's haunted Hallowen attraction as an undead, creepy character. There has been a lot of talk about prosthetics, makeup, colored contacts, costumes, etc.
I have always been scared easily. I still open my closet and check under my bed before I sleep. I look behind shower curtains and like to have a light on while I am sleeping. When I am in a city where I drive, I still check the backseat before getting into the car.
Once, when I was probably eight, nine at the most, I BEGGED my brother to take my friend and me to this haunted house. I begged and begged and he kept saying no. Finally, much to his dismay, he agreed. He usually caved in where I was concerned. So my friend came over for a sleep over and then we went to the haunted house. I was terrified, but I wanted to prove to my brother (and myself) that I could be brave. We waited in line and the anticipation grew and grew. Finally it was our turn to go in. He took my hand and said "are you sure?" I nodded, simply because my throat had closed up and I was no longer capable of speaking.
I would like to tell you that I made it the whole way through. I would actually like to tell you that I even made it halfway through. I feel the truth is that I possibly made it 2 minutes... maybe.... but to me, at the time, it was an eternity. The details are rather vague because perhaps I have blocked them out. I remember screaming until I thought my throat was going to bleed, and it's possible that it did. I remember crying until I thought there couldn't possibly be anymore tears. I vaguely remember my brother picking me up, and all of a sudden this kind lady came out from the shadows. I don't know where she came from, but now I am certain that her only job in the haunted house was to act as sort of a guardian angel and follow around the kids who stand in line and try to be brave. She looked like Snow White, and I think I remember her taking my hand and walking me up to a warewolf or a goblin and then he took his mask off. He was a person, probably my brother's age. He could have been one of my brother's friends. He hugged me and told me not to be scared.
Looking back, I realize that at this point I should have been able to acquire my bravery badge and continue, but I just couldn't. The lights came on for a brief minute, and no one was allowed in until they got me to safety.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to play a zombie in a small student film. I got to wear prosthetics, make up, and even chew on some plastic legs. Now, again, I have the opportunity to be one of those scary creatures. I have I will get to see all of my fellow cast members in their make up and I hope that being on the other side of such a fabulous haunted attraction will help me to overcome my fears of haunted houses. I just hope it doesn't give me nightmares. Just kidding.
Haunted Houses are not real. The people and the actors are very much real, but the threat is not.

There are no small parts....

As a grown up, I realize that through the course of life I have learned many valuable lessons. Some of them were taught to me by my mom and dad. Some of them I learned in school and through experience. Many of them weret aught to me by my aunts. Now, I am an aunt and my oldest niece recently started kindergarten. I know that they say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. I disagree. I believe that there are many things that one cannot learn in a classroom. These are lessons that can only be learned by living. So, here it is. A year's worth of tiny words of wisdom for all of the nieces and nephews out there, or really for any one who will listen. They may not work for everybody and you may not agree with all of them, but each is a rule that I either try to live by or wish I did.

# 18 There are no small parts, only small actors.

It was definitely originated by Stanislvsky, but since then I have heard it from my mom, my kindergarten, my high school theater teacher, my college theater professor, and as of last night, one of my very good friends. Every role in a play is there for a reason. Without everyone, that show can't go on and we all know that the show MUST go on.
I moved to New York to be an actor. I definitely had a doe eyed perspective about the whole experience. I thought for sure I would move to the city and be famous by now. Well, kids, that is not the way it works. I have been here awhile now and I spent a lot of time "adjusting" and not really auditioning. Now I am more focused and I am in full swing audition mode. I finally went to an audition where I did not know the director and I got cast in a show.
It doesn't pay me any money, and it is not by any means a large role.
However, it is my first real gig. I plan to treat it as if it is my Tony Award winning performance. I will be professional, and show up on time and say "thank you" when I am given a note. I will be the best that I can be, because if I am not, the director will certainly not cast me in the lead in one of his next plays. Without this role, there would be a hole in the script and it would not be complete.
If I had not been the M when my school spelled out Grahamwood, it would have just been Grahawood, and that is just silly. If I had not been the icicle in the kindergarten Christmas pageant, it would have been a year without icicles. If I had not been the zombie in that one film I did, the victims might have actually prevailed.
There are no small parts, only small actors.