a note to my fellow little guys

Tuesday afternoon my husband and I were on our way to a park a few towns away when I noticed an unusual email in my usually standard inbox. I saw what appeared to be a message from a casting agent's office in New York City office. I can't see too well without my glasses so I assumed it was some sort of crafty spam and enjoyed myself at the park. I decided to mention the email to my husband and made him read it. An agency stumbled upon this post and thought it was funny. They are looking to cast funny mom types for an upcoming pilot for a major television network. She asked if I would be interested in auditioning and if so to give her a call that afternoon. WHAT!?! Me? No freaking way. This is the Nigerians getting back at me for trying to exchange their winning gazillion dollar lottery ticket for a picture I drew of a spider. No freaking way. So I immediately ordered a fur coat (Ima be a TV star dontchaknow) and gave the agency a call at my husband's urging.

See, my husband is worried that I have abandoned all my previous ambitions for a life of internet caterwauling and rabble rousing WHICH is partially true. He seemed pretty psyched at the prospect of me doing something noninternet-y with my life in the near future.

I called. She was SO nice. I could tell she really took the time to read my blog and get to know me and I was impressed. I do impress easily like when those monkeys play the maracas on the Fresh Beat Band but I mean REALLY impressed. It is always nice to hear from a total stranger that they enjoy your work (I use the word work loosely because some people don't agree that calling Caillou a douche is a job).

I auditioned via Skype. I was so nervous I cannot even tell you. I thanked my lucky stars that I had been a pageant contestant and model as a child (its finally paying off!) because those interview skills and the few auditions I went on were the only thing that helped me get through it. I've been nervous a million times in my life but this was totally different. A random and unexpected bit of good fortune fell in my lap and I did not want to mess it up.

I did my best and now I wait. I'm not expecting to land the role and I'm not holding my breath. Not because I wouldn't love to give something like that a try but because I don't want to set myself up for disappointment. I have no reason to be disappointed. All is fantastic and I'm just happy that someone out there got a laugh from my writing; and took the time to reach out to me and offer my a chance at something so ridiculously incredible that it is beyond the scope of my comprehension.

Life is good.

I wasn't going to share this experience because obviously nothing has come of it yet and there isn't much to tell but then I realized something.

I know a lot of you out there write, create, photograph, or whatever with the hopes that someday you will be more than the little guy. Someday someone will notice and reward your efforts. There are times when it feels like you are wasting your energy and soul on something no one appreciates.

Don't quit.

Someone appreciates it. Someone is laughing, crying (in a good way), or loving everything you do. Keep going. Keep your head up when that list comes out and you aren't on it, don't give up hope when no one leaves a comment, forget about the "big" guys.

Focus on you.

Do *your* best even if you think no one is watching.

Someone is.

One day it will pay off. If you think you've made it only to lose that special opportunity as it was finally within your grasp, hold on a little longer.

You're closer.

Don't quit. Someone thinks what you are doing is great.

And you should too.

xoxo