Playing the Part

The Boy was in a play at his school tonight. And I know I'm biased, but he totally nailed it. This is the first time he’s been in a play since he was four-years-old and had the role of Simba in his preschool’s presentation of The Lion King. And he did awesome that time, too!

Boy’s been a ham from birth, and he's quite the actor. He had this activity toy that hung from the side of his playpen that had a mirror and there were times I caught him practicing his facial expressions in it...

It’s got to be inborn for him, because he sure didn't get it from me. I’m definitely not a performer. Never have been. Can't even lie successfully. Everything's right there on my face.


My sister, Sadie, came to watch the play and brought my niece and nephew with her. We sat together, even though she’s been angry with me since we spent this past Christmas together at my parents’ place with the rest of the family. Apparently, I was especially bitchy this year. So bitchy, in fact, she won't even return my calls.

I didn’t even know she was angry with me until days afterward, but once I found out, I was completely thrown. Had no idea. I even asked my mother if she’d noticed that I was rude to anyone in particular. And she’d told me that, “No, I thought you were a bitch to everyone equally.” So there you go.

Still it was really nice that Sadie and the kids came. Family is family.


Life is going to be super crazy for the next couple of weeks. Running around getting ready to head up for Carrie’s wedding. I’m the unofficial maid of honor and sharing the title with one of her friends who lives close enough to her to have gone with her to try on her dress and throw her a bridal shower. Unofficial is good, because I’ve already had my Bridal Party Member punch card all filled up.

I’m big at weddings. My friends mention that movie, 27 Dresses, every time I talk about heading out for another wedding. Really, though, I’m not that bad. I mean, at least I’ve never double booked.

And I’ve already told my mom that if I ever do decide to get married that hundred-year-old chapel on the beach that we were looking at for the first one is out. She’s just going to get a call from Mexico or somewhere because I’m gonna elope.


I've been thinking a lot about the roles we play in the lives of others. It's always a struggle, isn't it? Finding that happy medium between who you know you are and who you try to be for others. What makes it harder still is the way the people you know project their ideas of who they think you are or how they think you should be based on their own experiences with others.

I remember getting into a huge argument with a boyfriend over him going out with his friends. It was so memorable that he and I discussed it recently, and he actually apologized for it. So, I let him say his peace, and then I finally took this opportunity, seventeen years later, to set him straight.

The argument was that he thought it bothered me that he went out with the guys to play cards or go to clubs or whatever it is guys that age do. I told him that, actually, that hadn't bothered me. With an infant at home, I had a little more going on than worrying about where he got his entertainment.

What bothered me is that he thought it bothered me. He thought I was the type of girl who needed to be told this or treated like that because of what he'd experienced in previous relationships.

Nothing drives me crazier than when people project their crap on you, so I didn't correct him at the time, thinking that, if he believed that was the way I was, he didn't know me at all. Still, I have to admit it felt really, really good to finally get that off my chest.

Look. For people I love, I will happily fill whatever role I'm asked to star in, but please just remember to write my part true to who I really am. And if you're confused about who that is, do us both a favor. Don't assume. Ask.