A Fear Overcome and A Dream Come True

…about thirty years late. But I guess it’s still a dream come true. When I was younger I loved being on stage in my high school plays, even if I was just in the background dancing, but I hated the auditions. It scared me to death. I never had a speaking part that was more than a line or two, but I was fine with it. Though secretly I dreamed of being a childhood actress and star on television. Not sure why I was obsessed with it. Maybe the lives and families on television looked more fun than my own, but I really never told anyone of my dream. I was too shy and insecure and growing up in a single mom home, didn’t think my dream would ever come true.

Then I got married, had children and over the years I realized my children were gifted musically. So I put them in musical theatre and though shy at first, they all fell in love with theatre and they were good. I was happy to get my childhood dream fix watching them, though once again I wondered if it was something I could do myself. But who had the time with pursuing a new/old passion of writing fiction and being published? Still, I thought I should at least give it a try, once, and promised my kids one day I’d audition and be in a play with them.

I thought one day was a long time away, but with no pending book contracts or books in dire need of writing, it seemed like I had a pretty free summer. So I nervously auditioned for the Wizard of Oz. My kids said I had a great Wicked Witch cackle, I took that as a compliment and with shaking script in hand, I auditioned.

And was relieved I didn’t get the part, but I did get in the play. I had a safe little part as Mrs. Gulch the mean woman who wanted to take Toto away. All I had to do was run across the stage, yell a few lines and I was off. I had a few other appearances in Oz, but for the most part, it wasn’t a big deal and I was okay with that. My dream, still fulfilled.

Then I got a call. “Auntie Em” left the show and could I do it?” My first thought, I enjoyed being the mean lady with a small part. Could I be nice old Aunt Em with a dozen or so lines. They needed me, so I said yes, now I have to memorize the lines which is my second biggest fear. My third biggest fear, forgetting the lines!

But I had my first practice as Aunt Em the other day and it felt pretty good. There’s 3-4 more weeks left of practice and I’ll get better and learn those lines. So while it took me over 30 years to make this childhood dream come true, I’m praying it won’t take another 30 for my dream of publishing my first novel!