This is what friendship looks like

All day, I was nervous.

My stomach was in knots.  My focus was very limited.  My heart was already beating much faster than usual.

But I had to work, so I created a to-do list and started crossing things off.  Done! Done! Done!

When it was time to get dressed, I scrambled around trying on three outfits before settling on a dress I wasn't sure I wanted to wear because it shows a lot of my imperfect arms.  And then I said, screw it.  I have acceptable arms  from lifting a 40-pound little boy on a regular basis.

Behind the scenes, we congregated in the green room, and I was given a beautiful talisman - a silver necklace with the word "Listen" imprinted on a circle of metal.  We tried to eat; we mostly grazed.  We cooed over Kimberly's baby. We took pictures of ourselves in small groups. We checked our scripts and rehearsed in our heads. We laughed as Blythe's sister tried various methods to open a stubborn bottle of wine - with no corkscrew in sight. All in all, fifteen new friends to count; we were the 2013 cast of Listen to Your Mother.

Jill from Baby Rabies; she's adorable

Nita: ethereal beauty

Rehearsing with Lauren

It is difficult to fully describe LTYM without being there. When I first heard of it, last year, I submitted an essay I had posted to my then-new blog. I wasn't invited to audition, but a few of my friends were, and I felt the sting of disappointment and envy. This year, I wrote a piece just for this event (Devon, a writer friend I haven't met in person yet, was my cheerleader, sounding board, and editor) after watching several of last year's performances to get an idea of how it should sound. To my great joy, I was asked to audition, and another friend was too. When I was chosen for the cast and she was not, I was happy, but also felt a little guilt, as if I had stolen her spot.

Public speaking is not something I do often, and truthfully, it frightens me. I am under the watchful eye of two corporate mentors who tell me to get out and practice more.  This would be one way to do it, with a very personal essay told to over 300 people. My heart was pounding in my chest as I waited for my turn to speak.

When I stepped onto the stage, I looked out as far as I could, and my eyes immediately went to a group of friends who had come to support me at the show.  Fellow working mom Alexis was on the end, and her blonde hair was shining like a halo; I knew she was following my words and nodding her head. I sought Jenn's face as I delivered my first laugh line, and Whitney's shining eyes met mine when tears rolled down my face in the last few paragraphs.  I saw Sarah, whom I had never met but had spoken to online enough times to recognize her.  I searched Ann Imig's face for approval and saw pride.  Wendi and Liz were my touchpoints throughout my five minutes on stage, and I found comfort and strength from them as I read through my story.

The superstar producers

After the show, there was my writing support group, Leigh Ann, Carol, and Missy.  There was Nicole, who is becoming a closer friend every time I see her, because she is so caring.  My group of friends from Gorgeous Millie were there, ten or so of them, on a rare girls' night out.  They spent their valuable time away from their families to see me.  I can never express to them how much that means to me.

My neighbor, one of my best friends, was talking to my in-laws when I entered the reception.  Her hug nearly brought me to tears again. At first, I didn't even recognize two of my son's pediatricians, who had heard about the show and came together.  A new friend brought her mother and her mother-in-law to the show... just because I was in it. 

This is friendship. With no words but an "I'll be there!" has humbled me to realize just how many incredible women I have in my life, both mothers and non-mothers.  New friends and old friends.  Friends I am just scratching the surface to get to know, and people I can't wait to see again.

Thank you, friends.  Thank you for watching this dream come true.

Did you attend?  I'd love to hear your impressions! 


Here are some links about the show and from participating cast members around the country:

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51847082#51769443

http://listentoyourmothershow.com/2013/05/third-annual-yes-annual-austin-show-and-stage-mothers-know-best-on-nbc-news.html

http://happyhausfrau.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-mothers-day-thank-you-note-to-ann-imig.html?spref=tw

http://theseversons.net/2013/05/finding-joy-mothers-day/
 

Love,