SHOCK & AWE!

Well with any good idea, you are always going to have set backs. This week, I’ve had a huge set back; however this set back is the most important thing that our family will be facing in a long time. It's not so much it’s a bad thing, it is actually very remarkable. On Tuesday of this week, I was all excited to post that I had finished my closet project, only be bombarded by endless 1-800 numbers calling the house. There was one number on my phone that continued to show up from Jan 31, to Feb 2, 2012. Oddly enough, I counted the number of times it had appeared, NO JOKE, it had listed 11 times. “WOW” I thought, that was one hell of sales person wanting to get ahold of me. My thinking was it was probably a solicitation for the Policeman's and fireman’s drive, the Capital Newspaper wanting me start getting home delivery of the paper, an upgrade offer on my Xfinity cable or who knows, a bill that I paid three years ago and they are just calling me about it now saying I didn’t... I see you nodding your heads; you’ve gotten those types of calls too. What do they think we’re idiots? But I guess in this recession and companies doing all they can to drain that mighty dollar from our hard working citizens; I guess they figure why not give it a try and see what happens. I've gotten calls like that, the caller on the other line just assumed I was stupid enough to believe I still owed the debt. But they don’t know that I have a sharp memory and I know I didn't forget to pay

So, again, my brain is wandering, let me get back to my update. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, was like any normal day, depending on what you would classify normal as, in this house. Kids got up with the same slow motion movement and feet dragging. This is not only normal, I expect it as they have been like this for years. When the school year gets closer and closer to the summer, they get slower and slower to get up in the morning. They got on the bus on Tuesday, and I drove them on Wednesday and Thursday, then I would come home and I went about my normal routine...eyeing the empty bed that calls my name every morning to come back and snuggle down in it - but I don't. I got laundry done and at the strike of the clock that indicated it was 8 am, the phone started it's off the hook, ring all day, deal. UGH! I’d answer and it would be someone selling this, or offering that and I was at my wits end and vowed that if it wasn’t a number I knew it was going to keep ringing.  Was I going to screen my calls?  Your dang straight I was…and then it happened – The most important call of my life that I would have lost had I not heard the beginning of the message. Three mini phrases registered in my head - Your book, Executives, Hollywood film agents, had me running through my home like a long jump Olympian.  . HOLY SCREEN WRITE!

I grabbed the phone and kept yelling “Hello! Hello! I’m here! Hello!”

“Yes, ma’am, how are you today? My publisher replied in a very professional voice

“I’m fine, how are you?” speaking slowly to hide my elevated heart rate and breathing. He went on to talk about an event that he is working on and that a marketing agent with the publishing house that I am with, put my book “Through the Barracks Window: A Time of Waves” on his desk for consideration to be a part of the - Las Vegas Pitch Fest 2012. To sum up his email that was sent to me to confirm my placement in this event, this is what it said at the bottom of all the information that he provided and what I would expect.

·          Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the World where professional entertainment executives who are looking for stories with an enthralling concept, a sharp focus, and visual potential to name a few book-to-screen characteristics. Are you ready to show Las Vegas, Nevada what you and your book are made of? Don’t miss out on this glamorous opportunity to launch your book into the limelight. There are only 150 spots available and spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Now, when I first got the call on Thursday, I reacted in the same as when I was told that I had Hodgkin’s disease. Your mind goes into a numb state. You can hear, you see, but you are completely numb as to what is going on around you. 

My husband was on his way to pick me and the kids up, to go to one of the Junior Fair board meetings that our kids attend once a month. I tried my best to hide my sheer fear that I was dealing with. Fear of success, fear of possible financial freedom, fear of another dream coming true, and the fear of financial ruins if I pay for the accommodations that are required of me. When I told my kids and my husband what the call had entailed, you saw the same shock I had experienced, however their shock turned to glee. For me, I wanted to run and hide. I worried that my family would resent me if I went and came home without an offer, that I would have once again, let them down. This feeling consumed me for the rest of the evening and all during a sleepless night. As my husband slept peacefully beside me, I whispered over and over into the night, “God, What do I do?”

The next morning at breakfast, and still consumed by this fear of failing, my husband shared his words of support and that he knew this was the big break I have been looking for, over the past year.  He was so compassionate, he knew I was struggling with something inside of me and was patient as I tried to find the right words to express what I was feeling. It wasn't until his call, before my publicist was to call, that I shared my fears, all of them.  His reply was, “It’s nothing but a thing. You can do this! I know you can! I’d be disappointed if you had this chance and didn’t go for it! I will be very angry if I knew you sat in front of your computer for 11 years getting your words into print, only to get this close, but then walk away. I don’t care what it costs – YOUR GOING!”

On Friday at 1:24pm, I confirmed with my publicist that I would attend. I just can’t believe it - I am going to Vegas in March with the hopes that another one of my odd dreams may in fact become a reality. What was that dream that I had when I chose to finally publish my story?  I dreamt that I was walking the red carpet with my family.  I don’t know why, all I know is that in that dream it was a feeling of going full circle in my life. A true -  what goes around comes around, in a positive way, moment.  I just can't imagine how I'd feel if this really comes true? I do know that I will never doubt the work of a higher power and the strength within me.  Now if I can only pitch my story with the same passion that I have when I talk about it or when I write my other short stories. As for my cleaning quests , I promise they will continue, but may not always be the immediate success that was in my mind before I knew I had to write a Pitch that could make my book a movie. I will, no matter what, I will still accomplish my cleaning challenge by 2013. Yikes! Why do I put so much on my plate…is my mind really that hungry? Have a great weekend and enjoy the Super Bowl Game. Here’s hoping that Madonna doesn’t have any outfit malfunctions while my teenage boys and husband are watching. (smile).