I moved to New York City when I was 23. I was really excited, so excited that I didn’t really know how crazy it was to move into Manhattan with only 1,000 dollars to your name. That was it, all I had. No family, no connections, no experience with urban life. Man, I was excited and innocent. About a month into living in the Huge Apple I got a call from the head of the school I was attending that Patricia Neal needed an assistant for some evenings but mostly weekends. Weekends meant Martha’s Vineyard Patricia Neal style. I won’t go into the details of how I blew the interview. Let me say that I was intimidated and was sure I could not handle this new fast paced life. Patricia on the other hand, was lovely. Recovering from a stroke yet so strong, she told me all about her last few years, her book, her life now (well, then). When I look back, I think how lucky a dumb kid from Sheboygan Falls got to meet and listen to Patricia Neal! I also think of how clueless! I let this amazing opportunity go by because I was scared, worried that Sheboygan Falls didn’t prepare me for the lovely lady in front of me.
Fast forward to last night, more than 20 years later, living in Williamstown, MA and minding my own business. I get the call, Wilco is in town and they want a massage therapist on hand. Do I go? Am I intimidated? Do I think I can blow it? YES! I think all those things but I am going anyway. I am going to wear my favorite shoes, the shoes that will now be known as ‘Wilco Massaging Shoes’. I am going to be professional, focused, but mostly I am going to be me and enjoy every minute. I will keep you posted.