“I’m that girl.”
See if you can relate to this.
There are times when you feel like you’re being filmed, or photographed, or if you’re somehow living out your own make believe of playing with paper dolls or army men. Suddenly there’s a moment where you realize you’ve stepped past the fantasy, and right that second you are actually doing what you’ve dreamed of doing.
I’m in New York City right now, about to go to lunch with my editor, and then to a Broadway show with a friend tonight, and then I’m off at the crack of dawn tomorrow to Rochester for this grand event.
And as I’ve been walking around the city this morning, stopping into Starbucks, crossing the street like the real New Yorkers even when the pedestrian sign says stop–because all you really care about is whether there are taxis coming toward you–I’m not so jaded that I think, “Well, this is all perfectly normal, me here, la di da just another day.”
It’s like earlier this week when I was grocery shopping, walking the aisles of Safeway, and my cell phone rang and it was my agent. So I had a quiet conversation among the detergent and then the Mexican food, and all the while I was thinking, “This is so cool! I’m talking to my agent! In Safeway!”
Do you know what I mean?
And it’s not just the writer fantasy moments, it’s also when I’m hiking with my dogs in Colorado (“This is me! Mountain girl! For real!”) It’s any time when I catch sight of myself in a sort of third-person way and realize that right now I am absolutely living my dream life. So, so cool.
The reason I’m telling you this is that I think there are a lot of moments for all of us that we might otherwise just let slip by, when really they deserve a brief acknowledgment of gratitude that yes, this is how we’ve been meaning for it to be. Yes, I have the friends I want. Yes, I’m eating exactly the food I want right now. Wow, I’m watching a great TV show or a great movie or reading a fabulous book. This is really the life.
Wandering rumination over. Time to slap on some makeup (because here in the city, as opposed to in the mountains, I’m that girl who wears makeup), then head out to the big tall Random House building where three years ago I stood in front of it at night and looked inside at the empty lobby with shelves along the side holding books by Random House authors, and I’d just become an RH author myself and was going to meet my editor for the first time the next morning, and I thought, “Wow, I’m finally that girl.”
Later!
I call those the “How did I get here” moments.
I’m so glad you’re that girl, because that means we get to read those great stories you’ve been dreaming of publishing for so long!
While that dream is still a dream for me, I’m still “that girl.” I have two great copyediting jobs that allow me to stay home and watch my little girls grow, to be a constant presence in their lives. If you asked me in college what I considered my dream job, I’d have said, “to work for a publishing company.” Now, I’m not in NYC working for one of the big names, but that’s perfectly okay. I’m that girl, working hard at a job I love, making money on it, and still getting to be with my kids!
Yeah, Patrick, exactly. Another nice phrase for it.
Kelley, you get it. It’s about noticing how cool your world actually is, even if not every single moment is Hollywood great. Having your girls, doing the work you do, getting to be home while you do it–perfect.
I usually say that when I am in New York City putting on makeup, too.
I don’t get Hollywood moments, but what I live for is those moments when I have a teen tell me that the book I gave them was the first book they ever read, they loved it, and is there a sequel. And outside work, crashed on my living room floor with a cup of tea and a box of takeout, wandering art galleries, or best of all, sailing with a friend in tow, the wind in my hair, a journal in my hand and the sun on my face. I call them “wow moments.” The same concept?
Elizabeth, I love that image of sailing. There’s something about being on the open water that is relaxing and refreshing. I rarely get the opportunity to be near water, and I’ve never sailed, but I can imagine it’s exhilarating.
I do that all the time, Robin! For me it’s the “if I could see this moment ten years ago.” It does help me keep from taking things for granted.
I especially think back to the days when the husb and I were just classmates. Can you imagine if someone said, “You’re going to get married and live in Los Angeles and do XYZ and publish a book and…”
Mind blowing! Nice reminder for a Sunday.
I’m waiting for the moment when I meet Robin Brande at the Crumpet Shop in Seattle. Until then, it’s all about pretend-play with paperdolls. (When are you coming out with your own paperdoll line?)
Congratulations on being THAT GIRL.
The word verifier says we should go to IKEA.
“As you think, so shall it be.”
Keep dreaming of the experiences you want to have and they will happen.