Over the top...

[lifesaver]

Ok, this is a bit long winded, but stick with me. I guess I just need to vent. Maybe its not the right word, vent, i dunno. Here goes. I just was really wierded out tonight when I saw something on TV. I'll get there....

Everyone I know is becoming a celeb.

Well, not everyone. Heres the story. I come from a really, really small town out in the middle of nowhere, Texas. I mean so in the middle of nowhere we were closer to 5 other state capitals than our own. I graduated HS with just 180 other people. My family had been there since the 40's. I grew up there. (Family now lives in Houston.) Anyway, I HATED growing up there. You know the drill, nothing to do, nothing cool ever happens. Small town america - cops bust the HS kids chops, there was a "wrong side of the tracks" yada. We were the town from footloose. I was resentful of the kids in big towns because I felt I got gyped on my education, as most of everything I ever took before college was a joke. (For gods sake in Economics all we ever did was watch CNN). I graduated and went 14 hours away to college. Didnt want anything to do withthat place. Halfway htrough college my mom sells the house and moves to houston. (story of my life, a day late and a dollar short).

I have been back to my hometown 1 time since 1995. I wasnt really big on it. Still aint. Anyway, No one famous EVER came from my hometown. The population is under 8000. Some guy my mom graduated with inthe 60's competed inthe olympics in the 70s, but thats about it.

Well, in 1996 things started to change. I kid I went to school with named Zach got signed with the Miami Dolphins.

In 1997 Brad, my neighbor from around the corner who gave me rides to school (he was dating my sister) gets a gig with MTV doing that show Austin Stories as a character named Chip.

In 1998, my former prom date Julie gets hired by CNN as a reporter.

In 2000 I find out that jeremy, the dorky kid from my 7th grade english class is the front man for one of my favorite Texas music bands, Cross Canadian Ragweed.

In 2001, I hear of a band, Cooder Graw, that has a song about my hometown. Well several parts of the CD is about my hometown. Matt Martindale, the founder of the band was good friends with my sister. He was roomies with Matt McConaughey at UT law school (bet yall didnt know he was an attorney) anyway, Mr Wedding Planner fronted the money for matt to start his band. Freaks me out that my sister and Matt McConaughey are both thanked in the liner notes.

Last month when Page, the Theta from A&M turned up missing, I find out that I know her, and her parents were my youth leaders and my sis used to babysit here and her brother Ryan. (i even posted how freaked out I was. glad shes ok tho)

Then the topper. Tonight I am watching everybody loves raymond (marie is SO my mother) and I start channel surfing because becker comes on and ted Danson sucks. So I stop on HBO and am watching "project greenlight" and I see this woman who looks really familiar. But I am whatever. Then they show her name and its Michelle Sy. Her dad was my doctor. We were on yearbook staff together. She is a Director of Development for Miramax films. Whoa!

I guess my issue is this. I had pretty much discounted my whole town and past and really started living my life in college. I figured I didnt have to worry about personal success (comparing myself to others), because nothing ever happend big time to people from my hometown. So as long as I was personally happy, I didnt have to compete on a big scale for the whole who's done this and that at reunions. Dont get me wrong, I am so happy all of them have found success and happiness in their lives. Thats what all of us deserve. Its just highlighted that I am not as far along in my journey of not giving a shit what others think as I'd like to be. amazing how the littlest of things can hold the mirror right up to our faces and show us something we never thought we'd see.

Anyway, just needed to vent. Get it off my chest. Not so wierded out about it now. now I am goin to go to bed.

[amycat412]

life--

I hear and feel your pain.

TWO of my former assistants--
H has sold several screenplays and now is driving a porsche carrera and living the LA high life.

Danny is a regular on Buffy.

My next door neighbor growing up is Cordelia on Angel.

Another guy from HS is on One life to Live.

Two guys I graduated HS with play major league baseball.

One guy is in the NBA. I've lost track of where.

Andre Agassi. "Nuff said there.

Now Andre's and the other athletes athletic abilities aside, I know I've got more drive and talent in my little finger than all of them put together. I just haven't hit it YET.

The key being YET. Its a cliche, but some of us are late bloomers. Some of us have taken the time to grow up, keep growing up, exploring the possibilites and all that life has to offer.

And all those people likely felt the same way about your hometown as you did, and just took a different route of getting out.

NONE of the people I mentioned, Andre aside, still live in Vegas. We all got the hell out as soon as we could. H. and Danny are not from Vegas, but we all went to USC together and they are younger than I am--where is the justice in that?

We all NEED to learn the things that the paths we're on teach us. Just have patience, I know its hard, and sometimes the frustration makes you want to stomp around and put your fist thru a wall, but hang in there---

Your rock star moment(s) will come.


Amy

[justamom]

Well, you are at that stage... Yep, it happens to ALL of us. When you talk to older people they can sum it up by comparing CLASS REUNIONS! At the 10 year, everybody shows up and it's one giant brag session (or fake out session) The women go on diets and the men beef up their resume'. Everyone tries to impress the others with how successful they have become. This is when the class geek suddenly appears handsome or has made that million and the squirrelly girl takes off her glasses and looses 50 lbs to become a bombshell...That movie with Phoebe going to her class reunion is closer to truth than one might think.
At the 15 (If you have them) about half the people show and these are the ones who are still trying to impress or miss the good old days. The others attending are late bloomers and now it's their turn. Funny, but the ones who live in town have the lowest attendance. The 20th is the best because most people have achieved or accepted their position in life. This is usually a good turn out. Everyone is more comfortable with who and where they are. Sure this is simplified but it bears a lot of truth. How does this relate to you?

You are hungry for success. That's good, it will come to you if you want it bad enough and keep focused. We are always happy for our friends' fortune but WE want to be the one who wins the lottery! That's human nature. Your feelings are your catalyst to achieve. If you didn't have that competative nature, you might let yourself become too comfortable where you are. What you're feeling is very natural for your age. It's just a bummer that you have so MANY aquaintances who are in a temporary state of success. (IT is never a given that it will last)

There is no doubt in my mind you will find your own "greatness" and I don't think it's going to take all that long! Just remember a happy life is the only true success.

[GeoffZ]

amycat412, just out of curiousity and as a one life to live fan, who is the guy you know that is on the show?

[amycat412]

I went to HS with Kamar De Los Reyes.

He was Luis back then.

[Tom Earp]

Life, where do you come up with this stuff!!!!!????

Hell, you know me and I am the most important person I know!

If you do not write these down in a book, you are not right!

"Cogito Ergo Sum" Hell I know I think I Am!