People before plays
To me, this means that dinner with my friends where we laugh and talk and create memories is infinitely more important than my next audition, the next song I sing or being featured on ACCESS HOLLYWOOD. This means that being at home for Christmas is more important than anything even remotely involved with the entertainment industry. As I said to a casting director last year who said I should stay in town to do a certain production and not go home for Christmas, "I don't know about you, but I genuinely LIKE my family and I want to be with them during the holidays!!!"
"People before plays" has served me well and enriched my life. I don't want people to stand over my casket and say, "Wow, he had a great resume, didn't he?" I want them to say that I was there for them when they needed me, that I was a loving friend, a loving son, a loving brother and that I made their lives happier because I was a part of it.
But more than that, I want those people to know that they brought happiness and love and warmth and laughter into my life day after day. To quote my favorite line from THE WIZARD OF OZ...
"The heart is not judged by how much you love,
but by how much you are loved by others."
but by how much you are loved by others."
Yeah...that's the gayest thing I've had in my blog so far and my Blog Fag Rating is currently somewhere between Clay Aiken and Charles Nelson Reilly. Oh well, this blog could be all about Bea Arthur...
To let them know that I am thankful for them and that I love them, here are, in no particular order, a few of the people who have made my life incredibly happy in the past year:
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Steve Hobson - Alanda's lovely husband who I thank for putting up with all of us crazy theatre people and for sharing my insane passion for comic books. I'm bringing you another stack of comics tomorrow to catch you up on 52! And thanks to Steve for sharing his lovely parents with all of us holiday orphans. I can't wait to see them tomorrow!!
Max Chung - Our other comic book buddy is an incredible friend and gave me the title for my latest cabaret show (MIDLER ON THE ROOF). Max kicked musical theatre ass in THOROUGLY MODERN MILLIE earlier this year. I can't wait to see your new cabaret show in its full form (I don't want to give away the title here because its too good and some asshole will steal it!)
Aaron Hunt - The man who has truly helped me become stronger than I ever thought I could possibly be and who has helped me find the strength to stand up for myself and for what I believe in, always and in all things. My life and my soul would be much poorer had I not met you, lived with you and been blessed with your friendship.
John Burton - Aaron's lovely boyfriend who brings so much joy with him everywhere he goes and who gives me hope that there is someone out there for me - - because he and Aaron have a relationship filled with laughter, communication, honesty, trust and intimacy like none other I have ever seen.
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Brooke Sherrod - I may be her gay husband but I am so happy that there is a new man in her life who gives her the love, respect and joy that she deserves each and every day. I can't wait to meet him!!!
Mike & Andy - My Liza buddies! I am SO HAPPY that Mike is blogging again. As a gift for Christmas a couple of years ago, Mike gave me a hardback copy of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY and it is my favorite novel of all time. Thanks for giving me The Escapist's Key and thank you both so much for your incredible friendship.
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My Cousin Kristie Nelson - Who always visits me here in Chicago when she's in town making the Merchandise Mart 28 more shades of fabulous. She looks like a million bucks 24/7 and she gives so much of herself to her friendships, her family and her boyfriend. Thank you for keeping us connected all these years. I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!
My Father - Who I grow closer to every day and who gave me more than I ever knew - - my spirit, my humor, my sense of fairness and respect for others all come from my Dad and when I hug him, I feel safe and secure in the world.
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My Mother - My hero. She has been beaten down more times than I can count and every single time she stands up and begins again. Her intense love of family, her empathy for others and her ability to give so much of her heart and soul freely after being hurt so often is a trait I admire and aspire to achieve. I am proud to say that my mother is my friend.
And to so many others - - Joe, Jaya, Jeff & Jamie, Jon, Karen, Doug, Keith, Michael K., Michael & Tim, Ted, Star & Josh, Ernie & Michael - - thank you so much for your friendship!
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm off to make Paula Deen's Corn Casserole (or as Clover calls it "Corn Pie") for Alanda's Turkey Day Party!!
3 comments:
Hello Cousin,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I too am thankful to have you in my life you are my one and only relative who truly gets me.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving here I cooked tons of food turkey, home made cranberry sauce, collards, stewed corn, mashed potatoes. Typical southern fare but my father made a dessert to die for a pecan pie cheesecake it was a little bite of heaven Mrs. Paula would have been proud.
Take care of yourself, see you soon.
Kristie
Kristie - The Paula Deen Corn Casserole that I made for Alanda's get-together definitely brought a little Tennessee to the table! I'm so glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. See you VERY soon!
Alanda - I love you too and Thanksgiving at your place was Di-Voon. Thank you so much!
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