The Starring Role

Exciting news...I've been cast as the lead role in my very own show. It's called the life and times of Lucy Anaya-Mitchell. It comes out pretty much every day from the time I awaken to the time I fall asleep. There are some behind the scenes things going on while I sleep, but you need a back-stage-pass to get to see that stuff. Unfortunately, as interesting as I find this show, I can't find much of an audience. Most people are too busy starring in their own shows to pay mine much attention. The great thing is, I have some small roles in the shows of other people, too. In the "life and times of Mychal Anaya-Mitchell" and the "Life and times of Alec Mitchell" I get to play the mom. She's quite a character. As fun and free-wheelin' as she likes to consider herself, she's really much more conservative than she ever dreamed she would be.

Speaking of which, the guy that plays my husband is pretty hot. His name is Steve Mitchell - both in real life and in the show. He's had many roles in my show. He started out just being a guy in my class about 25 years ago, then he was a drinking buddy, and then my confidante. Before you know it, we're off in Las Vegas getting married!

I've been thinking a lot about roles lately. It started a few days ago when I was listening to a radio interview with Raphael Yglesias, the author of "A Happy Marriage," an autobiographical story about his marriage and mostly his wife's death from cancer. It was a sad and poignant story, but the thing that struck me most was the fact that Raphael's parents were both fairly well-know authors, themselves (Jose and Helen Yglesias), and in the article he discusses what it is like to have your life portrayed in the stories of others. He says, "even when someone writes you in a novel flatteringly, the truth is it's always troubling because it's odd to be a minor character in someone else's life since we're always the major character in our own lives."

Sure, I already was aware that we tend to think that things such as a "bad hair day" or having a stain on our shirt as much bigger in our minds than they are in the minds of others. Still, I became keenly aware that not only am I always center stage in my own role, those around me are also at the same time starring in their own roles. I am at once flattered that I get to be part of their production - but at the same time, want them to stop and appreciate what a marvelous job I am doing playing my own role. I'm sure I'll be up for an Oscar one of these years...

Besides, B-sides

As one who has always been compelled to root for the underdog, I have also had a great deal of empathy for the "B" side of records. Of course in the age of CD's and electronic devices to listen to music, the "B" side is no longer a thing with which I struggle. However, as a young music listener I felt that it was only fair to listen to both sides of a record. Who was I to ignore a song that this musical artist put such work into? How could I sentence it to be face-down for its entire existence?

I don't know exactly what age it started, but I do recall that in our house we had a great rack of 45 records. Most of them no longer had their sleeves but they all seemed to play without skips or scratches. My cousin Melissa and I would spend long afternoons listening to them and making up dances to the various hits. This rack brought me my first introduction to David Bowie, with the song "Fame" (B-side, "Right"). But I digress...

My obsession with "B" sides continued even when I graduated to record albums. I would purchase an album for a specific song, but I would force myself to listen to the "B" side to the point of getting familiar with most of the songs before I would allow myself to listen to the "A" side; which of course contained the song for which the purchase was made.

I still don't know exactly why I would do this. Part of me thinks that in order to be a true "fan" of an artist, you should be familiar with a broader scope of their work. One can also get a greater sense of the artist by listening to the lyrics of a variety of their songs. Even if someone didn't write the song themselves, (Ironically, Barry Manilow did NOT write, "I Write The Songs") they are choosing a song for its message and caring enough about it to apply their voice, their essence. The second reason is that I've always been a bit of a masochist. It takes a certain amount of sacrifice to earn or deserve the honor of listening to the song that so moved me to spend my $3-12 dollars. I chalk that whole notion off to my good Catholic upbringing. You can't just walk in and get to hear "Ashes to Ashes," you have to earn the right by listening (and learning to love) "John I'm Only Dancing (again)" (1975). ...(I apologize for all the parentheses.)