From Dwarves to Passover Wigs

I just came from a meeting at Disney and I had the best time. Tomorrow I go back to teaching Jews.

Last year around this exact time, or a little earlier, I also had a meeting with Disney. And then went back to teaching Jews.

I remember this because I walked onto the studio lot last year on a sunny morning, with Starbucks in hand, and saw a huge beautiful doorway flanked by statues of dwarves. I was overcome with happiness. How great would it be to wake up every morning and be greeted by that? Or walk down "Dopey Street" and hang a left at "Sleepy Drive"? You bet I'd whistle while I worked. That meeting had been with a friend from film school who brought me in to discuss concepts for a Disney channel show. I had fun, pitched some stuff, talked creativity, then drove from there to work, at an Orthodox Jewish school, changing into my requisite long skirt, with my clavicle, ankles and elbows covered and arrived to see a notice in the office that said:

"Passover Wigs on Sale."

Now I have nothing against Passover wigs. I didn't even know they existed, or that when Moses split the Red Sea it would one day be celebrated in such a manner, and I'm always in favor of a good sale- no that was not it. It's just that I had wanted to be in entertainment all my life, and it was a very jarring moment to go from dwarves to Passover wigs in the span of an hour.

Again, nothing against where I work or its customs. I love the people, I love affecting kids' lives, I love the free coffee. And most especially I love going in every day and making people laugh or smile. That's really what my job has been this year and I have embraced it. Years ago, when I was a teacher at Compton High a friend told me once, "Beverly, just for one year, why don't you try teaching and admit that you like it?" I had a hard time with that. Back then I'd wanted to be an actor. And I might have taught drama and produced musicals and changed peoples' lives, but I'd had this dream and I wasn't living it. The dream has since changed from acting to writing, and I have changed from The Hood to the Hebrews, but I still have that dream - and it is now to write for a one hour top television show. At the same time, this year I have admitted that I love making people happy and making a difference. And I do that with my classes, coworkers, friends and writing. But i still have this dream.

So today my writing partner and I went to Disney, met with the world's nicest exec, and had a really fun time. When he talked about what shows we liked, what shows we would want to write for and what we could add to it, I was in heaven. I hope I do get staffed. I hope I get to be on a show and be creative and make a difference and educate and enlighten and make more people laugh and be inspired.

And tomorrow, when I return to my Jewish school I will be glad to see the community I've come to love. And the kids who make me laugh, and the creative programs I've helped create, and the friends I share wonderful sarcastic moments with. Did I mention we have trees? And I love my bosses? I am very lucky.

Although the Passover wigs may be at an even better price now because Passover is over ( all the Easter candy is now at 1/2 price) and I didn't see any dwarves today (it was the ABC building) I will be happier going back to work this time.

I am closer to my dream than I've ever been and I am also quite happy on this strange and odd path I'm already on to get there.