What's it all about, Alfie?

Twenty years ago this very night, I was in a serious accident. I was traveling with other members of my church youth group and we were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Thankfully everyone survived. There were some significant injuries including my broken leg, but it could have been much, much worse. It’s the closest I’ve knowingly come to dying. Events like this bring focus to a person’s point of view, and I remember even as a high school sophomore honing in on what was important to me – my relationships with family and friends and God – and trying to figure out what I was born to do with my life (yea my second chance at that life). And now, I think I’d be wise to use this milestone as a chance to think about where I’ve been, where I’m going, and what’s important to me as well as the little changes I need and deserve.

I won’t claim to have it all figured out, not by a long shot – life is about learning and growing. But as I look back and look ahead, I feel content in knowing that I’m on the right path. I know that my purpose is to be a storyteller. If it sounds pretentious, I don’t mean it to be. It’s a vocation that’s actually rather simple and grounded. I’m meant to use my own unique outlook to express truths however lofty or relatively inconsequential, and I do this through my visual and performing abilities. I feel incredibly blessed to have a family that embraces me and my vocation and a second family of friends that support me in so many invaluable ways as well. And I also feel so fortunate to be finding ways to turn my calling into a way to make my living. It’s exciting. I love it. End of monologue… for now.

On a side note, I checked another item off my list (see below). I spent a few hours today at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. How I’ve been in Southern California for over 17 years and never witnessed this gem, I can’t comprehend. Some highlights were viewing masterpieces The Blue Boy and Pinkie as well as the Japanese gardens and the new Chinese gardens, but I think that what fulfilled me the most was knowing that this peaceful and beautiful place has been cultivated here for so long (since 1919) and will be here for a long time to come. I’ll be back.

And finally – and notification of this tidbit came while I was in the midst of writing this entry – I found out that I’ll be playing Alfie Doolittle in Music Theatre of Wichita’s My Fair Lady in June. So adding on my turn as Marcus Lycus in Funny Thing... Forum at the same theatre, I’m happy to say that I’ll be spending a full month tackling fun and challenging roles with some wonderful folks this summer. I’m thrilled! Take care, all. Peace & love!