Anyhow...... it *really* has been an amazing week! It started with the kids and I getting to fly to New York City to film a short segment for The VIEW! (My episode airs THIS FRIDAY!)
Now.... I must first say that I (actualy, El Capitan and I) have turned down several "big name" day time talk shows.... as we never intended to "get famous" and I *clearly* lack any kind of media training which shows as I bumble my way through interviews.... hahaha - AND, we would like El Capitan to stay as "anonymous" as possible as we are worried about his ability to work and find new work down the road.... ;)
However, even though we *are* divorced, as this affects our *whole family*, past, present and future, I've called and talked to El Capitan about every interview offer and we've discussed what to do, and what to take each time.....
But, when The Deity calls - you simply HAVE to answer. The Deity you wonder.....? Let me explain......
The kids and I are HUGE - like Michelin Man at the end of Ghostbuster's - HUGE fans of all things Muppets. We have watched the movies and the episodes and the kids LOVE LOVE LOVE every single movie.... and as such, for several years The Boy thought that Whoopi Goldberg was "God". In their more recent Christmas movie, Whoopie plays God who sends David Arquette down to earth to help Kermit and his friends win back the theatre from Joan Cusak. So *anytime* we saw Whoopi Goldberg, The Boy would point and say, "that's God, Mommy".
Yes, in case you're wondering: I'm totally comfortable with the idea that my son would see an African American Woman as God. In fact, I was thrilled by it....
So, when The Deity called (or rather, her producer called) to ask me to travel to New York - I pretty much said yes in a "New York" minute... bad pun (sorry!).
Then I called El Capitan who was very happy to hear that the kids would get to go to New York and see the Statue of Liberty!!!!!
It was an AMAZING trip.... they sent a towncar with our driver Joseph - who the kids adored. We went to our first hotel which was located on Central Park (thanks to Bubbie and Papa who paid for that first night!!!) and the kids got to start their trip playing on the play structure at Central Park. It was just amazing and humbling and amazing... to be sitting in such a great city - all because I put a silly sign in my yard.... hard to imagine and even harder to imagine how *I* even got here!
Then the kids and I went to Times Square - which... if I'm being *totally* honest - isnt' anywhere near as cool as Picadily Circus.... :) Sorry.... but after three years in London - I'm qualified enough to say it! lol But the kids LOVED the lights and signs - oh, and the M&M and Disney Stores!
The next day we hauled our tired, hot and sticky a$$es to the Statue of Liberty. It was.... quite a moment. The Boy was very excited and seemed fascinated by how "big" she was. Mostly, the kids just played in the green space at the bottom of her feet while I lay back and take in the New York City skyline .... it was one of those moments, as a parent, that you hope your children remember forever. Also.... I think that that's the key to traveling with small kiddos - just let them take in the action however they want too. They weren't going to listen to the talking head set - the history is somewhat lost on them... so hopefully they will just forever remember Her beauty and playing and running at Her feet.... I know I will.
Then we hit up FAO Schwarz.... The Girl LOVED the piano.... which was fitting as she had "tap danced" her way through New York City - waiting for cabs, in the rain in Times Square, in the hotel lobby, in the bathroom waiting for brother to poop (because like alllll children, my son has to poop at THE. MOST. INCONVENIENT. TIMES! So, if you dare, picture me, laden down with a stroller that keeps tipping over from bags and diapers and shopping, holding my purse away from the bowl and trying to wipe a poopy butt (all while threatening certain death to either child if they touched ANYTHING in the bathroom! lol) while The Girl tap danced away to little made up songs - sung at the TOP OF HER LUNGS, naturally - just outside the stall door.
It was Single Mommy Good Times at it's best.... hahaha
Then our taping day came and Joseph came back to take us to the ABC Studio.... we got our own dressing room!!!! And they even did my hair and make-up!!!! Which... i'm pretty sure is much like putting lipstick on a pig, but I super appreciated their efforts anyway.... hahaha
And then we hit "the green room" - picture more tap dancing and several women oohing and ahhing at how cute and well-behaved my kids were (insert: for a crazy lady who puts crazy signs in her yard *here*) - and then I watched them film the Regis Philbin segment - then suddenly I was mic'd up and sent onstage.....
And I think I kind of blew it... I wasn't nearly as composed as I had been in my previous interviews... well, I *think*I giggled less than when I talked to Dr. Drew.... lol - but.... over all, there were things I wanted to say that I didn't... I'm not sure I made the best "impression".... in fact, I'm a bit worried about that now.....? Not sure how it'll all come across - do they crop things out? Do they take out some of it? I don't know yet......
All in all - YOU try sitting with a Deity and tell me how calm and collected and clear headed you are... lolololol
And then the Kardashian dude was there..... meh.
All the ladies were really, truly, nice and down to earth. Mrs. Hasselbeck came out just to meet me special - Ms. Goldberg said she was my "biggest fan" - and Ms. Behar got her make-up done next to me - SHE was sooooo funny and nice!!!!! But, Ms. Shepherd went out. of. her. way - to share with me some intimate details of her own personal struggles of her own.....
It was amazing. It's crazy how this act of betrayal can bond so many of us - it seems to create a kind of "common ground" for me with soooo many people. I'm constantly humbled (I need a new word here!) by that... and I think that that is the part of this whole crazymixed-upjourney that I like the most - all the connections I have made either through email, or comments on the blog... so many beautiful women who have risen above and replaced their broken hearts and broken homes with joy and love and happiness..... it's brilliant.
Best of all... was our trip to Ground Zero. You really can't miss it. As we walked closer and closer - my hair started standing on end - and my stomach started to hurt - and that was *before* I realised we were standing in front of World Trade Center 4. It's like deep down in your very soul, you *know* where you are and what it means.... the loss and devestation and the tears and the pain.... they still linger in the air as an almost tanigble reminder of that day.... and so it should linger there forever.
Because, as you stand there and see the city and it's people still rising up and rebuilding and moving forward (or rather, pushing forward with a few well placed fbombs because it's New York City) - it's a gentle reminder that, indeed, people DO and HAVE had it much worse than I have.... and again, if the *worst* thing that ever happens is my husband goes for a ride on a 22 year old that doesn't clearly understand the devestation she's caused - it's not ever going to compare to what 3,000 people lost that day - nor does it compare to the pain of all the people lived on those streets, worked in those surroundings buildings and what they had to bear witness to and live through..... so yeah, I must *just* be the luckiest scorned, slightly bitter woman *ever*. I'm mostly certainly GRATEFUL.... just, so, so, so, GRATEFUL.... thanks for taking this ride with me - hopefully you like "The View" as much as I do from here...... fanfreak