February 12, 2011

• what’s lost is found . . .

  A few years ago now, I wrote a blog about turning 30.  And how I had imagined what 30 would be like . . .  that I would be somewhere amazing, being a musician, building a life. 

   

  Never, in a million years, would I have guessed I would be here. 

   

  I am proof . . living proof. . .that if you work hard enough, and have determination . . you CAN get what you want. 

   

  July 26, 2010 . . it was a normal day in the life of me.  Office job, freelance musician gigs in the evenings . . . lovely apartment . . lonely life.  2 cats.  All the trimmings.  Then . . I received an email.  Just a short email . . .  “hey Meredith, we’re holding auditions . . . send in a video”.  I knew the person who was emailing . . he and I had gone to school together.  I hadn’t seen him since.  But, an opportunity is an opportunity.  I only had one week to prepare.  (absolutely not enough time) . . but I gathered my wits, and sent in the tape.  It was due August 1st.  I sent it off August 1st. 

   

  August 3, 2010 . . . I was on a plane to Ireland for my cousins wedding.  I briefly thought about the audition, but figured that if anything happened he would email me.  I didn’t give it another thought. The wedding was beautiful  . . it was SO cold there . . . I finally got to meet my cousins son.  It was a wonderful few weeks. 

   

  August 15, 2010 . . I returned back to the US . . . once again thought about the audition.  I hadn’t heard a thing . . . shrugged it off as usual . . . just another audition in the books.  Time to keep on keepin’ on. 

   

  August 22, 2010 . . . I’m driving to my parents house for a Sunday visit.  Sunshiney day . . . I was singing along to the radio . . . my life was routine, but I was finding the best in it.  My phone goes off letting me know I have a text message.  I glance at it, but don’t know the number . . so keep driving.  Upon arrival, I grab the phone as an afterthought . . . better check it before I go inside in case it’s something important. 

   

  “Mere . . things look good . . . contact me ASAP.”

   

  o_0

   

  Right there.  Right there in that moment, my life was thrown into a whole other dimension.  I had won.  I won. *I* won an audition.  I *won* an *audition!* . . I did a victory dance in the driveway.  I danced into the house . . . . I stood there staring at my parents . . . how do I tell them?  How do I break this incredible news to them?  How will they take it?

  Not only did their daughter achieve something she’s been working for since she was 9 years old . . (here will be joy! excitement!) . . . but this job will take her further away from them than she’s ever been before in her entire life. 

   

  My mother didn’t even bother with the happy.  She glared at me.  “you can’t go” she says.  Her bottom lip is threatening to poke out of her mouth like a defiant child.  My father just looks shocked.  Slightly unsure of what to say.  He looks worried. 

   

  You see . . . I didn’t move across the US.  I didn’t get a job in Europe, or Asia. 

   

  I won an audition for an orchestra in Mexico.   And the season started in 2 weeks. 

   

  Panic ensued, lives were turned upside down, my bosses were crestfallen yet joyful for me.  In a whirlwind of activity, I left behind my old, easy, routine for an adventure.

   

  I’ve been living in The Yucatan Peninsula since September 6, 2010.  And starting today, I’m back to Xanga.  This is where I’ll share all the deep, dark, scary bits . . . and the hopeful bits . . . the worried bits . . . the stuff I can’t share on the public, family blog.  This is where the real me will be.  The whole picture. 

   

  

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