Simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. It wasn't a white Christmas, but it was beautiful nonetheless. For our family, it was a day of wonder, watching our precious 2-year-old opening his myriad of presents and spending time with our family. It was a day filled with suprises but mostly filled with love.

But enough about us. I have to talk about this movie I watched last week called, A Perfect Day, starring Rob Lowe. Rob played an out-of-work sales exec who writes a best-selling book and goes from loving husband and father to ego-manic author in less than three commercial breaks. DH looks at me and says, "This is a good lesson for you." (And no, I didn't pick up my shoe and throw it at him.)

But as I finished watching the movie, I reflected on what I saw and I wondered how closely it paralleled to my own life. (Stop here if you're still planning to watch it.)

1. Rob (Rob Lowe's character's name - how cute) is unhappy with his job and is frantic when he's forced out of it. Hmm... last year I was unhappy with my job and I became frantic when I was laid off.

2. After a frenzied and fruitless job search, Rob's wife suggests he spend the time working on the book that he's had laying around for years. After a struggle, he manages to complete it in a few months time. Hmm... after a frenzied and fruitless job search, I decide to finish the book I'd been working on for years.

3. Rob submits his manuscript to several agents, who resoundly reject him. Hmm... after revising and editing and adding to my manuscript for more than a year, I research which agents and/or publishing houses to submit my manuscript to. I'm terrified of rejection and put it off.

4. An agent reads Rob's manuscript, falls in love with it and offers to represent him. She flies to his home and meets with him and his wife to discuss terms. Hmm... I submit a sample of my work to an agent at a conference. She's impressed. I pitch my work to another agent who is also impressed. I finally decide to go with one of the agents. Our discussion consists of a very long phone call and several emails back and forth and a contract sent through the mail.

5. In a manner of weeks, Rob's manuscript is picked up for $300,000. Hmm... I'm still waiting.

6. The publishing house sends Rob out on a book tour. Hmm... Again, I'm waiting. But I know that's not really likely to happen. Any first time author knows that a book signing tour sponsored by the publishing company is unrealistic - unless you're Kim Catrall or Jose Canseco.

7. Rob's book becomes a best-seller. He's booked on Larry King and starts acting like he's the second coming to the book publishing world. Hmm... When Oprah calls, I'll be lucky if I can string a coherent sentence together.

8. A mysterious stranger follows Rob and warns him that he's about to die. Rob's ego blows up: he leaves his wife, his agent, his daughter and his common sense. Hmm... My husband knows too much about me to let my ego get out of control. Plus my son is too smart. He'd call me on my cell and figure out where I am.

9. Rob (wisely) turns down a chance to have an affair with a beautiful Brit. Hmm... I wouldn't cheat on my husband with handsome Brit. Too many complications all the way around.

10. Believing he's going to die, Rob tries to make amends with his family and his agent. Hmm... He got off way too easy. My family would never let me live it down.

11. Rob finds out that he's not going to die, but he was the victim of a very cruel joke - meant to wise him up to what's really important in his life, courtesy of his well-meaning agent. Hmm... my agent means well, but if I ever started acting like Rob, she'd drop me in a hot minute. She's too busy to conjure up stuff like that.

Though I enjoyed the movie - and the point that it was trying to make - I know how unrealistic it is. And yet, there's enough about it to be a cautionary tale not just for writers, but for anyone who finally achieves success in whatever it is that you're trying to do.

Bottom line: When you arrive, never forget where you came from and those who helped you get there.

Happy New Year to all! May 2007 be better than 2006!

In Him,
Donna