I'll just be a rock star, thank you.

I’m participating in Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop this week. The writing prompt I’ve chosen is:


wholly I Wanna Be MADE! You remember the MTV series where nerdy high school kids are made to be popular and what not? If you could be MADE into anything…what you be made into?

When I was little, I wanted to be a rock star. I still kind of do. In fact, I think that’s part of the reason I became a teacher — so I could be the center of attention with an audience that couldn’t go anywhere without fear of reprimand.

I’ve tried several times to pick up the guitar, but the callouses that are left behind make me sad and whiny. The piano and I don’t get along too well. I once played the tambourine in a band for a night (and some rehearsals). I can sing, but for whatever reason am self-conscious about just letting myself go.

But, I still want to be a rock star. In the kitchen, when only the Animal is watching, I jam out to “What about Love,” and sing it like I’m one of the Wilson sisters. I picture myself on the stage, microphone in my hand, a screaming crowd before me.

I also wanted to be an actress. Because I hit some sort of shy mode when I was in elementary school, I didn’t have the guts to do anything on stage until somewhere in high school. My parents moved our family to NC right before my senior year, so I was sort of able to redefine myself. I signed up for theater class, got the role of Elizabeth in Kapfenberg The Crucible, and fell in love with being on stage. There were a few chorus roles at the community theater (my favorite was in Sweeney Todd) and then the role of Josie in Neil Simon’s Proposals. My teaching career started that fall, and I was just too busy to try to get on stage again. Then, I was married. Then, there was grad school and a baby. Rinse and repeat, and I haven’t had a chance to get back to it!

Henry Rollins

Okay fine, I just want to be famous. I want to write a book, but I haven’t accomplished that yet. I want to be on TV. I want to be known for something. So, if I could be “made,” I’d want MTV to help me be a famous writing, acting rock star. (By the way, when I googled “writing, acting rock star,” the first entry on Google was Henry Rollins — random.)

All that said, I’m just going to share some funny pictures from my many opportunities to dress up when I was a teacher at the local high school. I consider these my latest acting and singing gigs. Enjoy.

I’m straight up “Gangsta” in this picture. Our school had made it to the State Football championship. The “posse” and I created a rap called, “Baby Got States,” and performed for the entire school. We were the bomb diggidy. What you can’t tell is that my pink hat says, “50 Cent.” And yes, it’s MY hat.

How cute am I in this picture? It was “nerd day.” Any chance to wear my rainbow suspenders, I take. I’m holding on to a Ronald McDonald pencil sharpener. And that’s my husband’s shirt. Just sayin’.

I’m Robin on the left. My sign says “CRASH!” I have on an itchy wig that my students continued to ask me to remove. This morning was one of the funniest moments in my teaching career. Batman (civics teacher), Catwoman (algebra teacher), and I walked down the hall punching and kicking as we passed open classroom doors. The looks on the students’ faces were priceless.

And here I am as “Pink.” Mary Beth (beauty in yellow sweatshirt) did my hair, and I just assumed that sticking my tongue out like that made me look as awesome as Pink looks on a regular basis. Not sure that I was successful, but it sure was fun!