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Honey, the travel channel’s on the phone

Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe, and it will come.

David Frost

 

It’s official!  We’re homeless and unemployed. And I feel completely aligned with the source. Just when I started to panic the universe sent me precisely what I needed to stay focused and know in my heart of hearts, this whole preposterous scheme is going to work out.

the call-1
Depositing my final steady paycheck

 

Last Friday was my last day at work, and I have mixed feelings as I really do love my job, but more importantly the phenomenal group of women that I work with. As I was desperately trying to wrap up my final projects and send my team off to the NACEE  conference (National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Education) in Phoenix, I got an e-mail from a friend and mentor who was just named National Geographic Traveler of the year. Pretty big stuff right? Congratulations to the Gilbert Family! They really are as badass as they sound. AND totally down to earth and fun to hang out with too. My apologies, I can’t help, but brag about them, I’m beside myself with joy for them!

Anyway, back to my story. I’m at my desk, firing off e-mails like mad, when I get an e-mail from Christine that starts: “Don’t kill me but….”

My heart stops. I think she’s cancelled the workshop we’re schedule to attend in November, and the reason we are hightailing it out of here on an insane schedule. Damn it.

I keep reading.

“I just got off the phone with a producer for the travel channel…”

My mind jumps from angst to joy! Go Christine! I’m thinking, They’re going to be on THE Travel Channel! 

Her e-mail continues.

“And I pitched our bike trip next summer, but I also gave him your contact information (as well as two other fabulous bloggers.) So, I’m sorry for summarizing your life like that.”

Did she really just apologize to me for giving me the contact of a lifetime? Did she really just pitch our story right alongside her own to a producer for National Geographic? Did she really just put me in a league with those other women doing amazing things?

“He may never contact you, I have no idea,” she confesses.

But it doesn’t matter. Not to me. Just to have someone who is such an inspiration to me, include me in a group of women I admire is enough for me. It’s the sign I needed to calm my inner barking dogs alerting me to the fact that the money stops coming in this month. That I am risking the security of not only myself, but also my children as we attempt to take our skills on the road and earn a living while actually living the life we want to be living. 

I’m on cloud nine. Of course my husband never answers his phone at times like these. So I tell my office mate Tanya, and my boss Amy. I don’t know who’s more excited, me or Amy. She starts coaching me on how to pitch to the channel (we are entrepreneurs after all!)

“Amy!” I protest, “I’m trying to finish your projects! If you keep egging me on, I’m going to get fired on my last day!”

I leave the office so full of gratitude and sparkle, I must be illuminating light beams to the moon.

Doesn’t matter if they never call. Suddenly I believe in us. My entire being knows we will be okay. More than just okay.

Saturday morning a notification flashes across my iphone. Damn it, we don’t have cell service where we are! It’s from the guy! I fly out to deck and stand on the railing where we can sometimes get strong enough signal to download an e-mail.

the call-2 the call-3
Trying to stand in just the right place to get 3G. Oh Plumas County!

It downloads. He wants to set up a call. He wants to hear more! Monday I get an e-mail from his assistant asking for us to fill out a casting document with detailed information about our plans.

Totally surreal, and yet completely natural feeling too.

Haven’t heard from them since.

Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe, and it will come.

David Frost

It’s official! We’re homeless and unemployed. And I feel completely aligned with the source. Just when I started to panic the universe sent me precisely what I needed to stay focused and know in my heart of hearts, this whole preposterous scheme is going to work out.

the call-1
Depositing my final steady paycheck

Last Friday was my last day at work, and I have mixed feelings as I really do love my job, but more importantly the phenomenal group of women that I work with. As I was desperately trying to wrap up my final projects and send my team off to the NACEE conference (National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Education) in Phoenix, I got an e-mail from a friend and mentor who was just named National Geographic Traveler of the year. Pretty big stuff right? Congratulations to the Gilbert Family! They really are as badass as they sound. AND totally down to earth and fun to hang out with too. My apologies, I can’t help, but brag about them, I’m beside myself with joy for them!

Anyway, back to my story. I’m at my desk, firing off e-mails like mad, when I get an e-mail from Christine that starts: “Don’t kill me but….”

My heart stops. I think she’s cancelled the workshop we’re schedule to attend in November, and the reason we are hightailing it out of here on an insane schedule. Damn it.

I keep reading.

“I just got off the phone with a producer for the travel channel…”

My mind jumps from angst to joy! Go Christine! I’m thinking, They’re going to be on THE Travel Channel!

Her e-mail continues.

“And I pitched our bike trip next summer, but I also gave him your contact information (as well as two other fabulous bloggers.) So, I’m sorry for summarizing your life like that.”

Did she really just apologize to me for giving me the contact of a lifetime? Did she really just pitch our story right alongside her own to a producer for National Geographic? Did she really just put me in a league with those other women doing amazing things?

“He may never contact you, I have no idea,” she confesses.

But it doesn’t matter. Not to me. Just to have someone who is such an inspiration to me, include me in a group of women I admire is enough for me. It’s the sign I needed to calm my inner barking dogs alerting me to the fact that the money stops coming in this month. That I am risking the security of not only myself, but also my children as we attempt to take our skills on the road and earn a living while actually living the life we want to be living.

I’m on cloud nine. Of course my husband never answers his phone at times like these. So I tell my office mate Tanya, and my boss Amy. I don’t know who’s more excited, me or Amy. She starts coaching me on how to pitch to the channel (we are entrepreneurs after all!)

“Amy!” I protest, “I’m trying to finish your projects! If you keep egging me on, I’m going to get fired on my last day!”

I leave the office so full of gratitude and sparkle, I must be illuminating light beams to the moon.

Doesn’t matter if they never call. Suddenly I believe in us. My entire being knows we will be okay. More than just okay.

Saturday morning a notification flashes across my iphone. Damn it, we don’t have cell service where we are! It’s from the guy! I fly out to deck and stand on the railing where we can sometimes get strong enough signal to download an e-mail.

the call-2 the call-3
Trying to stand in just the right place to get 3G. Oh Plumas County!

It downloads. He wants to set up a call. He wants to hear more! Monday I get an e-mail from his assistant asking for us to fill out a casting document with detailed information about our plans.

Totally surreal, and yet completely natural feeling too.

Haven’t heard from them since.

But I can still say: The Travel Channel called! How cool is that?

And if all else fails, we’re still famous amongst our loved ones! Look!

Plumas News-1
Thank you Debra for a beautiful article. You were one of the early people that grew my writing.

At the risk of forgetting someone, I’m going to share some of those that have been so instrumental in helping us get this far:

Mom & Dad and Abu, Marina, Martin and Caro of course! Mike Taborski, Cobey Brown (my bro!) Rob Russell and Nick Polzak for employing my husband. Rajinder Gill, Tanya Meyer, and Amy Schulz for putting up with my “creative process” and remote work style. And Audrey Ellis too! Michelle Fulton and Lovely Lisa for taking us into the Meadow Valley Social Club and making us part of the family at Falling Apart Farms. Katie Bagby at the Quincy Collective for renting us space to launch and putting up with the pitter patter of little feet as we worked late with the whole family packed in our “office.” Tall John from the UC Berkeley Camp for allowing us to stay in the most beautiful place Plumas County has to offer the month of October. Margaret Elyse Garcia for pushing me to write when I blamed my job and my family for not enough time. Lucia Buinno, my fourth grade teacher, that when I see her on the street still makes me feel like the smartest kid in class.

Christine Gilbert for believing in us. Bernard Edwards of Unconventional Veteran, Carmel Montgomery of The Journey Itself, Laura Byrne Paquet of Ottawa Road Trips, Zaza, and Sarah who all nurtured my fear and my dream to make this leap.

Christie Brawley, Jennifer Ludvigson, Melody O’Brien, Michelle Beaman, Claudia Rumold, I can’t do this. All of you. Seriously I couldn’t possibly list everyone here, but you know who are!
But I can still say: The Travel Channel called! How cool is that?

And if all else fails, we’re still famous amongst our loved ones! Look!

Plumas News-1
Thank you Debra for a beautiful article. You were one of the early people that grew my writing.

 

At the risk of forgetting someone, I’m going to share some of those that have been so instrumental in helping us get this far:

Mom & Dad and Abu, Marina, Martin and Caro of course! Mike Taborski, Cobey Brown (my bro!) Rob Russell and Nick Polzak for employing my husband. Rajinder Gill, Tanya Meyer, and Amy Schulz for putting up with my “creative process” and remote work style. And Audrey Ellis too! Michelle Fulton and Lovely Lisa for taking us into the Meadow Valley Social Club and making us part of the family at Falling Apart Farms. Katie Bagby at the Quincy Collective for renting us space to launch and putting up with the pitter patter of little feet as we worked late with the whole family packed in our “office.” Tall John from the UC Berkeley Camp for allowing us to stay in the most beautiful place Plumas County has to offer the month of October. Margaret Elyse Garcia for pushing me to write when I blamed my job and my family for not enough time. Lucia Buinno, my fourth grade teacher, that when I see her on the street still makes me feel like the smartest kid in class.

Christine Gilbert for believing in us. Bernard Edwards of Unconventional Veteran, Carmel Montgomery of The Journey Itself, Laura Byrne Paquet of Ottawa Road Trips, Zaza, and Sarah who all nurtured my fear and my dream to make this leap.

Christie Brawley, Jennifer Ludvigson, Melody O’Brien, Michelle Beaman, Claudia Rumold, I can’t do this. All of you. Seriously I couldn’t possibly list everyone here, but you know who are!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • October 17, 2014, 6:14

    Aw, you’re so sweet to mention me. I am seriously amazed by all you’ve accomplished since we met. It doesn’t seem like your fears or doubts are holding you back at all. I am excited to see you put all that energy and passion out into the world.

    • October 17, 2014, 6:17

      Carmel you left an impact on me you may never fully understand- but thank you! I hope I can lend some encouragement when you decide to make the leap to growing your family- that’s a wild ride!!

  • October 17, 2014, 6:58

    Super cool! This is exciting!!!! {Hugs}

    • October 17, 2014, 9:00

      Thanks Nichole! Hope all is well with you! xoox

  • Carina Retallack
    October 16, 2014, 9:32

    Amazing! I so look forward to each of your posts and to see what each day brings you in your adventure!!!

    • October 17, 2014, 8:59

      Thank you Carina! Dream big girl–you have that light in you. I can tell you from my short time of following my bliss, our belief in ourselves is the ONLY thing limiting our potential.

      Thank you again for the beautiful art you made of my family ; ) xox