Who else has done the unthinkable? I did today, thanks to Russell Brand (the wildly talented & wacky movie star married to Katy Perry).
Today I was assigned to interview the cast of the upcoming movie of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Djimon Hounsou). Despite the fact that I secured a babysitter for this exciting event (which was to take place in the morning), Mr. Brand had to unexpectedly “step out for a bit” and push most of his morning interviews to the afternoon. Which means, my schedule was shot to hell.
“But Russell! My babysitter has to leave at 12:30pm!!!! How will I finish our interview (and complete my job) if I’m stuck at home on baby-duty?”
Thanks to the wonderful women at Disney (who are also mommies!), I was able to go home, pack up little LadyP and tote her to my afternoon interview without a problem. Yes, they offered to watch her outside the interview room while I finished my rounds… without me prodding them! I was MORTIFIED upon my return, pushing my stroller into my “professional space of business,” but it had to be done. I was embarrassed and nervous, but there was NO OTHER CHOICE. If I’d met myself last year, I wouldn’t have liked me very much. Today, I became THAT woman.
As it turns out, LadyP was quite the hit with my colleagues. Exclamations of “Oh! You had the baby! How cute” went on nonstop, followed by questions and anecdotes about their own bundles of joy (appropriately at home with a sitter, unlike mine). And, from what they all told me: they’ve all taken their babies to work at one point or another… turns out that babysitter issues happen to others too. LadyP was then scooped up by another reporter/mommy and taken great care of while I zipped into Russell’s room to talk Shakespeare. My nerves soon melted away… every other Mom/Dad in the world deals with work/baby issues… I’m now part of that club, and it’s ok! In fact, it’s better than ok. It makes for quite the story.
In the room (with Russell) he flat-out interrupted me before we even started the interview. “Iz zat your bay-bay out there in za hallway?!?” Russell leaned forward and semi-demanded just as I sat down in the chair across from him (glazed-over look in his eyes, with hair that looked like it hadn’t been washed in 17 days. I say this with the utmost fascination). Yes, it is. “Huh.” He looked confused.
The rest of the interview went fine (minus his glazed-over gaze and slurred words… I only speak the truth). Mission accomplished. However, if you do this to me again, Russell, I’m sending in LadyP to ask you questions. 🙂
