Critter's "Calling"?

[Fierce Critter]

The other thread...

"Critter, you missed your calling..."

I'm not 100% sure what either of the people who said this means exactly... (you know who you are, ladies. : )

Not that I thought this merited a thread of it's own, but I really would like to know what "calling" you're thinking of, and I SERIOUSLY didn't want to derail Becky's thread. :

[fallennon]

You seem to be a strong leader type and great at helping people. I think that you probably would have made an excellent therapist or social worker...

[JaneDead]

what fallennon said. i didn't realize anyone else had said you missed your calling.

[Onyx]

*ahem* - folks, she's not dead yet

I've had several different careers (hairdresser, transcriptionist and now medical editor) and I don't rule out the possibility of a few more before I'm in my grave.

I agree Critter would be great at counseling or social work.

[Fierce Critter]

Thanks for clearing that up, gang. I thought that was what you meant.

Honestly, all I ever do here is relate experiences. If you've never noticed, most often, the way I offer "advice" is simply to tell a story of my own, or someone else's experience. An, "been there, done that - here's what I did/what happened to me" approach.

I never in the world would have thought I'd have gone from corporate slave to DNR worker to factory worker to self-employed-home-based internet merchant, gotten married, moved 11 times, moved out of state - 3 TIMES - etc. ALL of that, and SO much more, happened after I met Jon, so it's an intense amount of "newness" in a 6-year period. Lots of struggle, lots of lessons, lots of learning.

Before I met Jon, my "callings" included musician, English teacher, writer, and - good observations, ladies - counselor. I'm about 10 classes away from my teaching certificate, and probably will never want to complete that. That, I don't regret much, if at all.

The counseling - Onyx is right. I can always choose to change my major and get such a degree and do that if I want. And someday, I just might. Either that, or I've always loved and gotten tremendous satisfaction from working with the elderly.

The writing - I've been told I'd be good at it. But that's based on short stories, poetry, lyrics. I seem to hit a wall when it comes to full-length works. Perhaps I lack the discipline or attention span. But, again, that's something that isn't out of the question while I'm still kicking.

The one thing I feel I've missed out on and regret is the music. There was a time in the early 90's when I did a lot of demo work for people, played solo or in bands, and tried desperately to make some kind of career in music happen. Long, boring story. But I did come real close to industry insiders that told me if I could pull something together, they could shop me out. I just realized too late that I should give up on the band idea and give a solo career a try. By then, I'd met Jon. Our lives have been such a continuous story of upheaval, there just hasn't been enough "settling down" in my life to be able to focus attention on the music again. To remember how people used to love my voice, and to hear more recent compliments from the karaoke bar just deepens the hurt & regret.

Unfortunately, music IS an age-affected (and appearance-affected) industry. In these days of Britney Spears, boy bands, and ever-younger (and skinnier) pop stars, I just don't stand a chance of even getting a toe in the door. I even thought about auditioning for American Idol, until I found out I'm almost a decade "too old."

Still, though I'm mostly resigned to the fact that I'm not going to see the day when Jon gets to stay home and lounge by the pool while my records pay the bills, I'm not giving up the idea entirely. I didn't realize there was a huge folk scene still alive & kicking (thanks, Jon, for exposing me to that). And it's a scene that suits my style, and isn't quite as age- or appearance-prejudiced as pop/rock. So, if we get settled in Michigan again and I can finally focus on it like I want to, maybe it won't be a "dream gone by" after all.

Ugh. What a grossly "me" thread... can we change the title to "What is/was your calling" and let others join in, too? :

[JaneDead]

no i have noticed that you can relate it to yourself, but sometimes that is what makes people feel more comfortable. knowing the advice is coming from a "been there done that" perspective.

and i hope you will do something with your music and that i can hear it some day!

[fallennon]

What Dyno said LOL

[Fierce Critter]

"i hope you will do something with your music and that i can hear it some day!"

I just may be able to deliver on that sooner than you might think.

I'm putting together a song for the DGN compilation CD being discussed in the music forum. I'm almost finished, and if my ancient computer can handle the files, I might be able to actually submit it.

Little nervous - I'm not sure my system can handle the finished product. It's already showing me signs that it's going to protest the task I'm asking it to do, and I haven't even begun adding vocal tracks yet.

[Head Wreck]

its official. critter rocks