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DIARY OF A GIRL-NEXT-DOOR HEAVY METAL NOVELIST
April
28, 2005
If an archeologist
searches through my hard drive someday, this is what she would find
for April 28, 2005:
Dear Staff:
I think you know that long ago I found a professional home in the mission of the liberal arts, and for six amazing years I have worked with remarkable teams of students and professionals to try to make that mission a reality for our students.
This is a time in the campus's history in which the College community shows unity in its goal to connect students' classroom learning with their extracurricular lives. Knowing that you and the faculty will be working together to create a dynamic residential experience consistent with our big-picture goals, it is easier for me to take a leap of faith and follow a destiny that does not include being the Associate Dean of Students.
For the coming year, I have decided to resign from my position in order to follow my dreams as a writer and public speaker. I say this with a certain amount of guilt and fear, but I know that if I don't pursue this path, I will have been untrue to the mission I claim to serve.
I intend to stay here in the city and become a more active citizen in the community. I can't wait to visit campus and see your accomplishments. To the seniors, I look forward to staying in touch and hearing how you are living your own fantasies. As always, my offer to help you with your resumés stands.
Best wishes with exams. I look forward to seeing you next Saturday and saying a proper good-bye.
-Colette
I'm going to go sing some sad country songs at karaoke now.
April
29, 2005
I scored a ticket to see one of my favorite public figures next week.
I need a date, so I asked my favorite man, whom I considered a sure
thing. He turned me down flat. Thanks, Dad! Later tonight, I thought
I had plans with another interesting man, and he didn't even call. Holy
abandonment issues. No job, no dates... I guess there's only one thing
to do with my extra time. I'll have to become obscenely famous and rich.
I was hoping to avoid all this success stuff, but if that's my destiny,
who am I to argue?
May
1, 2005
May has always been my lucky month. Perhaps 2005 will prove to be the
best of all. Advance sales are happening even though I haven't had time
to promote myself the way I want and positive reviews are boomeranging
back to me. I'm taking the biggest career risk of my life, but I feel
nothing but optimism. My lover from last summer, Gym, and I have been
spending more time together, and I have a date with my favorite dude
on Wednesday night. Thanks, Dad!
Yesteday, Dad was in town to pick up a case of books to sell, and I took him to my favorite burger joint, Captain Gus's. My picture is on their wall of fame!!! Today, Captain Gus's. Tomorrow, the world.
May 2, 2005
I sent out some press releases in anticipation of the NY/NJ
KISS Expo. Pretty soon, I suspect KISS
Nation will let the cat out of the bag and reveal the details of
our collaboration. It's going to be scary and exciting, but that's pretty
much the story of my life right now. Word is now out at the day job
that I'm heading off into the sunset. As things have a way of happening,
they announced my departure only to the faculty and staff, but they're
having a reception in three days to which only students are invited
(it's "not [their] practice to make such announcements to students").
Oh, well. More cake for me, I suppose.
How magical a life do you have as a KISS fan when you say to yourself, "Oh #*$%! I forgot to return Bob Kulick's call this weekend!" When I got back from Cincinnati, I realized I had forgotten to have someone take a picture of Bruce Kulick and me while we worked as table buddies in the vender area. One thing I never want to lose is my sense of being star-struck with the KISS dudes. If I really think about it, my goal is just to make them a little bit star-struck, too.
May
3, 2005
I have a date with Bill Clinton and Dad tomorrow night. My life is gooooood.
The day after that, the day job is having a "Have a Nice Life"
reception for me. I can already tell I'm going to cry. I'd rather have
an Al Pacino And Justice for All scene, but I gotta tell ya,
I'll probably just cry.
You know who else cried? My wind ensemble conductor when he read the day job announcement about my departure. I know this because I emailed him today to see if I could still be in the wind ensemble even though I'll be a higher education renegade. Lucky for me, the beat goes on.
...and lest I should forget, I have a book signing lined up in my hometown.
May
4, 2005
Humanity is a really cool thing.
May
6, 2005
I'm so tired I couldn't even recognize the May 5 anniversary of my first
real kiss. Oh well. I've been collecting book reviews from people like
the magnificent Bruce Kulick
I've been in touch with retailers, I've sent press materials to Central New York, I've seen Bill Clinton, I've attended my own retirement party, I've had a professional pedicure, and now I need some sleep so I can go meet KISS Nation in the morning.
As always, I double dare you to have a cooler life than me. Just try it.
May 7, 2005
Tonight was our annual staff end-of-year party at the day job. I knew
there would probably be some hoopla, and I was resigned to the fact
that I would probably cry, but I had no idea...
When I got to the gig, the staff said that they had something to show me. "Let the surprise out," said one of the guys. A cake? Present? I was already awed by a photo collage they had made, which was essentially an episode of "Colette Shaw This Is Your Life". There were pictures of the current staff, as well as tons of shots of adored students I'd worked with over my tenure at the college. It was the perfect gift, until...
a door opened and out stepped one, two, three, more, more, holy crap, they kept coming...
It was the people in the pictures. The alums. The believers. They came back. I couldn't believe it.
Man, we did some amazing work together. I learned so much and felt like I was part of something far bigger than any of us individually. Tonight's party was the present, the past, and a celebration of the future. I don't know why, but I didn't shed a single tear (until I got home, anyway). I remember why I loved this thing called higher education so much. We make a difference.
I just sent out a bunch of publicity materials for my trip to NY at the end of the month, and earlier in the day I sent out a résumé to the love of my life. Maybe these beasts can coexist afterall. (continue)