I had a friend from California come hang out with us here in Nashville for the past few days. We went out to a bar her first night here and I got two “Do you know that you look like Robin Roberts?”
She was flabbergasted. She thought, as I imagine most of you think, that I’m making up stories about people approaching me and pointing me out as Robin Roberts. I can see why you might think that. I do have a flare for exaggeration. I do tend to ere on the dramatic side of every story. I do not think I look like Robin Roberts. But here, people think I do. My friend tried to reason with my Robin Roberts fans. She pointed out my coloring might be similar but it’s not exact. She pulled up a picture of Robin Roberts to prove that we don’t look alike. She very gently tried to point out that they might be saying it, thinking it solely because I’m mixed race. She got nowhere. They were sure I looked like her and could not understand that being mistaken for her NEVER happened before I moved to Nashville. Not once in California did someone hesitantly approach me and let me know I look like her. Not once did someone awkwardly try to take my picture without me knowing it and get busted by her flash going off. Not once did someone – anyone - stalk me into the bathroom in the hopes of a brush with fame. She thought I was making it up. I wasn’t. It’s a fascinating thing, looking like someone. New to Nashville with no friends or familiar faces, my “Robin Roberts?” moments have been like a warm hug every time. They are sort of like a, “I’m being seen, I’m not invisible.” moment in my day. And, weirdly, it doesn’t irk me at all. I know I’m not her. I know I’m me. But the love I get from others merely because “...there’s something in your face that reminds me of her...” has been a bright spot in a lonely day. And now, it’s a ridiculously silly in-joke I share with my new friends here, with Husband, and now with my friend from California. And speaking of Husband, he has suggested. ‘What would Robin Roberts Do?’ as my new mantra. He thought it would be a fitting way to live through the confusion and messy discord in my life. He has a point. Robin Roberts always seems to have it together. Robin Roberts doesn’t seem to have any messy personal issues. She always looks put together and happy. Robin Roberts has managed, while work a ridiculous work schedule and recovering from a life ending illness, to write and finish a book. Robin Roberts never seems to go to the doctor’s office and find herself undressing in front of open blinds. If she did, we’d know. She even faced a life or death situation with grace and humility. There were no reports of her whining or sniveling or generally being anything like me suffering through my bout with flu last week. So maybe Husband’s right. I should adopt, ‘What would Robin Roberts Do?’ as my mantra. Then, maybe next time I’m faced with a muddy dog and a terrified chipmunk, I will just smile beatifically like she does and just enjoy the moment. Maybe this weekend, I'll sit down and finish working on that book, that play, that poem - maybe I'll just finish writing something. Maybe, the next time someone approaches me and asks me if I’m her, I should hug them and pose for a picture. Wait, no. Maybe first I should figure out how to not look like a bedraggled mess, make sure my hair isn’t a sorry mess of fro and twists and actually find out where the moving box of make-up is and put some on my dark spot splotched face. Then, when someone approaches me and puts me on their Facebook page for all eternity, I won’t look like I’m cringing with embarrassment to totally not be Robin Roberts. And Robin Roberts would be proud to call herself Robin Roberts. Or rather, not be ashamed that I was mistaken for Robin Roberts. Phew, this being Robin Roberts is hard work already. I might just imagine what she might do - and then do nothing. It’s worked pretty well for me already. And there’s no make-up involved...
1 Comment
Bear
5/16/2014 01:15:14 am
WhaWouRoRoDo? Love it!
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AuthorMy name is ej. I'm a girl. I say that because with the short hair and the short initials, folks aren't always sure. More brilliant insights to who I am in About me Archives
April 2019
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