Listen to Your Mother Show - Backstage, Onstage, the World's a Stage!

"How did it go??" everyone wants to know.  The first Listen to Your Mother Show to hit NYC is over, and I'm feeling its impact on every level, from my sore feet to my full heart to my blown mind.  I CAN'T WAIT for the videos to be posted to YouTube this summer, at which point I will offer you a link to experience the event yourself in all its hilarious, poignant, life-affirming glory.  In the meantime, a few pictures from behind-the-scenes to share the excitement of the day:

We took over the JCC on the Upper West Side of Manhattan; the sold out house filled up to the rafters.  

photo:  Holly Rosen Fink

Once we realized the buzz coming through the speakers in the dressing room was the live audience filling the hall, the nerves really kicked in - cast members rushed the bathroom, rummaged through purses for mints, sent last minute Tweets, checked texts one more time to make sure their babies were doing fine without them, and started taking iPhone pictures of everyone taking iPhone pictures: 

With Una LaMarche, of the New York Observer and The Sassy Curmudgeon

Emcee Rene Syler, @Goodenufmother, tweet diva!

Alysia Reiner, actress, model, mom - her little girl danced backstage dressed as a ladybug

With Estelle Sobel Erasmus

Estelle Erasmus and I took some deep breaths and meditated a moment, director Amy Wilson passed out gifts with the most important word of the day inscribed on them, we all held hands and wished the absolute best for each other, and then...

Showtime!

photo:  Holly Rosen Fink

I told the story of The Cookie Jar, a story I have been burning to tell for 6 years.  Here, with all these people listening, I shared one of the deepest moments I have had with my daughter.  At one point, the lights started flickering, as if taken over by a poltergeist.  Either that, or I was about to pass out.  In my high heeled pumps that started feeling teeteringly high, I thought I might falter as well.  But the story, with its joy and pain and a life of its own, carried me through.

When I sat down, the best part began.  You see, in my eagerness to TAKE THE MIC!  SPEAK MY MIND!  SAY MY PIECE!  I forgot the most important, most gratifying thing, the word engraved on the necklace Amy and the production team gifted us with:

 

Listen.

I listened to 14 beautiful, heartfelt stories from people I didn't know just months ago.  So brave, each and every one, stepping up to share, touching a room full of strangers who now know something essential about them, something deep and real.  None of us will be the same.

I was particularly thrilled to see my agent and editor after the show:

With Brettne Bloom of Kneerim & Williams, and Becky Saletan of Riverhead Books

And my parents.  Although they're so adorable no one will believe me now when I call them Tiger Parents.

With Ba and Ma

Here we all are, bright and beautiful.  Wait til you hear what we have to say. You'll want to run out and write your own story and be here next year.  And I hope you will.  We'll all be in the front row, cheering.

photo:  Jennifer Lee