I've been thinking about the Emmys since Sunday night...not about the winners, or who should've won, or really anything having to do with the actual dissemination of the awards.
What resonated with me was one of the questions they asked the nominees, "What did your mother want you to be when you grew up?"
An odd question for an awards show, I think, as it's completely irrelevant to the work. But whatever. Like the awards themselves, who really cares.
What resonated with me, though, is the collective set of answers that the respondents gave. Each was something specific and job-related. A fireman, an engineer, a famous actor. I don't remember what specifically they said, but it was really kind of sad.
What did my mother want me to be when I grew up?
Happy.
It's that simple.
I'm sad for the nominees that that wasn't their answer. And I'm sad for their mothers.
But who cares about them.
I'm happy that my mother instilled that immediate response in me.
Thanks, Mom.
