So, Peter Pan.
I wrote about Oldest Junior Hall and his dream to see Peter Pan, a dream he’d had since he was just a little Peter Pan himself. And lucky him, the show came to The Fox Theater in Atlanta, and luckier him, his mother (that’s me) took him (and his sister) to the show. Childhood dream happily, wonderfully realized. Yay!
But that is not the story here. The story here is Cathy Rigby (who plays Peter Pan).
Honestly, when I saw that Cathy Rigby was playing Peter Pan, I was a little wary. I mean, I’m all for stamping out ageism, and keeping fit, but Cathy Rigby? How old is Cathy Rigby, anyway? I watched her do her gymnastics thing in the Olympics years ago. (I was but a wee, wee child.)
So I looked it up. She’s 59. FIFTY-NINE. Which by itself is no big deal. I know plenty of 59 year olds. But I don’t know any 59 year olds who can walk on their hands, do splits and cartwheels, flip into dozens of somersaults while FLYING, and sing at the same time.
I sat up there in my seat absolutely amazed. The fact that she could remember all her lines was pretty stupendous, but that she still had moves like Gabby Douglas was…I don’t even have a word for it. Inconceivable. That’s what it was: inconceivable. Even Oldest Junior Hall remarked upon it.
Now, Cathy Rigby didn’t leave gymnastics and immediately take up theater. Nope. She taught gymnastics and enjoyed a long career as a sports commentator, embarked on a seven-year stint in intensive theater and voice training, and then hit the boards as Peter Pan in 1990. Talk about someone going after a dream.
So I watched Cathy and thought how in the world does that woman have the energy to hop all over that stage (and never once fall on her butt)? But I also thought it’s never too late to go after what you want.
What do you want in your writing career? It’s not too late to achieve your dreams–and you don’t need fairy dust, either. Just focus on what you want and the steps that will get you there. Then do it.
(But I wouldn’t mind a sip of whatever Cathy Rigby’s drinking before those Peter Pan shows.)
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
It’s been a long, slow road for me and my writing but I keep going, one step at a time, and try to recognize and enjoy all the successes along the way. Kind of like the tortoises – they move slow but they get wherever they want to go eventually, even taking the time to enjoy a chomp on a leaf or two. 🙂
(Years and years ago, I saw Sandy Duncan play Peter Man – loved it!)
Thank goodness dreams don’t have time limits! (Well, I guess if your dream is to be an Olympic gymnast, starting at 50-something might be problematic.)
I remember when Sandy Duncan did Peter Pan (Of course, we were mere tots then, right? 😉 )
Wow, if that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is. And definitely in keeping with the spirit of Peter Pan! Thanks for the good advice, Cath. I’m off to do a little dreaming now.
I know, Debra–talk about your not growing up! 😉
Good luck with that dreaming!
That’s amazing, but then Cathy Rigby has always amazed me. She’s such an example for all of us to never give up on our dreams. Thanks for sharing.
You know what else she’s kind of famous for, Suzanne? Stay-free pads. She broke that taboo and did those commercials. And the rest, as they say, is history. 🙂
Wow, did I ever need to read this today! It’s like you saw right into my brain, or were sitting in the passenger seat of my car while I ranted at myself earlier. Thanks for always giving me a kick in the butt, even when you don’t know you’re doing it.
Well, I aim to please, Lisa. And if that means I have to kick a few butts, so be it. 😉
You’re so slim and trim. You can’t stand on your hands? I’m shocked.
Thanks for the inspiration. I’m going to keep tottering along. I hope I can book published before I’m back in diapers and on my way out of this world. But I’ll keep writing no matter what, because…um…I’m obsessed.
But obsessed in a good way.
And P.S. It’s not the hand-stands. It’s the SINGING at the same time. That’s talent, Sally. 😉
I’m with Sally…unless she’s tempted to pull the football out from under Charlie Brown yet again…
I’d like someday to publish a book. Perhaps it will never happen. But I can keep plodding forward.
But you’re not plodding alone, Sioux. And it WILL happen, if you keep at it. That’s what I tell myself, anyway. 😉
Well, with a name like Cathy, she has to be good!
I secretly had that thought, too, Val! 😉