The Keeper Goes To A Video Shoot. Yes, Really.

When I was about 8 years old, my father took me to Rockefeller Plaza. I had been allowed to skip school and accompany my father to an early morning business meeting in Midtown. It was a cold February day and I remember being amazed by the sites and sounds of the bustling New York cityscape. I was bundled in my light violet winter coat and I remember feeling fancy as we window shopped on 5th Avenue.

As a reward for my good behavior while he met with business clients in the city, my dad took me on a tour of the NBC Studios.

And I met Tom Brokaw.

Sort of.

Though it was more that I wasn’t paying attention, as an eight year old does, and I walked smack into Mr. Brokaw’s three piece suit vest. My father hastily apologized, Mr. Brokaw smiled his characteristic grin and we parted ways. Though it was only in passing, I was beyond excited to have laid eyes on the man who was always on my TV set promptly at 6 pm.

Thus began my love affair with NBC. Through the years, the Today Show has been a staple of my morning routine. Al Roker helped me decide whether it was too cold outside to walk to college classes (I always stayed home just be safe….), Matt Lauer fed my husband and I news as we huddled on our couch during 9/11and I nursed babies while watching the Today team bring the news to my family room. When I tell the kids to “turn on the news” in the morning, no one has to ask what channel…. it’s NBC. Duh.

A few years ago, when this blogging gig took on a life of it’s own, I was lucky enough to be able to join the Today Parenting Team. And I have to pinch myself every day when I get to work with the editors at Today Parenting because OMG IT’S TODAY PARENTING.

And, I’ve gotten to do some pretty amazing work with them. I mean, I have editors who arrange private tours of Universal Studios and give me VIP access to Jimmy Fallon’s amusement ride through NYC. Ask me what Hogwart’s Castle looks like at night without crowds? Go ahead, ask me: CUZ I KNOW THE ANSWER, thanks to the Today Parenting Team and their amazing staff.

Seriously: BEST. WRITING. GIG. EVER.

But, getting to see Hogwarts at night is NOTHING compared to my most exciting Today Parenting Team experience to date:

The Fruit Loops and I were asked to be in a Today Parenting Team video.

THIS. IS. NOT. A DRILL.

While I can’t tell you the details of my project, I can tell you this: I got to go to a professional AF studio in an uber cool part of Brooklyn for our shoot.

I mean, look at this joint:

And, the hits just kept on coming: the producer and crew had arranged for a professional make up artist to get me camera ready.

After I dropped dead from shock, I settled into Sarah Mari’s chair and let her work her magic.

As you can see, I needed A LOT of help to get camera ready. Frankly, I was more than a little surprised that Sarah Mari didn’t need to use actual cement to wrestle my wrinkles into submission. I’m telling you, she’s a miracle worker. And, if you live in the NYC area, YOU SHOULD HIRE HER. Trust.

With Sarah Mari’s magic, I wound up looking like THIS:

The Fruit Loops and I spent the morning in front of the camera and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I am happy to report that I didn’t drop a single swear word and I was fully conscious of my live mike at all times. Live mikes ruin careers, people, and I have a mouth on me. So, I feel as though I dodged a huge bullet there…

As I watched the final cut of our video, no amount of makeup magic could have kept my mascara from running down my face as I cried with pride for these two humans. Here, see for yourself:

When I started this blog almost five years ago, I had no expectations of anyone beyond my husband and BFF reading my musings on parenting. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my writing would land me in front of a camera in a fancy studio in Brooklyn, courtesy of the Today Parenting Team.

And, what made it even more poignant was that I was able to share my big moment with the two people who are responsible for every bit of material on this blog. Without the Fruit Loops, I would be The Keeper of The Shredded Wheat and this blog space would be pretty damned boring.

So.

Yeah.

This happened.

And, in a full circle moment, I realized the Fruit Loops skipped school so that they could accompany me to work in NYC just like I did with my dad almost 35 years ago. Yes, I cried. But my mascara stayed put, thanks to my magician and her skills.

I didn’t run into Tom Brokaw, again, though.

It’s a good thing, too, because I was wearing A LOT of makeup.

The dry cleaning bill would have been outrageous.