17)Really Great People
On Mother’s Day I visited my grandma at her rehab center. Soon enough my sister and cousin showed up and the three of us wheeled my grandma down to the dining hall where they were serving “Muffins and Mimosas” in celebration of Mother’s Day.
We put grandma at a table and filled up her plate with every muffin they offered.
After we took our seats, a few other women joined our table. They were in their mid 90s and full of life.
With each mimosa they threw back, they laughed louder. They shared entertaining stories about their well lived lives. By their third mimosa my sister, cousin, and I looked at each other slightly concerned.
My sister went over to talk to one of the employees and returned laughing.
“There’s no champagne in the mimosas. It’s just Sprite.”
It didn’t matter to these nonagenarians that something was missing. They were having fun. And by the end of my time sitting with them I realized why.
They were spending time with really great people.
One Friday afternoon I walked into my grandma’s room expecting to see her sitting in her wheelchair with a smiling face. The one she always has when a visitor surprises her.
But instead the room was dark and quiet. She was lying asleep. There was a sign above her bed that read “DO NOT MOVE PATIENT UNTIL MONDAY 7:30 AM. DVT.”
My mom was away so I couldn't ask her what was going on. I googled DVT and discovered my grandma had a blood clot.
Eventually she woke up and saw me sitting there.
“Hey Jax.”
“Hey Grandma.”
“Can you believe this? I have to lay in bed all weekend because if my blood clot moves well, then, that’s it,” she said matter-of-factly.
I spent more time visiting my grandma than I originally anticipated. She slept most of the time. But anytime I got up out of my chair she would ask “You're not leaving yet are you? Please stay a little bit longer.”
I knew she was scared. I was scared too. So the next day I brought my notebook, some sketches I needed to edit, and the Mel Brooks memoir I was reading at the time. Reading about his life and his accomplishments made my desire for comedy grow.
Ironically the time I spent sitting quietly in her room gave me space to think about what I wanted.
At that time I was putting more of my energy into sketch comedy than standup. I was experiencing a bit of a lull and could have easily gave up.
But I wanted to get back on stage.
I knew my grandma would bounce back.
I knew my comedy career would bounce back too.
After a brief break I started booking shows again.
At my next show, I was standing in the back of the room when one of the other comedians came over to talk to me.
“Hi. I’m Naomi,” she said.
When I saw that she was wearing a pair of Rose Gold sequin sneakers, the same ones I have and love, I knew right then and there we were destined to be great friends.
I saw her at an Open Mic a couple weeks later. I grabbed a seat at her table and she introduced me to her comedian friend Vin.
The three of us coincidentally were all booked on our next show together.
From there a friendship grew.
I didn’t know it at the time but the three of us would embark on a summer full of adventure.
The summer before, I had dipped my toes into the world of comedy. This summer I was all in. We traveled all over North Jersey and into the city trying new mics, networking, and attending each other's shows.
The three of us would hang out long after the mics ended, sharing our stories of what drove us to comedy and what our visions and goals are for the future.
They supported me so much and with their encouragement I was able to spread my wings and reach higher.
The two of them (plus another comedian friend Mike who I met back at my first open mic and has continuously given me support throughout this blog) deserve my public gratitude. They were the ones who cheered me on when I felt like giving up.
One night during that summer I realized that I felt different.
I felt happy.
Yes there were things missing from my life.
But I was having fun.
I was spending time with really great people.
