New Chapters
By B on Nov 14, 2009 in Featured, My Story, Street Voices
Hello, fellow HT-ers! Matt asked me to whip up a post filling in everybody on all the latest juicy gossip on our end, so here goes!
I will start out with Matt’s joyous news – Wednesday, October 28th, at 9:25 AM Scotland time (2:25 AM PST), Matt’s daughter was born via Cesarean section. Her name is Kelsey, after his grandmother, she weighed just about 6 lbs. even, has bright blue eyes, and undetermined (but darkish-seeming) hair. She’s absolutely gorgeous. I don’t think Matt wants to post photos/video of her online, understandably, but if you’re interested in seeing her, perhaps he can e-mail you privately. That’s his call, though, and she pretty much looks like… a baby.
(Since you’ve likely guessed by now that I wasn’t the one giving birth, I should probably head off any negative knee-jerk reactions at the pass, so: No, there was no infidelity involved; yes, there was protection being used; and no, there is no ill will on the part of any parties involved).
Matt and I found out about Kelsey’s impending arrival a couple of months into our relationship. For a girl who decided at about age 9 that she never wanted to have kids (I mean, look at the role model I had to go on!), it was something of a shock for me and a lot to take in, and Matt graciously gave me the option of backing out. But I love him so much, and I know I’ll love his daughter, so I stuck around, obviously. Now I’m nervously prepping for the responsibilities that come with being a stepmom, and eventually a full-time mother, since we will likely have children ourselves one day.
Life-altering event #2 came the day after Kelsey’s birth, when I received an offer for a book deal (thanks to my brilliant agent, Chris Schelling, who also represents the famed Augusten Burroughs)! Chris is clearly the most awesome evil genius ever; the preparing of the contract and such details takes a few weeks, but upon signing, I receive a decent advance. It won’t buy us a house or anything, but it will rent us an apartment and should also clear up my debts, opening the way for us to get a home loan, we hope! There’s also talk about potentially turning the story into movie-ness, which is kind of mind-blowing to me, so I’m just kind of trying to study up on the various options one day at a time and make sure Matt is involved in all decisions, since it’s his story, too!
So where do we go from here? Well, for now, I’m still in the trailer, waiting on contracts and such to be ironed out. But upon receipt of the advance, we are likely going to look into relocating to upstate NY – towards the small, tree-covered town where we’d like to settle permanently, when we have the means – and yet within a couple hours’ drive of the city, for when book promotions and such things start, which I get the feeling might be largely NYC-centric.
Matt and I would also like to get married, although we still need to bat around immigration red tape, and now with Kelsey thrown into the mix, options are further narrowed down, so that’s just one big wait-and-see game. I imagine once Matt flies back to CA, there will be lots of running around and spazzing out like decapitated chickens, trying to get things planned and settled. I’ve entered that phase already, truth be told, but not much I can do about it for several more weeks, so I’m probably just stressing myself unduly.
In case you can’t tell, I never in a million years imagined something like this would happen to us, and I’m sort of floored and flabbergasted and quasi-in-denial. I don’t feel like an author or the subject of a movie, or anything grand like that, which kind of makes me feel a little like a fraud. I’m still very much “just plain me”. I keep wondering whether they’ve just got the wrong person and haven’t realized it yet. Or I keep coming up with “what-if” scenarios and future disasters like “what if it all falls through and they change their mind before the contract is eked out?!?!?!” Which is unlikely, I know, but still, what can I say? I’m panicky and uncertain right now. A large portion of my life I’ve been told that I’m untalented, uninteresting, a disappointment to my family and to God, and ugly to boot; it’s still so hard for me to imagine or accept people being interested in me, much less enough to ask me to write an entire book about myself.
Anyway, I love you guys at HT, am so grateful for the impact you’ve made on us and our future, and wanted to give you all an update. Who knows where I’d be (or whether I’d have gone completely bonkers already!) if I hadn’t found this site.
Image: Honou
~B~ is 24 years old and newly homeless. She is from Orange County, CA. The product of an abusive home; she is college-educated and a former Executive Assistant who lost her job to layoffs in the recent economic collapse. She currently lives out of an RV in a Wal-Mart parking lot with her protective guardian - a Neapolitan Mastiff - and is a dedicated Starbucks-hopper. She has recently secured new employment and hopes purchase her first home. Her experiences are detailed on her blog, “the Girl’s Guide to Homelessness“.
Hello,
I’ve been going through a tough time and I was feeling mentally tormented. Still studies wait for no woman, and so I was researching homelessness (as part of a screenplay project I’m working on) when I came across your story.
It really made me feel hopeful again and inspired. I just wanted to thank you very much for that, and for being yourself. I don’t even know you, but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy, thinking about how happy you are now and how valiantly you’ve faced life’s predicaments. I was feeling sort of empty, but for the time being, I feel almost whole again.
Good luck with the movie - your story is much more worthy of the 95% of bull**** out there. Just enjoy your moment and hopefully there are many more of those to come. You seem like a great person, of whom there should be more of.
Take care,
Francesca
Francesca | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
~Bri & Matt, holy smokes! I had no idea that a baby was in the mix- how totally amazing!!! Then, a book deal to boot, it is all quite “over the top.” But then, that does seem to be the nature of your life experiences this past year.
Naturally, I’m hoping that you will come to visit once Matt is back in California. And, my offer to perform the wedding still stands.
Matt can certainly come back into the U.S. on a fiance visa, as long as you get married within 90 days of that. I have experience with immigration issues, so please feel free to talk w/ me about that privately, if you like.
As for upstate New York, am not quite sure why you’d want to head for ice & snow or leave California, especially with a future movie deal on the horizon, which will undoubtedly get shot in Hollywood (unless they’re planning to film it in India- if so, I have contacts there, so let me know). But then, as someone who grew up in the Northeast, I probably have simply had my fill of that weather.
All the best to your new little family! Will be looking forward to updates as life progresses…
Rev. Cynthia | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Wow Wow Wow
Bri, what tremendous blessings!
It would be fun if our little constellation of HTers were included in the movie — your distant, yet-so-near-by-internet support. I imagine, like a documentary, a splice of life of Steve in the southeast, a cut over to Michael and his building projects, Rev. Cynthia so soft on the outside, but made of steel despite her disabilities; me suited up in heels for work and then back my truck for dinner and the internet; and so on. We have quite a cast right here.
Just my imagination running wild! I am very inspired by what is happening for you and Matt! And, what an amazing thing to get to be a mom without all the fuss!
Please let me know how I might help you and Matt in any way. I would be delighted!
Lots of love, hugs, kisses . . . oh, and who on earth told you that you were UGLY????!!!! I have to say that made me want to slap somebody . .
Kerry Echo | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
~Kerry, am sure our characters will undoubtedly have “cameo” performances. However, my guess is that each one of the “Street Voices” authors has their own book in the making.
Long before I became educated & a high school teacher & longer still before I became ordained as an interfaith minister, my personal history involved amazing escapes, including: running away as a 15 year old teenager & taking a “Freedom Train” from Alabama to Washington, D.C. to be with my 19 year old Sikh penpal from India; living w/ renegade Scientologist cocain smugglers; life as a Go-Go Dancer/”Hostess” working for in international porn magazine owner;working as a Governess; marriage to a Persian “Freedom Fighter;” moving south of the border with a Mexican lover; the list goes on & on… I’m saving all of that for my autobiography.
Kerry, it was so sweet of you to think that some part of me is “soft.”
Am so thrilled to be among the first to know of Bri & Matt’s happy news!
Mystery, Magic, & Miracles, ya’ll…
Rev. Cynthia | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Francesca,
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. I’m pleased to hear you found value in it. Good luck with your project.
Cynthia,
As much as I enjoy the California sunshine I can’t help feeling that the NE will be less of a culture shock for me. I enjoy the seasons, in the summer I look forward to the sun and in the winter I look forward to crisp mornings, frost and even snow.
Kerry,
I think many of the contributors here have a book in them. Of course, we already have one published novelist. There is little doubt as to the writing skills here and everyone has amazing stories of their own to tell. Perhaps one day we should look to publish a HT compilation?
admin | Nov 16, 2009 | Reply
~Matt, o.k.,truth be told, I’ll have to admit that Fall is my favorite time of the year (in New England). Shhhhh…..
Hopefully, you won’t be heading to parts northeast before we’ve had a chance to meet in person. I would be supremely disappointed!
Onward…
Rev. Cynthia | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
Hi Francesca, thank you so much for the encouragement! I really appreciate your kind words
Cynthia, we are definitely going to come visit you before we relocate! Also, I’m a huge fan of actual seasons — I used to spend winter vacations in Canada with extended family, and I loved it! I also love all the autumn foliage in upstate NY, and the potential to be within visiting distance of NYC. And like Matt said, it’s definitely less of a culture shock to him, and we’re so interested in the architectural and historical riches they’ve got in the Northeast.
Also, I totally think YOU should write a book — your life sounds far, far more interesting than mine could ever be!
Kerry, you guys are all definitely getting mentioned in the book! If/when movie stuff goes forward, not sure how much control I’ll have over that stuff, or if it’ll be fictionalized, or what. I assume that’s all up to whatever screenwriter they get, and some way off in the future, if it happens at all, so I’m not worrying about it much now
The prospect alone is exciting, though I’m trying not to get my hopes too high in case it never pans out.
~Bri
~B~ | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
Okay Bri–BREATHE!!!! Dammit BREATE! One two three four, in-out-in-out!
“not sure how much control I’ll have over that stuff, or if it’ll be fictionalized, or what. I assume that’s all up to whatever screenwriter they get, and some way off in the future, if it happens at all, so I’m not worrying about it much now”
Okay you’ve got LOTS of good news and a LOT of change going on right now [congrats congrats congrats] and you know that even good change is super-stressful.
A few suggestions. Until the happyshit-storm dies down–DO NOT make any major decisions like buying a house. Really. It’s already nerve-wracking to buy one and it’s a decision that can wait. Just park yourself somewhere safe cuz it’s YOUR trailer and let any decisions you don’t have to make like that go by the boards.
Start a big “later” pile.
As for creative control? Good luck with that–there’s not likely to be much. Stephen King was 3 screenplays and I dunno how many bestsellers in before he got a word in edgewise.
So, get the best deal you can and then pretty much figure you won’t know yourself when you’re done. [Having been written about a number of times, when I read something it's still "Who the fook are they writing about?" So just get what ya can and hang on for the ride.
Expect a "crash"--your life just went on manic red alert. When it slows--it's gonna feel really weird. Try not to make any more major changes than you have to. If it ain't urgent it'll wait.
As for the rest--enjoy what parts of the ride you can, while you can. You never know where it will take ya.
Have fun with the baby. Well as much fun as getting spit up on and peed on will take you at this point. The good thing about babies is that if you tell 'em right--they laugh at ALL your jokes.
And hey, when they ask you to book sign in Toronto, we'll sneak off for cheesecake in a very sekrit underground location and make the media "handlers" go nuts looking for ya while we're quaffing Americano's. Afterwards you can tell 'em to "chill" cuz nobody gets mugged in Toronto.
Oh yeah {peers around suspiciously} psssst--start printing cards that say "consultant"--that way you can work, get paid big $$$ and since nobody knows what you're actually doing and don't listen to most of the useful suggestions anyway and keep the cash flow.
[And a small favour for the peons? When ya get to HollyRude, can ya ask them why there hasn't been any decent screenplay banter since "Lion In Winter?"]
Hey, I like Garcia in Criminal Minds–if she dyed her hair red, could she play you?
MetisRebel | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
Hi MR,
Yes, we are definitely going to be very careful and explore all of our options thoroughly before making a decision like purchasing a house, although I think both Matt and I are ready for some settling down. Despite all of the excitement, roller coasters aren’t really our style (metaphorically, of course, I love me a roller coaster or two at Disneyland). We both just want all of it to die down and at least try to create some semblance of stability for the first time in several months (for me) and a couple of years now (for him).
I’m highly doubting much creative input at all if a movie does go forward, of course
I doubt I’d ever be able to recognize myself up there on the big screen once they get done with it, but it’s a neat idea nonetheless.
Upstate NY isn’t far at all from Toronto, so you’d better believe we’re gonna come looking for you
As far as babies — yup, the bodily functions thing has me well freaked. Also, I love “Lion in Winter”. But I don’t know if awesome banter died with it - the very next year, in 1969, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” came out!
~B~ | Nov 20, 2009 | Reply
P.S. Oh, and also “Grosse Pointe Blank, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and anything with Madeleine Kahn
~B~ | Nov 20, 2009 | Reply
Bri, All,
I just want to see the world turned on its ear at the movies — you know, the way some movies just make you want to go out and do the same thing because the characters are so cool, so unique, so different. Yes, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, for instance.
I also want to stimulate people to behave decently and empathetically toward the homeless and to create enough of an effect that there could be legislation around housing everyone — universal housing.
I am very proud to be a member of HT, not because of the way good things can happen (though we all want that), but because I feel I could entrust my life to any one of you. I am certain of the strength of your characters and your ability to perform rightly under unique pressures, such as homelessness.
Love, Kerry
Kerry Echo | Nov 20, 2009 | Reply
~Bri, let’s just remember that I am nearly 3x your age and you are off to a runny start in the “life is stranger than fiction” dept.- BRAVO!!!
When my son was in high school (he’s now in his early 30’s), he said, “I want your life” HUH? Turns out he wanted to write about my life. My response was, “Get your own life, I might want to write about this one.”
Sure enough, his world travels and amazing adventures have now far surpassed anything I ever thought about doing (hiking alone thru the Andes for 8 months; skiing in the Alps; walking the 500 mile pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestela in Spain; living in Syria for a year; getting married in India; and honeymooning in Iran - to name just a few). His life has definitely been his “Na, na, na, na, boo, boo” response to my comment!
Sounds like ya’ll are going to wisely take things slowly concerning the house purchase. Good thinking!
And, I completely understand the 4 seasons thing. Ultimately, I’d just had enough of Maine winters (all that snow & ice). Now I’m quite Goldilocks-esque in preferring my climate to be “just right.”
Am delighted to hear that ya’ll will be coming north to visit before taking off for New England. I can’t wait to see you & Matt. FABU!!!
~Kerry, isn’t it great what a wonderful community that Matt has built here on HT? It’s been an amazing journey!
Rev. Cynthia | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
Oops! That’s a “running” start, not “runny”- weird! O.k. this is what I get for trying to write when it’s almost midnight. Seems like I’ve promised NOT to do that on several occasions - DRAT!!!
Rev. Cynthia | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
@ Rev:
“My response was, “Get your own life, I might want to write about this one.”” I ROLFCOPTERED!
With banter like that Rev–maybe YOU should be the one writing screenplays?
Good for you Bri and Matt. Some “settling” might be calming for a while and let ya get to relax with each other.
Bri, I just have this visual of crazed “literary handlers” maniacally running around panicked, texting furiously on their blackberries while we are quaffing cheesecake and Americanos as we point and giggle at them through the window.
“Fred, Fred! OMG we’ve lost our authoress! She ran off with some whackazoid busker from outside who showed up at the book signing in ZOMG FASHION ERROR! FASHION ERROR! a tiger striped BOW TIE! How COULD she? She might bet polite-ed to death by a rampant Torontonian! Call the FBI no, no, it’s Canada…whadda they call ‘em?–THE GUYS WEARING RED THAT RIDE MOOSES!”
MetisRebel | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
Bri–if you haven’t seen the 9th Configuration Director’s Cut [Blatty]–see it. You’ll roar laughing and the message is deep. The mayhem in the sanitarium like our local drop-in at lunch time.
Another brilliant conception/banter film is “Quills”.
That said, line-per-line Lion In Winter is my all-time fav for banter.
“The day those stout hearts band together is the day that pigs get wings.”
“There’ll be pork in the treetops come morning!”
“I’ve snapped and plotted all my life. There’s no other way to be alive, king, and fifty all at once. ” {hey, I know how THAT feels *laff*}
MetisRebel | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
~MR - “Fred, Fred! OMG we’ve lost our authoress! She ran off with some whackazoid busker from outside who showed up at the book signing in ZOMG FASHION ERROR! FASHION ERROR! a tiger striped BOW TIE! How COULD she? She might bet polite-ed to death by a rampant Torontonian! Call the FBI no, no, it’s Canada…whadda they call ‘em?–THE GUYS WEARING RED THAT RIDE MOOSES!”
Holy smokes,how is it that you are not writing screenplays? Please come to Hollywood, they need you ASAP!
Rev. Cynthia | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
It’s not the dialogue writing that I can’t do–its all the exposition, plots, action, that stuff.
I rather thought I might be good at writing RPG gaming dialogues though *laff*
Childe Haralde: “Forsooth, yonder cometh ye wandering bard to assist, mayhap?”
Swifty The Rogue: “Stop embarrassing yerself Haralde. Ya never could do a decent Camelot accent.”
MetisRebel | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
Congrats again on the new kiddo,
Bri, be prepared for a little bit of “weather shock”. It get’s cold here, single digits in the dead of winter, but I flew into Buffalo once and thought I was going to freeze to death waiting for a cab.
With all the new found wealth you will end up getting, think about a winter home somewhere else
michael | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply