I was waking myself up this Friday morning by doing last Sunday’s Cypher puzzle in the Chronicle.  The Cypher is a basic decoding puzzle consisting of a quotation by a famous person.  The answer to this one was delightful: “The first time I was on stage it scared me to death.  I didn’t know what all the yelling was about.  I didn’t realize my body was moving. ”  The scared kid who didn’t even realize his own body was moving in a way that blew the minds of 50’s America?  Elvis Presley.

He didn’t realize. This phrase really popped out at me.  How could he not realize what he had goin’ on?  But isn’t that the way it usually happens for “famous” people? They are just going along, doing what they do, and then suddenly they find themselves interviewed on Oprah or Jon Stewart or in Time Magazine.  Really successful people don’t just sit around and dream, they DO.  Being successful doesn’t mean being famous.  In America we are so keyed into that concept.  Being successful means doing, nothing more.

This is a revelation that has been brewing for me over the years.  In my profession, as in any profession, there are “stars.”  I realized early on that I had chosen a path that would make it impossible for me to be a Physical Therapy star.  I got married and had kids.  That is where I shine most brightly.  I’m sure many PT stars also got married and had kids, but I was either not capable or had no desire to spread myself that thin.  I’m successful though.  When I had patient after patient tell me “I’ve had many physical therapists, but you’re the best one I ever had….the only one who explained it to me so I understand…you really helped me…” – well, I think you’d agree I am successful.  As far as the marriage and motherhood thing, Al is still putting up with me (just goes to show you success is harder for some than others 🙂 ) and all you have to do is look at my amazing sons to know I’ve been successful in raising my kids.

Now I’m writing.  It’s normal for one who writes to think about “what if.”  I have not put enough effort into stardom to achieve that “what if.”  I have just been doing it.  No one has asked for more except you dear readers on occasion.  The realization that I have written 246 posts in the last two years is mind boggling to me.

A few days ago I got an email from Jules Hart, writer, director, producer of documentaries (www.eyegoddess.com) who produced Pink Smoke Over the Vatican, the documentary about Catholic priests – WOMEN Catholic priests.  She emailed to tell me that she wanted to use a quote from my blog review on the DVD packaging, as the documentary is finally available on DVD.    Sure, why not, sounds like fun?

I went to the website and under articles, there is my little blog, favoritephilosopher, listed along with the likes of The Huffington Post.  I’m not getting myself all puffed up about this.  All is really meant was two things:

1) I need to get my blog organized in case anybody actually comes here to snoop around.  Imagine they want to see more on my spiritual bent and end up reading about  me owing my young son $2.50 because I used the word “shit” 10 times in 10 different conjugations in a one minute mommy-tantrum.

2) I’ll probably be excommunicated.

3) It just goes to show you how things happen.  I still don’t believe I will ever be on Jon Stewart and don’t care if I do.  Sounds pretty damned scary if you ask me.  On the other hand, Elvis was scared.

He didn’t even realize his body was moving.