I like to think that I could have been a great many things, even though this is not true. Here are the careers and vocations that I think I could have had, even though we all know that it’s fairly impossible.
People I Wanted to Be that I Now Admit I Will Never Be:
- A ballerina. I adore the ballet. I was a bossy little ballerina for a few years until I hit adolescence and lost interest in the art and discipline. It may have been just as well. I have long, skinny limbs, yes, but I cannot touch my toes. I cannot even do downward-facing dog. I am an embarrassment in yoga class; I would be an abomination in ballet.
- A Shakespearean actor. I hate being on stage. I am not British (yes, I believe that all the best Shakespearean actors are and should be British).
- A great cook. Given up on that dream, especially since I found out that I have a husband who can out-chef me. I also am not profoundly interested in food.
- A travel writer. I really like having a home. I hate living out of a suitcase.
- A painter. This dream died when Grace started taking art lessons with me.
Any dream careers of yours get killed by reality?
its never too late. and NO. you always intimidated ME in art. you are the whole reason i started making things! and I WANT to be a travel writer and COULD if i knew how to write. . . i want to be a photojournalist but i dont really know what that will look like b/c i dont really care for desks or bosses. : ) hahah LOVES you
Every prima ballerina has at least one well known flaw. I think Fonteyn used to say her own feet were like “puddings”. It would have been great if you’d become a ballerina without being able to touch your toes – that would have become your ‘special trivia fact’ long after you were dead and gone.
“…and below Nureyev we have a picture of Abbey _____ the world famous ballerina from the start of the 21st century…. here’s an interesting fact: although the audiences and critics all adored her performances she couldn’t actually touch her toes and had to have all her choreography specially adapted….”
🙂