Puzzle pieces of the Universe

Late last week young Connor Price (who plays my son, Mac, on the show), his mom, Linda, and I had the morning off from shooting so we went for breakfast at Poultry In Motion. ( NO word of a lie, that is indeed the name of the restaurant! Inspired, eh?) We had a lovely time chatting, laughing and eating...All the normal things you do when you go out for breakfast. Connor is easily one of the BEST kids I have ever met - let alone worked with! I had to ask him the other day if he EVER misbehaves at all. His reply? "Mmmm - I fight with my brothers alot, but never about anything that really matters." WOW.

Back at the hotel, in the elevator, on our way back to our rooms to get ready for pick-up, I started talking about the first commmercial I ever did. I brought it up because I had worked with two kids on it. It was a Christmas spot for Shoppers Drugmart. I was the Mom (the first stab in the heart of my youth) and they were my two little ones, a boy and a girl. These two kids will remain forever in my memory because they were polar opposites in behavior. The little girl was a NIGHTMARE. A gorgeous little thing, who I suspect had no interest in "acting", who spent the entire 10 hour shoot whining, crying and complaining - with the odd break to tuck in her chin, look up through her eye-lashes and show off her pretty, pretty hair to anyone who was looking at her. The little boy on the other hand, was a chilled out pro. He sat quietly, played his Game Boy, was focussed and worked well with the director. I remember being shocked to find out that these two kids were the same age there was such a difference between them. I also remember that the little boy already had 5 commercials under his belt and had just come off of a film where he'd worked with Jason Priestly....

As I described this little boy to Connor and Linda - Connor started nodding and smiling. He said, "That's weird. I did a movie with Jason Priestly." And then all the pieces fell into place! IT WAS CONNOR! I PLAYED HIS MOM BEFORE!! That was four years ago when he was 6 years old! We couldn't stop giggling about it. It was all VERY weird! (of course I hope the trend continues: Connor's mom in my first commercial, Connor's mom in my first TV show....might I play his mom in my first movie someday?)

More chatting on set has revealed that Dan Payne (who plays my husband) - who was a professional volley ball player before becoming an actor,... lived in Calgary and went to U of C - and not only had the same agent as me in Calgary, but is also friends with Dave Lawrence (star of FUBAR) who I dated 11 years ago.

David Schmidt, who is one of our writers and a friend from Calgary, sent me an email MONTHS ago sharing the news that he had been hired as a writer on some show. He was thrilled because it was to be his biggest writing job yet. Being a desperate actor, I sent an email back asking if there were any roles for ME on his new show. Alas, he didn't think there were any characters in my age range. The show?: Alice, I Think!!!

My good friend Enid-Rae Adams (fabulous actor) came to visit me in my hotel room when I was flown out for call backs for Alice, I Think. She was frustrated about not having work, and not being able to sell her car....but she was none the less looking to buy a new lap-top and even had some flyers with her that we looked at. A month later she called with the news that she had been hired to work as a production assistant on Alice, I Think! And I was quick to point out that this was obviously the reason her car didn't sell - because she was going to need it for the hour long drive from Vancouver to Langley everyday. AND - she needed her own lap-top for the job.

Looking back now it's easy to connect the dots and feel amazed that they led to where I am now. I would never have guessed four years ago that I would ever see that well behaved little boy again. There's no way of knowing in the moment - or is there? MAYBE I should be looking at each moment and exchange as puzzle piece that I'm laying down in a picture that I have yet to understand.

And here's a final piece for the Calgarians: On Saturday Dan, Linda, Connor and I (along with Joel, who plays Wing, and his Mom, Pam) went to the Vancouver Aquarium.......

.....WHO, WHO, WHO ,dear friends, was standing outside the entrance to the Aquarium, wearing FLIPPERS, making BALLOON ANIMALS, playing KAZOO and generally CREEPING people out????

I will buy a nice dinner for the first person to place my final puzzle piece by posting the CORRECT answer below!

R
....remember, the universe moves in mysterious ways!
(and happy belated birthday Gregg! Thanks for the kind words!)