I thought you meant Miranda Richardson.....Dammit!!!! Oh well.....

So, I spent yesterday doing something I never imagined I would do.... No, I did not spend all day at an S & M day camp learning all of the uses for a bondage mask and a cat-of-nine-tails..... I can truly imagine myself doing that......Hmmmmmmm.... Note to self, check on day camps for adults only. Anywho..... That is not what I was doing. At approximately 2:30pm, I found myself at the Best Buy store in Phoenix. Not just any part of Phoenix. Oh no. Had to be Deer Valley. 35 miles from my humble abode. Vivian and Grandma in tow. Now, either I really wanted a big screen that only that particular Best Buy had or I carted my ample ass all that way to ensure my sweet daughter's chance to meet Miranda Cosgrove in person. I know what you are asking. "Who the HELL is Miranda Cosgrove?" First of all, shame on you if you have kids and don't know who she is. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!!! Second of all, does it matter? Really? I mean, seriously, if your child wanted to meet someone and get an autograph from them at a Best Buy, would it matter what their battery of work included? It just so happens that I do know Miranda Cosgrove and her battery of work because I watch TV with my kid. I find Vivian's shows a refreshing break from the A&E, Discovery Channel, and History Channel programs I tend to navigate towards. Miranda Cosgrove happens to be the star of "iCarly" on Nickelodeon. It's a cute show about a young girl who lives with her older brother and, along with her 2 best friends, produces her own Web show called iCarly. Vivian loves the show, and to be honest, I kinda like it too. Yesterday, as I was waiting for Vivian and her Grandma to return from a birthday party, I noticed in the Arts section of the paper that Miranda herself would be appearing at the aforementioned Best Buy signing copies of her new CD (she sings too!!!!). Well, I knew there would be a line. I anticipated that. I brought water bottles and Grandma. Water to hydrate, Grandma for smoke breaks. What I did not anticipate was the 1,497 other people that would be showing up to get an autograph as well. I also neglected to anticipate that only the first 500 would be guaranteed a chance to get anything. We were numbers 508, 509 and 510 in line. I could spend the better part of 6 or 7 hours typing all of the intricate, gory, exciting and terrifying details of the 5 hours we spent in the line but I will spare you. Believe me, I am sparing you. Suffice it to say, Vivian got to give Miranda the picture she drew for her and get her poster signed. I, myself, got her to sign 2 additional CD's and got a few pictures myself. I have a feeling I know what you people are thinking. You are wondering to yourselves why I am telling you this if I have no intention of bitching and moaning and including you in my private Hell. It's simple, really. IT IS NOT ABOUT ME!!!!!!!!! The amount of stress, struggle, anguish and annoyance I had to endure is inconsequential compared to the joy that Vivian got to experience. The fact that she gets to go to school in the Fall telling all that she met iCarly is more important than the bullshit Granny and I had to deal with. It is that simple. When you are a parent, there are times when you have to say, "FUCK IT!!!!!" Endure the pain. Suck it up. No matter what. It's your baby/babies. They may not appreciate it now. They may not appreciate it 10 years from now. They may never appreciate it. To Your Face. Inside those bodies of theirs though, they will know what you have done for them. Inside of those heads, they will always remember the sacrifices made, the things done, the lines waited in, the concerts/recitals/ball games gone to. If they don't or if they can't, there is nothing you can do about it but spend your life knowing you did all you could. Chances are, they will know. Hold out for it. The payoff is well worth it. At least, I hope it is.