Pamelia Wheeler Spell

My dear, sweet Grandmother was the epitome of Southern gentility with a generous helping of playfulness and a heaping dose of humility, topped off with a kind smile that comes from the heart. And like every woman born in the South, she could cook with the best of them, but her favorite was dessert. No meal was complete without dessert. Many times I foolishly ate too much of the insisted second or third helpings of a meal, only to be greeted with a bowl of ice cream and a cookie or two for the finale!

An April baby, like myself, she bounced around in the early years, but settled in Jackson, MS in 1945. There she found 'Jimmy', her high school sweetheart. They would write back and forth while he attended West Point Military Academy and she Sullins College then Univ. of Florida. Luckily, Jimmy was a good writer with excellent penmanship and won her for his bride. He still writes beautifully!

After some time in the Army overseas, they settled in Dallas, TX with their two daughters, Melinda and Melissa. In 1967, a beautiful house became their home and they haven't left. The backyard now displays a beautiful Magnolia tree that provides shade and several branches excellent for climbing, but it was a mere sapling when they first moved in. This house holds so many memories within it's walls from birthday parties, to drill team try-out practice, to first dates, to Christmas with grandkids, to puzzle building, to dress-up, to mac-and-cheese with ham, to CareBears and Go Fish.

On September 19th, 2011 Pamelia Wheeler Spell met her Lord, leaving the place she'd called home for almost 45 years and finding a new home. Her last word heard by her daughter Melissa was "Wow!" I can only imagine what image she must've seen as she left this life. She was a person of deep faith in God and sincere devotion. I will miss her so very much, but I am incredibly grateful for the time I did spend with her and the many memories I will continue to cherish!

9/11

Ten years ago, I found myself in the weight room completing a morning work-out class, required for all freshman basketball players. We'd fulfilled the grueling morning conditioning and quietly moved around the empty weight room. In the corner television I caught a glimpse of the World Trade Center with smoke pouring out of the side. One month before, my mother treated me to a vacation to the destination of my choosing for graduation and I chose New York City! One of the few places in this world that lived up to every expectation I'd ever held. I fell completely in love with the City and longed to return.> Now, I sat stunned watching a building I had stood on top of weeks before, on fire. I thought the building was simply on fire. Tragic, yes but nothing close to the reality that literally came crashing in as the second plane hit the South Tower.

Dismissed from the remainder of the morning workout, I ran back to my dorm and down the hall to my newest best friend on campus. I knocked on her door, walked in and clumsily said, "I think we're being attacked..." As a dutiful freshmen, we still went to our morning classes still not quite sure what to think or do. On the overheard projector, our professor was streaming the news as they covered the events unfolding in New York. Excused from class and informed that all classes that day were suspended, a dozen of us watched, motionless and silent as the towers came crashing down. I'll never forget that day and the flashes of faces I saw in August '01 on the top floors of the observation level at the World Trade Center.

Ten years later, here I am. I've returned to the City that cast it's spell a decade ago. A different City than the one I first met. Milestones allow the opportunity to reflect and few things cause New Yorkers to pause or even slow down, but this event honors the spirit of the City I love. It's a place where a stranger will grab one end of a stroller and help a mother carry her child up the subway stairs and at the top give a quick glance of appreciation and continue on their way. An elderly woman stumbles to the ground and in moments surrounded by 4 people offering their hand, setting her in a nearby chair, making sure she is okay and then proceeding to their business meeting or workout class or lunch appointment. A businessman asked for directions will be concise but precise and helpful. New York will come to your aid because we're on top of each other. To ignore is to neglect. I'm not so romantic about this place that I miss the harshness, but I try to find what is underneath it. My profession requires I study and soak up human behavior and essence- New York overflows with humanity of every kind. Often called the melting pot of the world, I am still deeply in love with this City and grateful for the opportunity to call it home.

The Day Before That Day...

Just to quickly follow-up on my last post...
The Agent Night went very well. I'd say 70% enjoyed what I did and I feel a glimmer of hope. There were 10 agents present, 5 in each room. We came in, as our headshots were distributed to those at the table, I found my chair, handed the scene to the reader with me and read the scene. Each agent was given a feedback form, which we received back a few minutes after we exited the room. I was one of the last few people to work in front of them, which could work in my favor or not. They say an agent will know if they are interested in the first 15 seconds you're in front of them. Which is good, cause I hadn't even opened my mouth yet by that point! Now, I'm figuring out the follow-up procedure with these folks! Luckily I have some opportunities to be on stage so I can invite them out!

Also, I had a couple auditions yesterday. One for a web-series, which are becoming increasingly popular! The other was for a student film for NY Film Academy. Both went very well and I really liked each director. Now is the waiting game! The horrible truth is I may never hear from them (which is a rejection...obviously).

Now to the subject of the Title... September 11th is tomorrow! Apparently, NY is under terror watch more so than normal. Both myself and my roommate received calls from our mothers about things up here. I cannot honestly say I've noticed anything different, but maybe that's cause they're being so stealthy! Also, I haven't been in Times Square at all! My roommate works in Times Square so I wished him luck as he left for work this morning! That's kinda the reality up here. Life continues on, despite the threat, the turmoil, the tragedy.

I'm grateful September 11th falls on a Sunday for the 10th anniversary.

Welcome to a new school year!

Even though I've been out of school for a good 5 years now, I still mark my life by the school calendar. Is that normal? Is it just because I like the idea of beginnings, so I get an excuse in September to start something new? I've adopted the European summer where I take at least one month completely off! This year it was August! I wonder how much longer I can keep doing this!

Now that we're almost a week into September, I must declare I am going to focus this blog more on what happens in my acting life with splashes of everyday life from this brain of mine! This is of course assuming I have stuff to write about, but we shall see! This is, after all, the reason I moved to this City from my happy life in Austin, Texas! So here we go!

The week ahead includes, meeting with agents Wednesday night to impress them with my incredible acting ability all in 2 pages of a scene! Yep, that's how much time I get! Can't say we're inefficient here in NYC! Also, I will be assisting with auditions for the Off-Off Broadway company, of which I am a member. Always a learning experience to be on the auditor side. Its really not as scary as we make it! Ugh! And later I will be going in for a web series. This week is actually a good one!

Luckily, its raining in NYC today, so its an indoor day to write and rehearse! Btw, if you haven't read The Help, pick it up and enjoy! My favorite line in the book just happens to be the author's favorite too (I think we could be friends).

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought"