We'll lead as two kings

Okay, so the Zoning Board hearing's tonight. Everyone pray for them to rule in our favor so I can stop writing posts about this whole mishegass and you won't have to read any more about it.

I am filled with anxiety. I can't really recall the last time I was this keyed up and nervous about speaking in front of a group of people.

My mom was here this past weekend, and when I mentioned being nervous she was like, "What?! How many different plays have you performed in? You were up there in front of hundreds of people!" and while I see her point, this is different. When you're performing on stage, you're living as the character you're portraying, not as yourself, and so the things that are at stake for the character are not as important to you the person. (Not to mention the fact that in the reality of the character, there is no audience there.) When you're in the moment, acting and reacting as that character, you'll feel as though those things are important to you (if you're doing your job, that is), but once the performace is over, you can go back to being you.

At this hearing, the issue at stake is VERY important to me, and I don't have the extra layer of character to shield me from the fact that I care very much about what happens tonight. I'm going to be standing there in front of a bunch of powerful men trying to coherently explain why they should see my side of things. If things go badly, I'm afraid I'm going to be crushed.

So I've got my notes all written up on a yellow legal pad and I've thought about what I'm gonna wear (khaki shorts, sneakers and white button-down shirt; I wanna look like Joe Q. Citizen. Or rather Joan Q. Citizen.) and I plan on listening to some Rage Against the Machine and Tenacious D to get me in that extra-fired-up kick-ass mood before we go. I've got six three-ring binders with all the copies of the newspaper articles I've found (with relevant portions highlighted to make for easier reading) to hand out to the six board members. I've got two sets of 5x7 prints of pictures I took of the house and property next door so I can show the board members how small it really is and how many trees will be torn down if this goes through. KB and Nolan are coming with me for moral support and to maximize the number of people there on the "Oppose" side. I think I've done as much as I can do.

Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Thanks for reading.