What comes next
With Labor Day passed and school started, 96-degree temps aside, I do believe that fall is upon us. The end of this year looms large for our family as we stare down more change than our family has seen since, well, Adelaide died, COVID shut down the world and we left Chicago for New Jersey. Major life changes seem to hit our family every 3-5 years, so I guess we were due - at least this one doesn’t require a cross-country move.
As Miguel closes in on 2,000 performances, we are beginning to think about life after Hamilton. Having landed the role in May of 2016, Hamilton has been a part of our lives for close to eight years. Jackson, who just started middle school yesterday, was three years old when Miguel got the call. Jackson literally doesn’t remember life before his dad was A.Ham.
In Miguel’s words, “I want to know what Friday nights at home look like.” I don’t have the heart to tell him that it’s not so different from any other night. The truth is, his job may be sexy, but the nights and weekends away from home, especially when you have a family, are not. For years Miguel has missed baseball games, dance recitals, and parent nights. He’s missed friend’s birthdays, weddings, and reunions. He doesn’t complain much and has always been grateful for the opportunities (and $) that Hamilton has provided us, but we’re ready for some family time before these kids of ours decide they don’t want to hang out with us anymore.
In true Miguel fashion though, he already has plans to utilize his overabundance of energy - and he’s not waiting for his final bow.
Drum roll, please…
…Miguel is opening a batting cage.
Betchya didn’t see that one coming! So here we are, the proud co-owners of Dingers Batting Cages opening NEXT MONTH in Maplewood, NJ. Maybe he can sell some ShuCaddy’s while he’s there… JK, but only kinda.
I know change is scary for a lot of people, but I thrive on it. Too much of the same thing makes me itchy, which I suppose is one reason that Miguel and I work so well together: he keeps life exciting and I make sure we all have our seatbelts on and toothbrushes packed. The transitions can be rough though, and I’m hoping our past experiences will help us navigate these upcoming ones a little easier than we have in the past.
When Miguel does leave Hamilton, the biggest difference this time around will be that for the first time in years, Miguel’s new schedule will come with more freedom for me as well. Being a theater wife/mom is no joke and to be honest, I’m ready for a break as well. I left the traditional workforce the same week Miguel booked Hamilton. I was supposed to start a new job as a sales director for a restaurant group in NYC, but all of a sudden we were moving to Chicago AND my infant daughter had epilepsy. I never could have imagined being at home or not being in charge of my own schedule for as long as I have been. I’ve clearly managed to stay busy with my volunteer roles at CURE Epilepsy, writing, speaking, advocating, and advising, but I am SO ready to take this show on the road.
I’m also not waiting for our post-Hamilton life - maybe Miguel and I aren’t so different after all. In less than 60 days Normal Broken will be on bookshelves and in your hands! We are putting the final touches on my book tour which will take me across the country and back and I CANNOT WAIT to hug familiar faces and meet new people.
My return to financially contributing to my family is not what I envisioned seven and a half years ago. I think I’ve l lived too much life to return to any of my previous careers. Acting? Hard pass on starving myself to fit into the clothes they would want me to wear. Events? I just don’t think I could sit across from a corporate meeting planner who insists on serving out-of-season vegetables for their business dinner because it is their CEO’s favorite and pretend that I care.
No, my passion, purpose, and heart are forever with all of you in the epilepsy, disability, mental health, and grief communities. I want to write more books, give more talks, bring more awareness. This is what makes me happy and if I can help pay our mortgage while doing it then that sounds like a dream come true to me.
Next year our lives will look drastically different from what they are now. Miguel will be home in the evenings (when he’s not at the batting cage anyway), Jackson will be that much closer to teendom, I will be a published author, and Anessa… well, she’ll probably still be asking for lipstip and snacks. I guess, some things need to stay the same around here.
Image description: Kelly in a black tank top and Miguel in a blue button down, smiling and leaning into each other while sitting in stadium seats.
