Fran Fine

Fran Fine is one of those characters I just can't get enough of. She's honest and sincere while still being able to be sarcastic and funny. I like to think I'm her when I'm working, but I know I'm not. I don't have a British playwright boss and three teenagers to take care of. I also don't have an insane amount of mini skirts and wigs donned every single day. Bummer, I know.

First off, I'm lucky that I wake up in the morning. I get paranoid at night because I'm deathly afraid my stupid phone alarm won't go off. The TV is on because I need my fix, but there's never anything on that I want to watch. I'll finally get to bed at 12 or 1 in the morning, then constantly wake up during the night. Like I said- paranoid.

Then during the day I'm awake, magically. I seriously don't know what happens. No sleepyness, no exhaustion, no boredom. I love my job. Dozer (my nickname for the kid I watch) is great. The cutest laugh and is already learning to be polite. When he's done with his meal he stacks up his dishes and hands them to me. He says please and thank you, he babbles on, and I honestly just enjoy him. And he's 20 months old. How lucky!

But the funny thing is, just two weeks ago, I was miserable. Not only did I not have a job, I was on interviews almost every single day. I did trial weekends with familys all over NYC and Jersey. Families wanted me, but only as a housekeeper, or only as another toy to add to their collection of The Help dolls. Don't get me wrong- some of the families were great- but nothing ever clicked. I was either too bored or so confused as to what I was supposed to actually do that the only thing I looked forward to at the end of the weekend was payday.

But just like that, in a blink, my situation changed. I almost gave up nannying. I was so miserable. I told everyone that I was giving it up, that I'd rather work in retail or be a hostess at some restaurant than take the easy, boring route of being someone else's "help". And yes, that's what some called me. Cinderella much? Um, yeah.

But like Fran, I came in to this new job kind of unexpected. Remember the song that starts the show? "She was there to sell make up, but the father saw more..." . Fran and I have a deep connection. Unfortunately, she is totally made up and so was my previous statement. Whatever. But I like to think that this was some family that found me, unexpectedly. When I met the Birkin's it was never a question of "if" I get the job. It just felt right. They are so genuine and real and friendly that taking care of Freddy is a priviledge!

Fran and I are two peas in a pod. Jobs we love, families we love, friends we love. There's laughter everyday and always some moment where everyone around us question our sanity. But I think that's a good thing-we're both loved. And that love allows us to pass it along to anyone- the people we work for and all the way back to our family and friends.

Work can be advantageous and wonderful. Know that. And also know that here in New York, it's totally possible to be a makeup saleswoman and get the opportunity of a lifetime.

So now, I'm only left to wonder- if that's possible, are my dreams of acting and singing possible too? The only answer I can believe is yes.