I remember it being cold. I remember there being a mall with a food court and some type of Christmas light on a bridge situation that we would walk by every night after rehearsal. The rest is basically a blur.
Well...Milwaukee...I am back!!
Back on the road that is. Traveling the country looking for boys ages 9-12 to be in the Bway and Chicago companies of the hit musical, BILLY ELLIOT!
So, after many hours of incorrectly spelling Milwaukee on google (why is there an A after a W? Why is there only one L? I DONT UNDERSTAND)...I predict there to be about ten boys here today. Let's hope one of them is good. That's all we need. Just one.
The trip started out well, my flight was on time, I am still a master of packing and airports...and then we get to the rental car desk.
After a half hour wait in line I approach the desk and want to confirm that my car has a GPS.
Rental Car Lady: A what?
Me: A GPS.
Rental Car Lady: (looking confused) umm...yup. Sure.
Me: Ok, this is really important. You are sure it has a GPS?
Rental Car Lady: What is that?
Me: A navigating tool?
Rental Car Lady: Oh...you mean a Never Lost? We are out of them.
(Never Lost! Who in the world calls it a Never Lost??? It is now sinking in that I am back in the Midwest)
This is not ok. Obviously, the rental car company is not aware that if there was to be a list of America's Most Wanted Driver's, I would be the poster child. Admittedly, I am a terrible driver. In college, I used to leave my car keys on the common room table and people were allowed to drive my car as long as they would drive me around when I needed to get somewhere. Miami is a jungle, a jungle I tell you...thats a story for another time.
But, what are you supposed to tell your boss at the age of 26 when she asks if you can handle a solo trip to the midwest to make a kids dream come true?
"I would love to, thank you for your belief in me. I am a grown up. By the way, I will need a chauffeur."???
Nope. You must suck it up. You must believe in the power of the GPS.
So you can imagine my reaction when I was told there were no more "Never Losts" to be had at Hertz rental car.
I plead my case, they clearly see the desperation in my eyes, they hear it in my voice....and then the woman looks at my hand.
Rental Car Lady: Oh dear. I see you are single.
Me: Um...yeah.
Rental Car Lady: So, you are here all alone driving from Milwaukee to Chicago?
Me: Yes. I guess. I am here on business. (who is this woman, my grandma for chrissakes?)
Rental Car Lady: But you are single I am assuming.
Me: Like, in life? Yes. I suppose I am. And I really need a Never Lost cause I am without a man.
Rental Car Lady: Well, here let me give you a free upgrade to a car with a Never Lost and a map. Have a safe trip.
I made it the whole 8 miles from the airport to the hotel just fine, with only one famous Levine-Turn-Around that the Never Lost calmly talked me through.
Here in Milwaukee, I realized something. Something I didn't know when I was here three years ago- I may be a single 26 year old scouring the country for 12 year old boys, and I may have reached the age where people in the Midwest look at your hand before deciding how much they are willing to help you, but...I am just fine. And I don't need a navigating system to tell me that I am not lost.
