When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens

And learn to spit.

 

HI!  I’m Diane.  I live in Philadelphia, PA, which is a very cool place to be.  It has loads of fun things to do, is fiercely proud of its character and heritage, and has the best darned baseball fans in the universe!

Sounds crazy to say that a TV show changed my life, but that is the case with Moonlighting.  I was an avid fan during the show’s original run, and I never quite put my VHS tapes away…running my own marathon at least a couple of times a year, usually when home sick or needing a good lift.

On January 1, 2000, BRAVO ran their own marathon which hooked me in to daily watching again…and then I found the internet!  Amazing……lots of people who shared my obsession….and who wanted to talk about it…..and write about it!  I got in on the ground floor of DavidandMaddie.com, and am very proud of my affiliation with this amazing website.  Then came Virtual Moonlighting, and the opportunity to write my own Moonlighting scripts.  Our campaign for the release of the Moonlighting DVDs, and the sweet accomplishment of that goal (including a stint doing the commentary for “The Straight Poop”) is something that makes me proud every time I slip one into my DVD player.

My interest in Moonlighting has brought me some amazing opportunities and experiences – including sharing time with all the major cast members (still would like to meet Cybill in person…if you’re listening Cyb, I’m free!).  I have traveled to some great places and had some rare and remarkable times that I wouldn’t trade for anything.  Most of all, it’s been the people – all the people I have “met along the way”….the dear people who have come into my circle because of Moonlighting, and remain there because they have become extraordinary friends.

I always lived my life in a manner similar to Maddie’s philosophy, “You get up in the morning, and you live your life.  If you work hard, make the right choices, and keep your nose clean, you get ahead.  If you don’t you don’t.”  Then the last two years came along and rocked my world – being downsized from your lifelong career at the age of 55 is not something you expect or welcome.  The support of family and friends has been exceptional, and my escapes into my Moonlighting world have helped to keep me sane.  Many days, though, I have repeated Maddie’s lament…..”Why am I living this life?  What did I do to deserve this?  If I had known that being good didn’t count, I would have stayed up later, slept around more!”

I come full circle to the quote I have at the top of this piece.  It is from a poem called “Warning”, and has become an anthem of sorts for me.  I am me, with all my quirks, flaws, and faults, and I am learning more each day to love being that person!  So whether I am screaming my lungs out at a Phillies game, or crying for the hundredth time over David’s speech in “Father Knows Last”, I am going to do it with gusto!

As far as Virtual Moonlighting, I am thankful that Dana put this group together so long ago.  I am proud of the work we have all done, and excited about the site’s reincarnation, and sharing the journey with both old and new writing team members.

If you are looking for me in ten years or so, I’ll probably be toiling away on Virtual Season Nineteen….”Maddie and David Collect Social Security”.