My very first official set…

based on comedy I wrote and practiced…

performed on stage on July 20, 2019…one year ago today.

I remember it being fun and scary and not feeling worthy of the praise I got from people who actually know what they’re doing.

No Lye Comedy - as a collective - has always been quite nice to me. I’m still trying to figure out why. I always say I am no comedian (because I’ve HEARD THEM - I know what REAL ONES sound like.) I will always be the nerdy writer kid in the corner. They tell me not to say it that way [my self-esteem, etc.] - but I stand by it, because, well…I know my lane and I respect art too much to tout what I’m not.

But that night, I understood.

I understood how you can get completely hooked on making people laugh and applause.

It had never happened to me before in this context.

I will never replicate that night. I can’t find anyone who videotaped it. I can’t figure out the exact magical cocktail that turned it into one of the best nights of my 43 years of life…wish I could.

Was it the practice? (I’ve practiced since.)

Was it the crowd? (I’ve been in front of bigger ones since.)

Was it my friends? (My squad is pretty damned special, but they ALWAYS show up…even when I bomb.)

Was it me? (For a few seconds, I felt like I belonged…maybe? Rare for me…don’t know how to hold on to that.)

Since then, I’ve tried to rework the magic, a few minutes on stage here and there. But nothing since has matched that feeling.

Some nights are just that special.

Thank you, No Lye Comedy.