fracas

In her LA Times article, Veronique de Turenne took issue with a comment made by Debra Messing in their calendar section interview. Messing, explaining the conditions she’d set for her return to The Starter Wife, said this:

There’s no other job on earth where you’re asked to sign on for six years before you even know what the experience is going to be.

And quite rightfully so, de Turenne pointed out that the men and women (and their families) pictured in the photo she provided, have certainly done no less when they signed up to serve in the military.

I agree, de Turenne’s point is worthy and I say bravo to her for making it.

My quibble, though, is that de Turenne didn’t go far enough.

I can think of another job where you’re asked to sign up for much more than six years and you have no idea what the experience will be.

It’s called Parenthood.

Without dispute, as a species, we would not exist were people not willing to sign up for this job, yet… no matter how many books you read in preparation, no matter how much well meaning advice from others you try incorporate into the job once you’ve accepted it, there is still no way to fully know what the job as it pertains to you will involve.

And yet many of us do it anyway.

For life.

Six years is but a sneeze in the grand scheme.

It’s not that she shouldn’t have “requests” before signing on to stay with the show; indeed, some of her requests are related to the fact she is a parent. I just happen to think as a parent herself, Messing should know that in fact, signing on for six years to do a show she will be paid handsomely for, provide her with the exposure and future offers to continue a career that affords her a lifestyle many would (and do) wish for, is hardly on par with the hardships of those who sign on to serve in the military, or who sign on to parent children who may end up being a thousandfold the committment ever imagined.

So, umm… Debra?

There’s no other job on earth?

Than acting?

You must not just be a starter wife… you must be a starter mom too!

Have you another good example? Post it in the comments, or write your own post with a link back here.