Why Can't I Shut Up About It?
Guess what my interfaith family inspired me to do now
“That was funny. So now you’re a stand-up comedian?” my husband asked. I’d just finished reading a two-minute set I wrote and shrugged. “Maybe. Can I get some feedback?”
I’ve been writing about my interfaith family for twenty years. Why can’t I shut up about it? I don’t know. What I do know is that living this interfaith life is an endless source of inspiration for me. What started as fodder for a one-woman show called Ayai, Yai, Yai, which I wrote and performed soon after I was married, became ripe material for personal essays featuring my kids, the subject of my book-in-progress, and most recently, the kick-off joke to my two-minute stand-up comedy routine.
Selected to audition with twelve other contestants for Erma’s Got Talent! I was a nervous wreck. The fear of performing a comedic set, something I’d NEVER done before, made the rest of my life go sideways. I couldn’t concentrate on my kids and I actually received an electricity shut-off notice because I was wrapped up in preparation and I’d forgotten to pay the bill.
After I Googled tons of tips about how to write stand-up comedy, I took a stab at it, synthesized feedback from my writing group, and gathered the gumption to read it to comedian, Liz Glazer, and actor, Stephanie Silberstein. They gave me excellent pointers and I rehearsed until I was able to pull myself together without vomiting for the audition.
What the heck? I was titled a runner-up! All I set out to do was have fun and now, I get to perform, live, at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop in April!!! Woo hoo! I guess I’ll keep yammering about my pizza bagel children and my mom’s delicious Yom Kippur lasagna for as long as people will listen.
I finally said to my husband, “Yes, actually, I’m a stand-up comedian too.”
Check out footage here:
In other news, my essay, Hippo Tent was published in Labor of Love, A Literary Mama Staff Anthology (Small Harbor 2024). This is my first time published in a book alongside other amazing mama, writers. You can purchase a copy here. I think it would make a lovely mother’s day gift.
Also, don’t forget to check out our podcast, This Mama is Lit! hosted by Brianna Avenia-Tapper, Amanda Fields, and me. We can’t wait to hear what you think about it.