When I was pregnant with my son my mother and I had a ritual at lunchtime;  we would make ourselves lunch and sit down in front of the television to watch the soap opera, “Days of Our Lives”.  In 1966 it was in its infancy, just a year old.   New on the airwaves, at a time when the Horton family was young and Doug and Julie and Susan were the triangle d’ jour. 

                     A young Doug and Julie (married in real life) NBC photo. 

I can still see the opening hourglass and hear MacDonald Carey’s voice, “Like sands through the hourglass so are the days of our lives.”  Mom and I would have our tv trays set up, sandwiches made, Coke poured and we would get so engrossed in the storyline little else mattered for that hour.  At this early date in the show's history the character of Susan was young and pregnant.  Since I was also I felt a connection.

 Off and on over the years I continued to watch whenever I could.  The big couples over time; Tom and Alice Horton, Mickey and Maggie , Marlena and Roman, Bo and Hope, Patch and Kayla, and so many others over the years kept me vested in the show.  Somehow you could miss a few weeks or months and still have an idea what was going on.  They were our friends,  playing out storylines I was living.

                 Dr. Tom and   Alice Horton in the beginning. NBC photo.

                                   Maggie and Mickey Horton.  NBC photo  

                                                  Bo and Hope.  NBC photo 

                                                  Patch and Kayla.  NBC photo 

 In 1984 I had been married for about six months and told my husband I wanted to be an actress.  I was not a traditional young ingénue, but I did have some experience in film behind me and I was living in West Hollywood.  I worked many traditional jobs as secretaries and waitresses, but now I had the opportunity to do anything, thanks to an understanding husband who encouraged me to shoot for the moon.  (I am a very lucky woman.)  My goal in acting was to become a soap opera star.

I took acting lessons from some of the best in town.  I tried out for plays and got a good role in the first one I auditioned for;  being cast as a bi-sexual pitcher on an all girls softball team. 

I had an agent, actually two, one for acting and the other for commercials. I also knew a casting director.  She sent me out much more than my agents, and I got work.

                                            My first commercial head shot

                                          Me in a 1986 color head shot. 

I got the call one afternoon in 1985 to report the next day to the set of “Days Of Our Lives”, or DOOL as it is commonly referred to in soap opera talk.  My excitement could barely be contained.  It was 19 years after first watching the show with my mom. 

 I drove to the buildings NBC used for the tapings on Formosa in Hollywood, pulled up to the gate and after giving my name, was directed where to park.

I confess to feeling a little disappointment that I would not be in Burbank, but this was short lived once I walked into the building and was escorted to the Green Room, where I was told to wait for the casting director.

 It didn’t matter to me that the Green Room was nothing more than a few lunchroom style tables and chairs with a television set tuned to  DOOL.  The mind-blowing fact was that sitting there with me having a cup of coffee was none other than Bo.  “Hello.”  He said to me.  I was thrilled and smiled, “Hi.” 

After my day’s work I went home walking on cloud nine, barely able to contain my excitement.  I called my mom, “You will never guess where I was today.”  I giggled.

“No, do tell.”

In a tumble of words I blurted out, “I was hanging out with Bo, Hope, Mickey...”   Mom was duly impressed, and questioned me for the dates when the shows would be airing.  She did have friends to brag to after all.

Soon I was told the storyline I was working on involved Josh Taylor, who played attorney, Chris Kosichek.  I was to be on the jury for the murder case against Kimberly (Patsy Pease).  Fortunately for me, the trial would last a week or longer.

                            Roman, as played by Josh Taylor.  NBC photo. 

 One the second day, I found myself hanging out with none other than Mickey Horton.  I could not resist telling him how when I began watching the show I was pregnant with my son, who was now eighteen.  He laughed, and told me when he started the show his wife was also pregnant and our sons were now the same age. 

The next day I was in line at the deli behind Cop Abe Carver... during our conversation I learned we shared a birthday.  It seemed every day was full of surprises, and to this day I always think of him on my birthday.

                                                              Abe Carver 

I went on to work on Days Of Our Lives for the next year or so, off and on as they needed me. 

Once finished with my soap jobs, I went to Orlando to visit my parents.  My mother belonged to the Officers Wives Club, still a big part of the social scene even though dad had been retired for twenty years.  She asked me to go to a luncheon with her so I did.

 Just before the lunch they always reviewed their last meeting and would ask if anyone had anything the member should know about.  I was shocked when my mother stood and said, “I have my daughter from California with me today.  You may have seen her on Days Of Our Lives recently.”  Thunderous applause broke out and mother whispered, “Stand up, so everyone can see you.”  Her pride was evident.  I could see her beaming face as I signed a few autographs.  I don’t know if she ever was as excited for any other acting jobs I had, but it wouldn’t matter, in her eyes I was a star.

*My mother would have been 83 today.  Happy Birthday mom!