Kelly and I used to work together, and she was always very high-energy, a big laugher, a loud, ringing and positive voice. She was in sales, so none of that should surprise. But what I found out later, after I’d worked with her for a while, was she was an actress. Maybe on temporary, busy-life hiatus, but she’d had a whole ‘nother life before this one in the arts, in New York acting school, in New York performing and tryouts. Years before.

And she was back at it, trying out for a local this, working with a local group that.

This is Kelly’s story, from small-town midwest life as preachers’ daughter, but supportive preachers, and her first kiss with Christian Slater as kids at Starlight, and then acting college under greats in New York City and a solid 10 years trying to make it. And, finally, one day, deciding, no, this is about as far as I want to go. So, then, family, kids, back to the Midwest, and a more peaceful and differently amazing life.

When I found out I knew a real actor, and when I had a chance to ask her about it, well, I did.

And, at the end, Kelly says she was kinda glad her kids are going their own way and didn’t decide to try to make it.

Kelly is happy being an actress, couldn’t even get away from it, but in her own way in her own time.