<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Trading-Spaces-034.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3671" title="Trading Spaces 034" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Trading-Spaces-034-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a>A few days ago, a friend emailed and asked if I would be interested in applying for a TV show spot.  Here's her note:</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Hi, friends,</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>I have a friend that has an intergrity-based tv show he wants to produce that involves divorced or soon-to-be divorced women’s perspectives.  He is looking for people to interview as possible guests or material.  ..especially if you were “raked through the fire”</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Would you be interested in sharing your story?</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>If you are, we need name, age, times married, reason for divorce, occupation, a little bio if you have it, picture.  They are putting together a questionnaire, but this will get them started.  This is a group that is more interested in making a positive impact on the world than putting out the trash we see on the networks…I trust that this project will be one of integrity and good taste!</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong><span style="color: #993300;">Katherine</span></strong></p>

<p><strong><span style="color: #ffcc00;">Golden Fortune Interiors, LLC</span></strong></p>

<p><a href="http://www.goldenfortuneinteriors.com/"><span style="color: #ffcc00;">www.goldenfortuneinteriors.com</span></a></p>

<p><em><span style="color: #993300;">Good Design Brings Good Fortune!</span></em></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>[Katherine is one of my most eclectically cool friends.  We'll explore her world more at another time in another blog post.  :-) ]</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Wow.  It's been awhile since my 15 minutes of fame on </strong></span></span><em><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Trading Spaces. </strong></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>I'm game! </strong></span></span></span></em></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Except...</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Wow again.  I'm not a "past" person.  I learn the lesson and then move on.  I'm a "future" person who strives to live fully in the present.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Newer friends in my life are always surprised when they hear that I was married long, long ago because my marriage/divorce/ex-husband just don't resurface in my present life.  So why would I delve into the muck of ten years ago for a TV gig?</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Precisely because my past does not affect my present.  I've never thought of this before (although my friend, Sarah, has suggested it), but I suppose I am somewhat of an example of hope for women who are presently or recently in the muck.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;">Here's what I submitted to the TV Powers-That-Be aka "Joe":</span></span></strong></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Hello, there.  Thanks for the opportunity to share my story with you.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Here are the details you asked for below:</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong>Name:</strong> Michelle DeSpain</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong>Age: </strong><em>Very early</em> fortysomething.  Ahem.  41.  :-)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong>Times married:</strong> Once</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Reason for the divorce:  The cliché.  (He cheated.)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>But we all know that the marriage is broken before it gets to that point.  So again, it was the cliché – I was young, naïve, and felt pressure to marry before 30.  I fell for looks and charm.  I saw the red flags flying high long before the wedding and turned my head the other way. <strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;"> </span></span></strong></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;">I dreamed of a soulmate, and I was told that I’ve always kept my head in the clouds…the hopeless romantic…soulmates don’t exist.  I settled.</span></span></strong></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #008000;">Fast forward to present day –</span></span></strong> <span style="color: #008000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>I don’t believe that there is one soulmate for everyone, but I do believe that we resonate with kindred spirits. </strong></span></span></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>For me, that means that we share many common interests, values, dreams and a positive disposition and outlook on life.  Sadly, I didn’t share these with my ex-husband.  It now seems like a lifetime ago that we were together (we divorced in early 2001), so I look back and wonder, “What was I thinking?!?!?”</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>The divorce was crushing to me.  Divorce was foreign to me.  My parents are still together and <em>still love each other</em>.  Go figure!  My sister is married to her high school sweetheart and best friend.  I was beyond devastated.  It took time, but I healed.  Completely.  I feel no residual negative feelings from the divorce.  (It helped that I could detach completely from my ex since we never had children.)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>I am proud of the strong woman that I evolved into through my experiences.  I am no longer naïve.  I will always be a <em>hopeful</em> romantic.  It’s my nature.  I feel no pressure to rush into relationships for the wrong reasons.  I don’t settle.  I am serial single, and I am perfectly content in staying that way until Mr. Right-for-Me (and vice-versa) shows up.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong>Occupation:</strong> sales (paid), blogger (unpaid -- darn it), former teacher (lifetime achievement award)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong>Bio: </strong>Please visit here: <strong> </strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/about/"><strong>http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/about/</strong></a></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Another reason why I’m serial single:  I don’t have time to date unless he’s a <em>really good sport</em> and want join me in my shenanigans.  :-)  Find out why here:  <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/"><strong>http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/</strong></a></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Thanks again!  What is the next step in this process?  I look forward to hearing from you.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Best,</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Michelle</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>*******************************</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>If you live in my fair city and would like to submit your story to Joe, please let me know, and I will send the information to you.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>