Notes from the crib

Sunday's morning started out with attending church. I usually enjoy going to church, but I left upset and hurt. We haven't been in a couple of weeks because DH was sick, George was ill, and then last week we had the fun Easter morning ER visit. We did call people to let them know we weren't going to be there the times we missed (except Easter since that was so sudden), especially since one week I was supposed to be the greeter and I've been on alter guild all month. To me, it seems only right to let them know I wasn't going to be there, and stay in contact. Anyway, it was nice to see everyone again and reconnect. At the end of service, the pastor announced that the church will be used in the filming of a major motion picture this week, and he then went through the details of when the congregation "extras" should show up for filming. Apparently after one of the services that we missed, they passed around a sign-up sheet and everyone who was there got to go to a casting call for the movie. I feel so upset that no one told us about this.

We are a small church with less than 100 members, and only about 50 active members. DH, George, and I are regulars and actively involved. We even host and maintain the web site for the church. I think when the church council agrees to something big like allowing a major motion picture starring *BRAD PITT* to film in our church and the church has to come up with 80 extras as part of the deal, for heaven's sake, they should have included us. I felt so hurt when we went to church only to find out that almost everyone there is going to be in the movie, doubly hurt when I discovered that the little girl closest in age to George is going to be in it, and my son didn't even get a chance to go to the casting. Yes, we missed church the day that this was announced, but I have a good excuse - I was in the ER! We're in charge of the church web site, shouldn't they remember to keep us in the loop on newsworthy things like this?

If I step back away from the situation a little bit, I realize that it's highly unlikely we would have been chosen as extras for the movie. DH wasn't that interested (especially if he had to miss work to attend), I don't really have that "timeless" movie look they were going for, and George can't even sit still for a 50 minute church service. How in the world would he be calm for a movie shoot? But still, it hurts that we weren't even give the chance.

I'm trying to tame the green-eyed jealousy monster ("They all get to play, why can't I?") but it's tough. It really doesn't help my bitterness when the church secretary called tonight to say that the church computer wasn't acting right and could DH please go take a look at it. Hmmm, they have our phone number when they want something from us, but they can't call to let us know of a movie role opportunity? I feel used.