June 27, 2005
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The Journey
Someone just sent me this link to Wall Street Journal Artist, Randy Glass — Check out the names I’m surrounded by!
I think I’m familiar with all of them except maybe “Lars Kaalund” and… “Parry Shen” – if I were being totally objective.
Today is exactly 10 years to the day that I made the trek out to Los Angeles to become an actor after graduating college. I started off my first day after turning 22, with $5,000 in my pocket and one suitcase in a town where I basically knew no one. And as I stepped off the plane, I nervously wondered what lied ahead for myself. I looked down at my backup plan: The return ticket back to NYC — I had given myself a whole 2 weeks to “make it”.
Once the 2 weeks blew by, I pushed my airline ticket back another 2 weeks. Then back a month. Then another month. In the meanwhile, I had joined the hereandnow theatre company — where I made my core group of friends that I still have today. But I still had no steady day job and my money was quickly being depleted with car rentals.
And just as I was about to punch-in my ticket back home, I found a job being a Boy’s Dorm Assistant at a boarding high school (my future-wife took care of the Girl’s dorm). There I received free Room and Board, benefits and a salary. In the daytime I would do all my actor-ly duties: acting classes, agent hunt, auditions, networking.
And after 3pm, be a big brother to the dorm students and take them on outings during the weekend. Even though the campus was a 1 1/2 hour drive each way into LA for auditions, that job allowed me to save the “screw you” money I needed to get my career and life started.
Flash forward a decade later: A wife, A daughter, A home, A career… A Xanga site. And an un-used airline ticket back to NYC.
Such a benchmark might make some people reflect upon their journey — but looking at all my stuff packed up in boxes; about to move into the new house, all I can think about is: How’d I accumulate so much stuff after arriving here with just one suitcase??!
Wonder what lies ahead, come June 27, 2015?
Comments (29)
yeah, that’s what we all wonder as days go by…
one day when ur old and gray, your grandkids or great grandkids will be visiting you and they will see a framed plane ticket on the wall. then they will ask “why did you frame that plane ticket grandpa??”
and you’ll have quite a story to tell them.
best of luck with the new house and the move. moving sucks.
trust me, i packed one bag before i got here and now i need five boxes and one bag if i ever move.
Awesome entry, Parry. I love hearing about these Horatio Alger-ian stories…
I too am about to move to a new home. And I was wondering the samething! At leat your wife is helping you. I’m moving all by myself! Moving sucks!
Do you still have that ticket? It might be something cool to frame. A reminder of how far you have come…
It’s truly inspiring to hear of people who follow their dreams and make them happen. Keep it up!
Sounds like you did most of your REAL WORLD growing up during those few years. You’re who you are because of it. Rock on.
happy anniversary! my xanga anniversary was yesterday – june 26th. even one year makes such a difference – imagine 10 years – wow.
wow, a decade can change a lot
nice!!!
wow…inspiring =)
very glad you held on to that plane ticket & pursued acting.
you’ve made an inspiring contribution to media
How very, very cool. Great perspective.
Where did you go to college?
My friend from the SD film festival says that Karin told him that you guys all lived together in a house while filming BLT. Is that true?
Did you like filming for First Daughter?
Hehe, so you were at Villanova while I attended the Thacher School. You heard of that right? We were only 20 minutes away and I usually go to Villanova to play Vball and Bball.
wow that’s a great story
you should publish all your xanga entries in a book someday
Hey… I just wanted to say “HAPPY BE-LATED BIRTHDAY PARRY!” Felix just reminded me. you got yourself a great brother! Hope you has a good one. And give Avery a kiss for me
Edit: I meant *Hope you HAD a good one* (my finger slipped, dont’ want you thinking I’m a fob! haha)
i found ur blog! awesome! great job in BLT … saw you on Tru Calling too … plus that commercial … forgot the name of it. =Þ
GOOD LUCK.
aww what a nice entry. congrats on ur accomplishments the past ten years!
That’s a great story. I hope you have continued success in everything that you’re doing.
How do you keep up with all these comments all the while being so busy? That suitcase sure did lead you to your destiny. Happy success!!
wow…that’s awesome!
Yes, having a xanga is truly a mark of growth.
i so happy for you that you have your dreams and now a budding family too!
What an awesome entry/memory. Celebrate your accomplishments ! You deserve it !
Congratulations!
Your persistence is incredible, and you set a great example of following your dreams.
Great Alltel commercial!
Nice… I wonder if you can get a refund on the ticket?!
It’s great to hear tha tyou didn’t just take the easy way out… some people say “burn your bridges behind you” so that you have no choice BUT to succeed. But with a decent pay, a great choice in career, and DEFINITELY a family… you have succeeded (at least in my books).
PS – The artist’s rendition of you looks a little… (ahem)… fat. (It’s the depection of the cheeks)