Gails Blog

Good day good folks. I have good news. This week Til Debt Do Us Part was nominated for a Gemini — our second nomination. We won the first time. This is Canada’s version of the Emmys. And while they are much maligned for various silly reasons, no one ever turns one down. It funny how at once we want to pretend it doesn’t matter much, but then we want to WIN! Even getting a nomination means you have one of the best shows going.

I browsed around the Gemini website after the nomination was announced to see who else had been nominated. One of the other shows nominated, At the End of my Leash, is produced by the cute chick who recruited me for Frantic (my producer) and then moved on. She’s a smart girl and deserves the recognition.

I call the show “Til Dogs Do Us Part” because the show so closely follows our format: something is wrong big-time (in their case, it’s the dogs; in our case, it’s the money), there are challenges, and there’s a resolution. There are several other shows that have picked up our format; some are better at it than others. As they say, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.”

When we won a couple years ago, I had passed on the invitation to the party. I’m not a big party-girl. I would much rather sleep, which is what I was doing when the call came that we had won. My daughter answered the phone and said, “Sorry, we never wake a sleeping Mommy.” Ha! Ken told me at midnight when I got up to pee. I went back to sleep with a very big grin on my face.

I’ve been invited to go again this year. If I’m already in town shooting, then I’ll go. If not, I’ll wait to hear who won. It doesn’t really matter since it doesn’t much change anything for me. Here’s what does:

Yesterday when I got home from work there was a parcel on my desk. It came with a quote and a letter. The quote was from Maya Angelou, whom I admire greatly.

“People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.”

The gift was a teapot shaped like a hippo. (No rush of hippos, please.) Alex, who sent the gift, really hit home with that because I’ve been collecting hippos for years, but this is the first one I’ve ever received this way.

The letter was my favorite part. I was very flattered by what Alex wrote, but I was most satisfied by her final line: “I have my peace of mind and life back. Thank you.” 

You’re very welcome Alex. I am so glad you have been able to put my tips to good use. But you are to be congratulated on doing so. It’s very easy to “say”; to “do” is the tough part. And YOU did. I am so proud of what you’ve accomplished, and to have been able to help.

I often hear from people why they CAN’T. They can’t make more money  because they already work so hard. They can’t pay off their credit cards because they don’t have the money. They can’t save… for a million reasons. 

Alex could. Like the little engine, she made it up the hill. So she, and all of the people who DO, should be very proud of themselves. (Take a Gail Hug here.) 

Attitude is half the battle. Knowing you can do it is a big part of success. The other half is plain old hard work. Some people just don’t have what it takes.

Whether we win a Gemini is of very little importance when put beside Alex — and all the Alexes — who have taken the work we have done and used it to make a positive difference in their lives. I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished on this show. And I’m so proud of all of you who have take the tools and made a change. Here’s to you!