by Jennifer MacPherson, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

The impact comes on page 82. Ego & Fame "name dropping". Here I go. (yet again)
"I'm related to Shawn and Aaron Ashmore - both actors, Shawn is best known for his role of "Bobby" in the X-Men. The Iceman. There, I said it.............yet again. "

In the moment, the afternoon of February 7, 2008, I am reading Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth between commercial breaks of Dr. Phil in anticipation of 4 pm - Oprah's show with Peter Walsh - "All this clutter is making you fat". I mute the tv during commercial breaks and read.

I hit page 82, Its' me, I'm doing it - all ego. I've been touting the fact I'm related to Shawn and Aaron Ashmore. Shawn is well known "Bobby" in X-Men, playing other numerous roles in Hollywood films. His twin Aaron also a movie actor.
I'm constantly reminding my sons "you're related to Shawn Ashmore in X-Men". (He's never seen X-Men).
Why am I doing this? I am re-affirming I am important by linking myself to a movie actor? I'm imposing on my son the same? He's telling all his little school buddies (they don't believe him). What am I doing?

My mother and their grandmother are cousins. As far as I am aware I have never even met the Asmore twins, but I'm "name dropping" them on Facebook, "were related", in school literature to my sons' grade 5 teachers, to friends, extended family ...any given moment that arrises to bring it up, I'm on.
I even once contemplated, while waiting for a flight from Victoria, BC International airport, sitting across from Jason Statham of Cellular and other movies........ I contemplated an opener by saying "Hi, you were in the movie Cellular I watched in my hotel room last night""By the by.... Did you know I'm related to Shawn Ashmore?.......... that scenereo quickly disappeared. Poof!
I didn't even ask for an autograph! But I wanted so badly to interupt him mostly likely doing anything but making eye contact with us, sitting directly across from him in this small queit Victoria airport. He figgitted - I figgited, my husband just blankly stared ahead and said absolutely nothing.(which was annoying!) My eyes darted back and forth, I kept glancing over at my husband. No response. I wanted to nudge him with my elbow. I could see dread across his face...oh please don't say anything I felt ooze from his ever being.........and please don't say anything silly. I said nothing we boarded the small plane bound for Seattle. While seated my husband pipes up "Hey.....Isn't that the guy in the movie last night - Cellular?"..... (I growl).

It was a fleeting thought in a moment where I could see that Mr. Shatham just wanted to board his plane and not be bothered by some local small town chatterery mom on her way to Vegas, looking for movie star attention.
Well -Was I .....wrong! He boarded the plane and soon befriended a little boy telling him all about his movies! It was very touching. They chatted the "enitre" plane ride to Seattle. I squirmed in my seat. I told everyone when we got back from our trip who sat across from me in the airport. There I go again.

Meantime while reading this chapter, Oprah's next episode comes on featuring Peter Walsh and a family who's clutter appears to be making them fat. I'm of course intensely interested. It's me, I'm her, that's us, I'm watching. The moment comes in the program, while filming at their house when Antonio, the young son, has a stack of comic books he's finished with. On top I can make out X-Men.........at least in the brief moment, I believe that was X-Men magazine.
Peter Walsh says "your done with these then". Antonio says yes.

X-Men, Shawn Ashmore, page 82, "name dropping", and "gaining superiority in the eyes of others". Its time to let it go.
So, why does this happen? Was it co-incidence?

This was the moment.

Isn't it ironic - I'm on page 82 - of Eckhart Tolle's book and all this happens. Its like Oprah's bubbles moment.

My phone rings between commercial break, its mom............"Are you watching Oprah? I was just thinking about your clutter and lo and behold I sit down to Oprah"................"I was just going to phone you".