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You mean I have to start watching a soap?!?!

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Many moons ago I was sitting in my first day of Make Up class at The Theater School at DePaul University, and met the boy sitting next to me, Mike. I was a first year costume designer and he was a second year actor. He didn’t seem to fit in so much with his classmates, I could relate. Of course, he was also gorgeous, so that helped, too!

As the year went on, we became friends. I was rather skilled at make up, so he tended to turn to me when he needed some help. I also worked in the costume storage rooms for my work study job. Occationally he would stop in when I was working and plop on down on a trunk to talk. He used to just open up about everything to me. He would tell me that he knew that he would always work after graduation, because of his looks, but that he didn’t know he had the talent to make him deserve that work. I knew he had the talent. I could look at Mike a see a good man with talent, but also a boy with so little confidence. I tried to help, but I knew it was something he would have to come to himself.

Another common trunk talk was about girls. He used to say he just wanted to find a girl he could talk to openly like he talked to me. It was maddening! I did have a bit of a crush, let’s face it, a beautiful, talented boy who trusts you enough to be totally open with you ~ if that’s not sexy, what is? However, it was just a crush, and I knew I could be better for him as a friend. Looking back on it, I think I have his answer now: It is very hard to find a person you can have a romantic relationship with who you can also be totally open with; especially when you are so young. It can be a terrifying thought to share your inner hopes and fears with someone you care a lot about. What if it makes them leave? As we grow, we learn it is necessary, but collage kids are rarely ready.

It always made me so happy when he would come by to talk. I never really knew if it meant much to him, if he would even remember me when he left, but it made me feel good to know that in the moment I could be there for him. He didn’t seem to have many people at school he could talk to. Well, at least from what I saw, I could have been wrong.

Somewhere in all of this I developed quite the soft spot for him. It really wasn’t the same as the little crush, it was truly caring about him as a friend, and hoping beyond hope that one day he could see the good and talented man I knew was there; and that he could find a great woman to help bring that out, to share his life with. He always struck me as the kind who was meant to get married, and have a great relationship. I guess it was because I knew he needed someone he could be open with, and who could be open with him. Let’s face it, the strongest relationships are built on that openness.

I have often felt, in the presence of our fellow alumni, that I was alone in my love for Mike. That I was one of the few who saw who he truly was and could be.

Years went by. I never saw or communicated with him after undergrad. It was really one of those friendships of convenience. Through the years I have seen him on TV now and again, and it always brings a smile to my face.

I have been having lots of moments of nostalgia lately, which caused me to think of Mike once again. As it turns out, he is rather easy to check on, he has his own website and has been staring in The Young and the Restless for two years. He is married with 2 kids.

I looked at some interviews with him, some stories about him, and even his tweets. His twitter photo is a NoH8 photo, and if you know me, you know how much that means to me. The funny thing is I had seen that photo many times and it bugged the crap out of me because I felt like I should know who it was but I couldn’t figure it out. I just never took the 2 minutes to search it out. Kinda funny, huh? Anyway, from this bit of cyber~snooping, I have been made so happy. His co~workers and employers say what a talented and kind man he is. He seems to have found his confidence. It looks like he has become the man I knew he could be. This makes me so happy. I want to go back to Chicago and scream “I told you so” from the top of the Merle Reskin Theatre. OK, so maybe it isn’t all about being happy for Mike, maybe it’s a bit about proving that I am a better judge of people then many give me credit for.

So I guess this means I need to start watching a soap, at least every once and a while. I hope he is as happy as he appears to be, you never really know how much you can trust the internet/media.

It’s funny the things that end up meaning something to us. I don’t know if Mike even remembers me. I don’t know if I meant much to him in undergrad. What I do know is he meant something to me. No matter how many people at the time said he was just a pretty face, I couldn’t help but feel they were wrong, and feel the unstoppable need to be there for him, and do what I could, even just the smallest bit, to help him see those people were wrong. I guess it was just the mommy in me coming out early. Even then I was usually the mother of my group of friends, even if I was the youngest.

Michael Muhney, I adore you. I am so proud of you. I hope you and your family have a wonderful life, and I hope that you finally see in yourself what I always saw in the boy sitting on that trunk in costume storage.

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11 thoughts on “You mean I have to start watching a soap?!?!”

  1. This is an amazing post! I’m so glad you shared this.

    Just from what I’ve seen as a Twitter-follower of his, I definitely feel that there’s something special and wonderful about him that we don’t get to witness often in this lifetime. As we know, most people ONLY speak out about injustices when it doesn’t come at their own expense. He is one of the few that has A LOT to lose, but will openly and publicly speak his mind about wrongdoing in this country and elsewhere.

    I don’t even know him personally, but HE IS THE BEST!!

    Reply
  2. Such a touching, heart warming story about Michael Muhney!It’s beautiful that you got to know him as a young man during your college days. It really helps us fans learn even more about him. No wonder why i adore him so much! :+)

    Reply
  3. This is a beautiful article. Thank you for taking the time to write it. I have so much respect for Michael Muhney because he says what he means and means what he says. He is also so much aware of the human condition.

    Reply
  4. That is awesome to read. I think he is bar far one of the best actors of my generation. He is often under appreciated because of the character he plays. People fail to realize it is his brilliance as an actor that makes people love or hate or love to hate Adam.

    Reply
  5. When I first heard the role of Adam was being taken over by a new actor I wasn’t thrilled. I guess we just get use to the actors who originated the roles. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Michael slipped into the role like it was made for him. Then I started following him on Twitter and that’s when he really started to impress me, not just as an actor but as a person as well. If he ever gets tired of acting he could have a new career as a comedian! Michael’s tweets keep me laughing and never fail to put a smile on my face for the day! It is not everyday that the character that you are supposed to hate has you pulling for him in the end. This is a great testament to him as an actor. He is my favorite actor on daytime and Y&R is lucky to have him!!! Janine (mamabirdie3)

    Reply
  6. Wow, such a great story that you posted. I think Michael has that effect on alot of people. When I watch Y N R and he is on, i think to myself, sure would like to meet him, such a great actor.

    Glad you had such a great experience in knowing him, and he was a part of your life. It’s something you will always remember:)
    Thanks For sharing.

    Reply

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