Page 737 - Total War on PTSD

“Someone once asked me what I want on my epitaph when I pass away. Just the words ‘I tried.’ That’s that this game of life is all about. Trying.” - Mickey Rooney
Courtenay: I once met Mickey Rooney. It was before I went to acting school, and then later decided acting wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. But when I met him, at that time...I was sure it was what I wanted to do. That really doesn’t matter at this point. What does matter was the man, and his extreme humility and strength of character. The talk he was giving at a local college was on the topic of acting, but there was a decidedly low turnout. I was sitting in a second row seat with no one in front of me. I had a clear view of Mr. Rooney as he looked out from the stage that wasn’t far above me, partially due to the locality and partially due to his short stature. There was the slightest hint of a frown on his face and the slightest bit of a glimmer in his eye that made him look saddened by the lack of turnout. Despite the situation, he turned his full attention to all of us there, giving us his gift of entertainment, and years of knowledge of his craft...and he warmed my heart that day. He even game me the time to talk to me personally afterwards and didn’t hurry to leave as I expected he might. He was the kind of actor I wanted to be...the kind of actors I wanted to be with. And he was also the reason I didn’t stay in California after summer acting school in California. Because I couldn’t find those kind of actors...my kind of actors...there. I am sure they exist somewhere...but finding someone priceless like Mr. Rooney is a once in a lifetime gift...and a gift I will never forget.
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