Last week was like a country song — my dog died, my job radically changed and my family was left in a position that gives me acid reflux. And all that was after coming off the huge high of running my first marathon and raising $13,000 for cancer research. It got so ridiculously bad that I was waiting for my mother to get “runned over by a damned ol’ train.” I was defeated. I was deflated.
I got the bad news on Thursday. Someone leaked it on Facebook and soon my page was lighting up like a Christmas tree. People were very supportive. The phone started ringing. TV stations wanted me to comment — I chose not to. My focus was no longer on the past (my amazing career at The Clarion-Ledger.). It was on my future. What was I going to do now that I have to grow up? I had to make sense of my new, reduced role at the paper. I had to find out how to get health insurance coverage for my family. And I had to do in a hurry what I should have been doing for the past couple of years: Build a lifeboat.
I almost went to Tulsa a couple of years ago. I turned down a very lucrative job offer there to stay in Mississippi. Why? I believe in this state. But that crossed my mind a few times last week. Did I make the right move? I also did a radio show (filling in for Sid Salter) the day my job changed. I did three hours of radio while I was in shock. But the funny thing is, I did a pretty good job. Part of me wonders if that is in my future as well.
I had to mourn my dog and my job. Cobble together a way to keep my family safe and then start planning for the future. All in two days.
But the encouragement kept pouring in. I heard from people in high places and I heard from everyday Mississippians. People are behind me 100%. My cousin Dave sent the most amazing e-mail — it lit a fire under me and got me moving. A great project came my way at my church. And thankfully I got to keep drawing so you can see my cartoons. And as a bonus, I can work from the house. The windows are opening up after the door slammed in my face.
Here’s what I’ve done so far. I’ve laid the foundation for the future. I now have an LLC. That means I have a new business called Tiny Wheels Media. (named after the wheels on my cars I draw). It’s not a business to compete with any of the other media entities out there –it’s a way for me to put all my talents under one fiscal roof. I’ll be a speaker. A cartoonist (for The Clarion-Ledger and Creators Syndicate). An illustrator. A book salesman. And a motivator. I’m also working on some other potentially exciting deals.
Back when I was a janitor, I fell into the trap of feeling sorry for myself. I broke out that trap by using my talents. Twenty years later, I intend to do it again — just this time much better.
Life is changing rapidly and I think it’s for the better. I appreciate everything from my past. I cherish the great things that are coming in the future. And I’m blessed to have a wonderful family and friends. I’m a leaf in a whirlwind right now. But I know I’m going to land in a great place.
This thrills me Marshall! I can’t wait to see where this new journey leads you!
You have come through it like a shining star, although we know the shock you were in. You have prevailed very well! May God continue to use you as he sees fit.
Wishing you much success and personal happiness on this new journey.
Stay encouraged; nowhere else to go but up. And hang on for the ride – looks like it will be exciting! Glad you’re choosing “better” instead of “bitter”! Looking forward to watching your journey! How about that for a bunch of “attaboys”? :)
Selfishly, I am glad you are still here with us and not in Tulsa!
What an amazing testimony you are living out right now. God must have even bigger things planned for you. I hope that Mississippi will always have your talents in our life.
As a fan who moved from MS to FL and still follows your wonderful work just know you have fans everywhere and we will continue to love your work no matter who signs your paycheck!
I lost my job, too. I’ve brought my journalism students to the Clarion-Ledger before and we had the really neat honor of meeting you and having you share some of your great wit with us. Great times….and now we both are leaves in a whirlwind….scary, overwhelming, exciting, too. There are about 15 million leaves in this whirlwind along with us in America and, sadly, more to come. I think I need to just say: do not lose hope. Leaves in the whirlwind are not hopeless…they dance and go with the flow and do land safely somewhere else. It’s a bumpy ride, I think, and it removes us from under the tree on which we proudly grew and served our initial “green” purpose…now we are no longer green….but we still have a purpose. Wishing you wonderful opportunities ahead. Keep that optimistic attitude…you’re still young! (I’m not so young, however, survival is an extremely ‘growing’ time and we find ways…don’t we?)
Enjoy your cartoons so much….very best wishes!
ps: My son is a cancer survivor, too! Thank you for your marathon!
You might consider a mini -semester of master class teaching at an Art college or the art dept or journalism dept of a University. Kind of a celebrity guest lecturer/teacher-famous skilled people don’t need teaching certificates for that sort of thing. Or a weekly night class at a Community college. Or teach half day master classes at a comic convention or art festival or even on a military base. Soldiers often have lots of time for creative doodling while waiting around. My brother wrote entire screenplays while on deployment and now he is doing his master’s in screenwriting at UCLA. He said the military was 23 hours of boredom punctuated by 1 hour of sheer terror. You could also give art classes at prisons-though I don’t know if they pay you for that. I don’t mean to sound too crassly commercial but your twin towers piece would make a poignant ground zero commemorative post card as would your Katrina piece. Speaking of which, has anyone written a graphic novellette about 9/11 or Katrina? Hint, Hint!!(like that graphic novel maus dipicted the holocaust) Some of your pieces remind me sometimes of Will Eisner’s work-you share that ability to evoque a visceral response. Be bold, You know we are pulling for you!
Isn’t it amazing what we can accomplish when we’re given a nudge out of our comfort zone? As crazy as it may sound, sometimes we need a little “bad” to realize how good we have it, to push beyond our comfort limits and reach the accomplishments God meant for us.
God bless you, Marshall, and may you continue to stretch!
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For I, the LORD, your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” ISAIAH 41:13
Wishing you the best of luck in your new ventures.
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a good future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
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