b5media

January 2nd,2006

Blogger Interview: Gayla McCord

By Rhys Alexander

This week I had the delight of interviewing Gayla McCord, one of the “newer” writers at b5. Boy, was b5 lucky to snag her!

She jokingly referred to herself as “a mix of Daisy Duke and Scarlet O’Hara” in one of her answers, but I think that describes her perfectly! Beautiful and brilliant, but with a sense of humor that would never allow conceit, Gayla is what my southern family would affectionately call a “spitfire.”

A talented writer, hard worker, and wonderful mother, she still finds time to be a health advocate. Her kids agree that she’s a “cool, hip” mom, and I don’t doubt it one bit. (Even if she’s not allowed to chaperone the school dances…those prune-faced, UNhip teachers are obviously just jealous!)

(By the way, don’t be ashamed to admit you cried at the battleship story. I’m not.)

It’s not like you could help it, but I’ll say it anyway: enjoy getting to know the wonderful Gayla McCord!

What do you write for b5, and what are your other projects?

Celeb Amour is my little corner of b5 and has become an escape of sorts from my other projects. Prior to joining the b5 team, my primary focus or passion was STD support, education, awareness and responsible singles.

Long story short, following my divorce 9 years ago and STD testing post divorce, I found that STD tests aren’t what people believe them to be. I became enraged at the deceptions in the medical community and spent an entire Memorial Day weekend emailing and faxing as many government officials as I could find trying to get policy changed.

It was during those same efforts that former Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon informed me that neonatal testing prior to women giving birth was lacking as well – this “lack in testing” was costing the lives of hundreds of babies each year. Governor O’Bannon invited me to speak before a panel that following December to present argument on why policy should be changed. It was, at least in Indiana!

From those efforts I developed an alter ego. An ego that was much more vocal and bold than my normal self. For the first time in my life, I had a “cause” I could call my own.

What are three words that describe you?

Does Obsessive Compulsive Disorder count?

No seriously, I had to consult my loving family on this one, because I feel that I am so complex that even I have a hard time figuring myself out. The words we’ve all come up with are: passionate, workaholic and shy – strange mix isn’t it?

What inspired your interest in all things celebrity?

Honestly, when I first emailed Jeremy, I had no idea what my focus would end up being, I just knew that I had been a fan of Jeremy, Duncun, Arieanna and Darren for so long that I would take any opportunity to work with them I could get – I would have written about septic tank cleaning if I had to just to have an excuse to become a part of their team. They are the goose that lays the golden egg as far as I’m concerned!

Oh no! Joan Rivers had one too many plastic surgeries and her face caved in! Now it’s up to Gayla McCord to handle all red carpet commentary and interviews from now on. How would you handle it?

First I would swear off any ideas I might have about having plastic surgery! Then I would probably throw on a rented dress, because I’d be too cheap to buy something I’d only wear once and hit the red carpet. I’d drink beer from the bottle, I’d kick off my shoes when my feet hurt and I’d refuse to put anything in my mouth that requires an acquired taste. I’d handle the red carpet much the same – I’d be a mix of Daisy Duke and Scarlet O’Hara.

What would you say to people who say that being a stay at home/work at home mom is ‘easy?’

Being a work at home mom is easy when it comes to the kids. It’s the adults I have a problem with. I would stress to anyone considering working from home to create solid boundaries and guidelines and stick with them at all cost. Otherwise your “space” is never going to be respected and you’ll always be the one called on for running errands, babysitting, lending a middle-of-the-day ear and more.

My husband had a difficult time grasping my “not so real job” until it came time for him to need some of my not so real money which of course I told him I spent most of paying my not so real car payment, our not so real phone bills and buying our not so real groceries – he eventually got the point and doesn’t say a word about my not so real job anymore. It’s still a struggle at times but now I can say “I work for b5” and everyone seems to “get it” and now they leave me alone. They don’t have to know anything else beyond that, do they?

Always, always, always say you work for someone even if you don’t and don’t reveal your skills! Otherwise you’re going to be recruited by everyone you know to set them up to make money which translates to “set me up, do the work and I’ll give you 10% of what I make for doing nothing.”

Is parenthood different than you thought it would be?

It’s so much more than I ever dreamed. I never knew I could love two little people so much. The most challenging part has started in the last year when everyone around us has started seeing them as individuals and not a “set.”

Just this last summer I was faced with wanting to be thrilled for one who was recruited to All Stars in baseball (that’s 12 kids out of the entire league) while needing to pick up the shattered esteem of the other who was overlooked. Talk about tough!

Nobody would believe that you’re old enough to have 12-year olds! Are you one of those young, cool, hip moms?

I’d like to think I am a cool, hip mom but I still don’t rank high enough to be permitted to chaperone school dances. I still can’t believe they said “NO” without hesitation!

While working on the answers for this interview, I asked my kids what they thought about my being young, cool and hip – of course I brought up that dance thing again and one let me know that I am cool in every way I just can’t go to his dances of course this time I found that him not wanting me to be there equates to “Mom, I have a girlfriend.”

So there you have it, straight from my kids – I AM young, cool and hip.

Could you share a favorite childhood or motherhood memory with us?

Following my divorce, the boys and I struggled beyond what I’d ever believed. I had been ill for about 7 months, endured many tests and nothing could be found. It was at that time that I learned about the STD testing not being complete – I had not been tested for herpes, hpv or HIV and feared I may have been exposed to HIV – all the symptoms pointed that direction.

I began preparing for when I’d be gone, arranging for my mom to take my kids into Canada where my ex couldn’t find them, I lined up a grave plot – I was almost literally digging my grave. I finally got the courage to have the blood test. Waiting two weeks was the hardest thing I ever had to do especially at Christmas time. I phoned my doctor everyday that second week to see what the results would be. He phoned my office on that Friday afternoon saying that the results were in and though I would normally have to come to his office to get them, it was late and he wanted me to know they were negative before the weekend. I remember standing in my office screaming, “Thank God I’m going to live! I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I AM Going to LIVE!”

One of my boys talked about this battleship he wanted so much. It was expensive and I didn’t know how I was going to afford it on my salary. God blessed me so much that year with a bit of a bonus that afforded that battleship and other Christmas surprises. It was so large that I hid it in the shed.

Christmas morning came and the disappointment on that little face after all the gifts were opened was almost too much. Grandpa told him to come with him and help shovel snow. They went to the shed to get the shovels and you could hear the little fellow screaming miles away. “OH, OH, OH” he said grabbing this box bigger than he was and trying to run through drifts of snow. By the time the little guy made it to the house he and the battleship were covered from head to toe in snow but nothing could have been more heartwarming.

A month after Christmas it was found that I had Epstein Barr Virus – a chronic form of mono and that was where all my health problems were stemming from. By February I was feeling like my old self and what I have to live with is pale in comparison to what I originally thought I had.

What’s something that most people would be surprised to find out about you?

Without a doubt it’s that I eventually married Rusty – my first date, first boyfriend, and first kiss – ever and now he’s my last . :)

I married my high school sweetheart too! How did you two end up ‘reuniting?’ It sounds so romantic!

Rusty and I actually bumped into each other through an online dating site in October 2002. After a few emails we moved our conversation to the phone - during our very first conversation, Rusty asked me what I had been up to these days. Of course I couldn’t hide the last 5 plus years of my life as an STD Patient Advocate so I told him the whole story and answered all his questions. I thought the conversation was very positive and had gone very well, but I was wrong. I didn’t hear from him again for about 8 months.

The following summer, I heard someone pull into the drive. I assumed it was someone looking to speak with my uncle or my dad who were out working about the farm. I heard a man’s voice ask if I was home. I hurried upstairs to brush through my hair and make myself presentable. I walked to the door to see who was here. I stood and blinked a few times to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. It was my first love! My heart raced like never before. I opened the door just hoping my knees wouldn’t give out. I walked out to the breezeway where he and I sat and talked for hours.

He’d apparently taken the information I’d given him, did some research, talked to an uncle who knew my situation all too well and decided to take the chance.

After spending the entire summer together and spending time with our kids doing all sorts of family activities, Rusty and I realized that we loved each other so much; we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We talked it over with our parents first, who were so excited they began planning a wedding before we had a chance to set a date. Four months after our second first date Rusty and I were married and have been so happy ever since.

Why do you think our culture is so obsessed with celebrities?

Two reasons – the first being that they live the life many of us only dream of and second, when celebrities have troubles in love and marriage, it helps us to realize that regardless of how much money one has or how beautiful one is; we are all capable of heartbreak and disappointment.

Wow, congrats on quitting smoking…certainly one of the hardest things to do EVER. Since you’ve already accomplished that, are you still making any New Year’s resolutions?

New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken, so I think I’ll refrain from making them.

Quitting smoking was the big one, but with the help of a website called whyquit.com I was able to finally quit and stick with it. It’s been three months now and I’ve never felt better! I never realized how bad I must have smelled before. ICK!

What sort of things do you like to do in your (haha) ‘spare’ time?

With the kids, it seems to be all about sports. Baseball and Football take up a great deal of our time. My in-laws own a greenhouse business that I help out with during the busy spring season.

Beyond that, I enjoy spending time with my family playing cards, games, cooking or watching movies. Rusty and I maintain a 1.5 acre garden through the spring and summer and fill two deep freezers. There’s nothing like our own garden fresh veggies when it’s blistering cold outside.

I’ve always loved the beach so last summer Rusty created a beach just for me in my back yard. I have a decorative pond, complete with goldfish and a waterfall and a hammock. It’s the place you’re most likely to find me reading anything James Patterson when weather permits. The hummingbirds and butterflies love it!

What is the most important lesson you want to pass on to your children?

The most important lesson I am passing on to my children is multiple lessons in one. It’s the lesson and belief in karma. I hope they always realize that being nice and doing good does eventually offer up it’s rewards and those who wrong others eventually pay regardless of whether we actually see it or not.

It must be working because both boys have been recognized numerous times for citizenship and sportsmanship at school and in their sports. I couldn’t be more proud!