I can still remember it.

It was March of 2005. My then girlfriend-now wife, little sister, and I took a trip to South Dakota to visit my Grandparents. I guess visiting the small town of Winner, South Dakota was our idea of Spring Break. We were eating lunch and I saw a commercial on tv saying the series premiere of a show called ‘The Office’ was on that night. “That’s the show with Steve Carrell from Anchorman. I’ll watch that,” I thought. I remember they showed the first two episodes, but my favorite of the two was Diversity Day. It was a great episode, and remains to be even today. There’s two scenes that stand out from that episode, one that is still one of my favorites.

Dwight: Give me an easy clue so I can guess it.
Pam: Okay. I’m not trying to be racist, but you’re not a very good driver.
Dwight: Oh man, am I a woman?!

The other scene is Michael using the stereotypical eastern Indian voice and asking Kelly if she would like to try his “gookie-gookie”, and she slaps him.

I tried to watch the show as much as I could. Eventually though, I started working a full time job and moved out of my parents’ house. Not being able to afford cable, I stopped watching the show. Things changed about three years ago. I had lost my job, and my wife, kids, and I were having to move out of where we lived. It was a low time for me. I remember sitting up one night alone and rediscovering ‘The Office’. I remember spending my days watching episode after episode. The laughter it brought helped me get through a tough time. Once the new season started, I watched the show religiously. I was glued to my television every Thursday night.

We’ve now come to a time I honestly never thought about. We as a people start to get comfortable and depend on things. We don’t like change, and when it happens, we regret taking advantage of the situation. I feel like I took advantage of ‘The Office’, and I regret that. I’ve depended on the show to keep me sane every Thursday night, new episode or repeat. I’m sad to see the show go. I’ll miss these characters and their stories on a weekly basis. This show has made me emotional before (Jim and Pam’s wedding, Michael proposing the Holly, Michael leaving Dunder Mifflin), but these past few weeks have really gotten to me.

Michael. Dwight. Jim. Pam. Andy. Darryl. Stanley. Phyllis. Kevin. Oscar. Angela. Toby (I hate you.). Kelly. Ryan. Jan. Roy. Holly. Gabe. Jo. Robert California. David Wallace.

Thank you to all of these characters for all their stories. If these people only knew the things they helped me through.

I hope my wife bought me some tissues.

-Andrew

A little over two years ago, I started on this journey of doing stand-up comedy. I’ve made friends, I’ve accomplished goals, and I’ve done things I never imagined possible.

I’ve also made some mistakes too. I quit. Twice. I’m not at all proud of that either. Sure, I can make excuses.
“A wife and two kids makes it hard.”
“My Grandfather passing away made it tough.”
“I work soooooo much.”
It’s all bullshit though. The problem has been ME. Sometimes, I go through these experiences of self doubt, and it’s a tough hole to dig myself out of. When you have a list of goals and things you want to accomplish, you can’t bullshit yourself.

I’m done bullshitting myself. Starting this weekend, I embark upon some new projects, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s full speed ahead.

-Andrew