Rinse Cycle

When you've been a prominent regular in a social scene for an extended period of time, it can be jarring when you—for whatever reason—decide to disengage. Initially there will be the confusion and questions. ("Why isn't X here? What happened?") As time goes by, the absence may be felt in different ways at different times. A role once played by you now needs to be fulfilled by the remaining players.

In a way, though, I think it offers that social dynamic an opportunity to GROW.

It's too easy for routines to set in. For people to become set in the parts they play in the larger order. If someone who always cooks departs, then other people have to step up and man the burners. It shakes things up, makes things more interesting.

Lisa Bonet leaves THE COSBY SHOW, THE COSBY SHOW still goes on. Lisa Bonet leaves A DIFFERENT WORLD, A DIFFERENT WORLD carries on. The shows don't die. The dynamic may change but the shows evolve and even blossom. Lisa Bonet's departure allows future stars like Keisha Knight Pulliam and Kadeem Hardison to really come into their own and flourish.

I'm basically like Lisa Bonet.

An ultimately non-essential part of the program.

For me, leaving the scene will give me an opportunity to pursue motherhood and straight-to-video movies. In time, people won't even remember that I used to be part of the scene. They will say things like, "Remember when Lisa Bonet used to hang out with us all the time?" and, "Whatever happened to Lisa Bonet...?"