Oh what a night!

My excitement began with an email invitation from Stephanie Gold (Gloria Gaynor's manager) to meet them personally and attend a private event concert on Friday night. I inquired about formal/informal attire, and Stephanie replied that it was 1970s -1980s party theme, and we were to dress accordingly.

We four local contributor's to Gloria Gaynor's (soon to be released) inspirational book, We Will Survive, had only days to hit the thrift shops and reduced racks at local department stores to find appropriate disco outfits and accessories.

What a laugh we all had when we saw one another's costumes. We were a sight to behold with our bangles and jangles. We arrived an hour early and paraded into The Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby looking like... well as one of the young female hotel employees said when she saw us, "Oh, painted ladies."

 

                              Alice Muschany, Linda O'Connell, Gloria Gaynor, Lynn Obermoeller, Cathi Lamarche

Gloria Gaynor and Stephanie Gold came to greet us. You know how you have only one chance to make a first impression? Well we certainly did! I can only imagine what they thought about us as we all sized one another up.

I was quite impressed with the informal and friendly manner of both women. They led us to the pent house lounge. We sat on a sofa and overstuffed chairs, and after the formalities of introducing ourselves and discussing our individual stories, we relaxed and chatted like old friends. Ms. Gaynor put us all at ease as she shared intimate details about her life—which we could all relate to. She shared confidences about some of the other stories in her new book, details about the anthology's promotion, and she talked about actors and actresses you'd all recognize by name, including Oprah. Time flew as we shared histories, ideas, and opinions on relationships... and men. Oh yes we did! We laughed a lot as we made connections and accepted her generous gifts of autographed CDs and photos.

Ms. Gaynor is such a down-to-earth, spiritual, fun woman. She's someone you'd want to share a cup of peach tea with. Well, not the same cup! Each of us could feel her genuine spirit. It was as if she were an old friend. When Lynn presented her with homemade gooey butter cake, she looked into the gift bag and cracked us up when she said, "Oh my, this is going to be my last supper!"

Years ago, the uplifting lyrics to her song, I Will Survive, carried me through some tough times. When Gloria Gaynor spoke to us in person in that lounge, she spoke to the part of our hearts and souls where her voice and lyrics have been imbedded for decades. She touched us deeply.

Stephanie Gold is petite and mighty, unpretentious, the most energetic and real New "Yorkeh" I have "eveh" met. She has a passion for animals that resonated with all of us. She is not only a manager, it is obvious that she is Ms. G's dedicated, true friend.

She took us behind the scenes, into the green room, and back stage. Gloria said that she has been and done many things in her life, but on Friday night, she was experiencing a first; she was going to be someone's "birthday present." Can you imagine your husband hiring your most favorite singer to perform at your fiftieth birthday party? It was an awesome party.

Gloria Gaynor's energy level on stage surpassed that of any of today's rock stars. Her concert was incredible. That woman can get down! And her voice! And her band! And the duets! Oh, it was a glorious and memorable night, not only for the birthday girl, but for the four old gals whose stories Ms. Gaynor selected to include in her book.

As I watched her prance across that stage, listened to her belt out songs, and observed how she connected with her audience and fans, I stood on the dimly lit dance floor and sent up a humble prayer of thanks for such a wonderful and unexpected opportunity.

Then, Cathi and I darted to the ladies room. We were walking back through the lobby when we heard the lyrics, "At first I was afraid, I was petrified..." We RAN in our clodhopper shoes and made it back into the reception hall in time to raise our hands and voices and join the party and the birthday girl in singing our anthem, I Will Survive!

This could be the beginning of something really big...and that is all I am going to say. I wish Ms. Gaynor success beyond compare with her anthology, WeWill Survive based on her # 1 hit song, I Will Survive.

Shh! Anna Mae Bullock, aka Tina Turner, contributed a celebrity quote.

Watch out world, here we come!

 

  

The Price Some Pay for Fame

America's got talent!

"Stars" dance and do fancy footwork on big screen T.V.s in households across America.

Fame and a name! Singers, dancers, performers and writers, everyone would like to see their name in lights.

Whether it’s one name recognizables such as Tina, Cher, Sarah, or Tiger; whether we approve or disapprove of their behaviors, politics, or lifestyles, we just can’t help gawking and listening.

I sit in my comfy home declaring, “If that were me, I would …” I posture and feel empowered imagining how I would handle any of their particular situations. I shove another cookie in my mouth wishing I could lose a few pounds as I watch a sixty-something-year-old icon prance her lithe legs across a talk show stage.

What really makes someone a celebrity? Susan Boyle was an unknown, never-been-kissed, fifty year old when she was discovered on a talent show. The world audience reveled in her success. We watched her physical and emotional transformation take place before our eyes. Her angelic voice rippled into households like electric current. How many unknown talented people will never be discovered, transformed or will never transform others with their gifts and talents? Why do we devote so much time to the stars? Maybe it’s the kinship we feel with an undiscovered nobody, or a somebody with the same kinds of personal problems.

It’s not that I don’t have enough issues in my own life, but focusing on the stars’
lives allows me vicarious interaction. I imagine myself dining, dancing, singing, schmoozing with the good, the bad, and the beautiful. No matter how down to earth performers appear to be, I know for a fact that they wouldn’t give me a second look. But through a variety of media I can witness their lives and through my active imagination I can be a part of it.

I can’t carry a tune, but I can sing a duet with any number of iconic singers. You should see me strut my stuff. I beam at my reflection knowing how proud Tina Turner would be of me when we sing Proud Mary together. I can almost hear her shouting, “Take it away!” as she tosses me her microphone.

I imagine sitting in Cher’s southwest decorated kitchen singing, "If I Could Turn Back Time", then talking honest to goodness mom talk. When I read in magazines of her failures, her successes and most of all her kids’ feelings that she sacrificed motherhood for a career, I relate. I know what it’s like to have your kids point their finger and say, “You did or didn’t…”

My children are thirty-seven and forty, and to this day, at family gatherings, I know that one of them will publically humiliate me. Word for word, I can quote them. I clutch my heart and prepare for the knife plunge.

“Do you remember when we were kids and Mom always made us split a Happy Meal?”

All eyes turn my way, and the tongue lashings begin. There’s no escaping the pangs of motherhood when you have kids who aren’t afraid to dish the family gossip.

I lived in Alaska for a couple of years way back when. That’s the only connection I feel with a certain up and coming political hopeful, but I can certainly relate when she gets embroiled in her daughter, the dancer’s, personal business. I am a grandmother who had a pregnant teenage daughter. She had an out of wedlock baby when she was 20. I fought as fiercely as any mama grizzly for her cub. I am right there sipping coffee with Sarah, complaining about kids and the things they put us through.

Tiger, well now, his personal life is such a mess, but on some level, I relate to his foibles. Perhaps, as he says, it wasn’t a golf club that did the damage. I want to sit that young man down and tell him to tell the truth. Addiction is painful. I know; I used to be an adrenaline junkie. My former husband had the air let out of all four tires when he pulled some wild antics many years ago. Did I admit to doing it? Would I do such a thing? Did we dance around real issues and hurt the kids? Well, now, I know from experience that taking the tiger by the tail is only the beginning of transforming one’s self. Taming the tiger results in healthier family relationships.

I ask myself why I get so embroiled in the lives of stars, and after a bit of self-examination, I realize it is because on some level, regardless of fame or fortune, we’ve had common experiences. I’ve been the ugly duckling. I’ve regained self-esteem. I’ve fought long and hard for underdogs. I wrestled my own tiger, I, who feared public speaking more than gaining ten pounds, now address audiences. I have been the wounded, and I have healed others’ wounds. I have lived it up and I have had to live it down. I am a star in my own right, and you are too.

Now go out there and shine today! Do some fancy footwork, smile at a stranger, write from your heart. Sparkle.

A GREAT BIG WELCOME TO ALL OF MY NEW FOLLOWERS! THANK YOU.