A few weeks back, I went to pick my kids up from school, and my daughter looked depressed. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "They're having a talent show at school this month and parents can be in it. I want to ask you if you'll sing 'Eye of the Tiger' with me, but I know you'll say no."
"Sure I'll do it with you," I replied. I think she was in shock because she barely spoke all the way home, which never happens.
"Eye of the Tiger" is one of my favorite songs from my youth. I use to watch as two of my friends would stand on the picnic table at recess and sing it. I saw Rocky III many times on cable, and that song has been used in one way or another on several other TV shows or commercials.
It is also on "American Idol Encore" for the Wii, where my daughter first discovered it and fell in love with the song over a year ago. Some days, she would sing it over and over again until everyone's ears felt like they were going to bleed. My daughter would boast to me that she was the best at singing the song, so at times, I would have to prove her wrong. As my daughter feels the need to be the best at everything, these competitions would go on for a while.
So, it was fitting that this was the song she wanted to sing at the talent show, and wanting to sing it with me touched my heart. How could I say no?
We downloaded the karaoke version of the song and practiced it for a couple of days. When we went to the audition after school, I was told that I had been the only parent to participate in the talent show. The school had really hoped more parents would join in, (another father and daughter got in after the official auditions). At any rate, we got it, but we were asked to come up with some "dance moves" to go with our singing.
Neither my daughter or I had any idea what to do, and we only had one week to figure it out. I started thinking about the song's origins and Rocky III, and came up the idea that we could do "boxing moves" along with the song. Since my daughter owns a punching bag and gloves this worked out quite nicely. For the next couple of days, we would practice after school, sometimes arguing, sometimes screaming as we tried to figure out what would work best. My daughter came up with some good ideas that we incorporated into the act. The day before the show, our act had finally started to take shape.
The night of the talent show, I was a little nervous, but my daughter wasn't, not until we got all the way out to the school and discovered one set of gloves were both right-handed, (the other pair just like it was on the living room floor). I had to run all the way back home to get them. I got back about ten minutes before show-time.
All the acts were called to the back of the stage -- over a dozen elementary students who were all nervous and excited. My daughter and I were fifth on the show list. The students were left unattended by any teachers in the back, leaving me and the one other parent there. The kids were chaotic, running around. I did my best to keep them quiet, but the older ones did what they wanted to do, (mostly look through the curtain at the other acts). They only got caught twice, and after that they were better at hiding it.
After what seemed like an eternity, we were up. My husband who was suppose to videotape us, was seen running back from the bathroom with our son. He missed the first few seconds, but that was okay. The audience was excited and clapped along with the music. When we were finished, everyone clapped and cheered. Even though we weren't the best singers out there that night, the whole point is that we were there at all. Many people told me afterward that they would not have the nerve to stand up in front of all those people. For me, it did not matter what I looked like up there. Goofy or not, I was there because my daughter asked me to be.
My daughter is already preparing for next year's talent show, and whether she wants me to be in it or not, I will be supporting her all the way.
In 7th Heaven - My latest convention experience
For those of you who know me, I love Sci-Fi conventions. I have been attending since the early 1990's at local shows, but in the past three years my family has planned our vacations around these events, mainly in Orlando.
In late March, we found out that Michael Shanks (Stargate) would be attending a hotel-based convention in Tampa (Vulcan Events). As he is on our "dream list" to meet, we got excited and made our plans. The Celebrity Guest list was a Who's Who of some of our favorites: Tony Todd (best known at 'The Candyman", but he has been in hundreds of shows and he's always awesome!) Dean Stockwell, (Quantum Leap and more recently Cavil on the new BSG), Sally Kellerman, Gary Lockwood, Christopher Lloyd, Jennifer Lien (Kes, Voyager) and the amazing Catherine Hicks, (Star Trek IV, and of course, 7th Heaven).
Hotel-based conventions are special, because there are less attendees and you get to spend more time with the celebrities, and you can go back to your room in minutes if you need a quick break or forgot something to take downstairs. Last year, at the F/X show at the Orange County Convention Center, in all our excitement, we made a grave mistake and left all our stuff to be signed in the car. We had to go all the way back out to the parking lot in 90 degree weather, (it felt like walking a mile, and probably is close to being one).
When we got to our hotel last Saturday where the convention was being held, the parking lot was full and we had to park on the roof of the hotel's parking garage. My husband, Brad, who did not like the thought of making multiple trips to the roof to get our stuff, decided we would carry everything down at once, (several suitcases, our bags of food, ect). So, imagine our dismay as our two young children loaded down like pack mules, and ourselves as well, discovered that there was no elevator in the parking garage. We had to lug everything down four flights of stairs, (in 90 degree heat).
Hot, exhausted, sweaty and sticky we stumbled into the hotel's elevator and I asked the lady next to us to push, "Floor Two Please". Then I looked up - it was Sally Kellerman (the original "Hot Lips" Houlihan from the move M*A*S*H). I said in a weak voice, (Thank you, Ms. Kellerman). She smiled and waved hello to our two kids. I later thanked her again that afternoon when I got her autograph.
We were late for the day's events because I had promised our kids a day at the zoo, (quid pro quo for hanging out at the hotel the following day). I did get downstairs just in time to see Tony Todd's presentation, which was awesome. Afterwards, I spoke to him at his autograph table for ten minutes or so, (he took special time out for everyone).
That evening, for the first time ever I attended a Celebrity Banquet. My dear husband had promised to watch the kids and wished me a "wonderful time". Depending on your ticket number, you got to choose which celebrity you sat with. The table with Michael Shanks (Stargate) filled up first, but I decided I wanted to dine with Catherine Hicks. She was an amazing lady, really down to earth and a lot of fun. Her booking agent was with her, and he was great to talk to and had lots of fun stories. The gentleman, (Rich, I believe) who sat next to me was a really nice guy and we talked Sci-Fi and how he would not watch the new 'Riverworld' because he thought the first one was incredible and did not want to see the re-make, (I loved the new one). Our other table guests were really nice guys as well. Catherine Hicks told us how she grew up as an only child and it floored me --I told her that I had grew up as an only child also. She looked across the table at me and relayed some of her thoughts to me on it, and I nodded knowingly because I had experienced what she had experienced and felt many times the same way she did and had done some of the same things she had done. It was a special moment between us. Although many of the celebrities left early, Catherine Hicks stayed with us until the room started to clear out, and we all said our goodbyes for the evening.
The next day, I took my daughter down to have our photo with her, and as we left, Catherine Hicks called out to my daughter, "You have a cool Mom!" It really touched me that she did that. After I got my photos, I went over and thanked Ms. Hicks again for a memorable evening and wished her well.
What a special weekend it was - getting two photos done with the handsome Michael Shanks, my daughter meeting Christopher Lloyd and Catherine Hicks, (which she both thought were really nice). Meeting other convention attendees and talking about tv shows and movies. So incredible and over much too quickly.
Still, it is always nice to have something to look forward to, and I hope that in the Fall there will be another show, and another list of celebrities to meet. Enjoy life to the fullest! Until next time...
In late March, we found out that Michael Shanks (Stargate) would be attending a hotel-based convention in Tampa (Vulcan Events). As he is on our "dream list" to meet, we got excited and made our plans. The Celebrity Guest list was a Who's Who of some of our favorites: Tony Todd (best known at 'The Candyman", but he has been in hundreds of shows and he's always awesome!) Dean Stockwell, (Quantum Leap and more recently Cavil on the new BSG), Sally Kellerman, Gary Lockwood, Christopher Lloyd, Jennifer Lien (Kes, Voyager) and the amazing Catherine Hicks, (Star Trek IV, and of course, 7th Heaven).
Hotel-based conventions are special, because there are less attendees and you get to spend more time with the celebrities, and you can go back to your room in minutes if you need a quick break or forgot something to take downstairs. Last year, at the F/X show at the Orange County Convention Center, in all our excitement, we made a grave mistake and left all our stuff to be signed in the car. We had to go all the way back out to the parking lot in 90 degree weather, (it felt like walking a mile, and probably is close to being one).
When we got to our hotel last Saturday where the convention was being held, the parking lot was full and we had to park on the roof of the hotel's parking garage. My husband, Brad, who did not like the thought of making multiple trips to the roof to get our stuff, decided we would carry everything down at once, (several suitcases, our bags of food, ect). So, imagine our dismay as our two young children loaded down like pack mules, and ourselves as well, discovered that there was no elevator in the parking garage. We had to lug everything down four flights of stairs, (in 90 degree heat).
Hot, exhausted, sweaty and sticky we stumbled into the hotel's elevator and I asked the lady next to us to push, "Floor Two Please". Then I looked up - it was Sally Kellerman (the original "Hot Lips" Houlihan from the move M*A*S*H). I said in a weak voice, (Thank you, Ms. Kellerman). She smiled and waved hello to our two kids. I later thanked her again that afternoon when I got her autograph.
We were late for the day's events because I had promised our kids a day at the zoo, (quid pro quo for hanging out at the hotel the following day). I did get downstairs just in time to see Tony Todd's presentation, which was awesome. Afterwards, I spoke to him at his autograph table for ten minutes or so, (he took special time out for everyone).
That evening, for the first time ever I attended a Celebrity Banquet. My dear husband had promised to watch the kids and wished me a "wonderful time". Depending on your ticket number, you got to choose which celebrity you sat with. The table with Michael Shanks (Stargate) filled up first, but I decided I wanted to dine with Catherine Hicks. She was an amazing lady, really down to earth and a lot of fun. Her booking agent was with her, and he was great to talk to and had lots of fun stories. The gentleman, (Rich, I believe) who sat next to me was a really nice guy and we talked Sci-Fi and how he would not watch the new 'Riverworld' because he thought the first one was incredible and did not want to see the re-make, (I loved the new one). Our other table guests were really nice guys as well. Catherine Hicks told us how she grew up as an only child and it floored me --I told her that I had grew up as an only child also. She looked across the table at me and relayed some of her thoughts to me on it, and I nodded knowingly because I had experienced what she had experienced and felt many times the same way she did and had done some of the same things she had done. It was a special moment between us. Although many of the celebrities left early, Catherine Hicks stayed with us until the room started to clear out, and we all said our goodbyes for the evening.
The next day, I took my daughter down to have our photo with her, and as we left, Catherine Hicks called out to my daughter, "You have a cool Mom!" It really touched me that she did that. After I got my photos, I went over and thanked Ms. Hicks again for a memorable evening and wished her well.
What a special weekend it was - getting two photos done with the handsome Michael Shanks, my daughter meeting Christopher Lloyd and Catherine Hicks, (which she both thought were really nice). Meeting other convention attendees and talking about tv shows and movies. So incredible and over much too quickly.
Still, it is always nice to have something to look forward to, and I hope that in the Fall there will be another show, and another list of celebrities to meet. Enjoy life to the fullest! Until next time...
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