A Crooner Called Connick

I was listening to old jazz standards on my parents’ record albums from the time I was born. They played the music and I listened and very much enjoyed. Soon enough I’d be choosing the songs and singing along and as much as I truly loved growing up to the music of the 80s, I have always loved music from many generations before. Nat King Cole, Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. Anyone who sings a song by George Gershwin or Cole Porter gets my attention and usually wins me over. Someone who kept that old magic alive throughout his career and these modern times, is Harry Connick, Jr. Early descriptions had him compared to Frank Sinatra and although true to an extent, he’s much more musically diverse than Ol’ Blue Eyes ever was. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy Mr. Sinatra’s music as much as the next gal but Harry is a true musician. 

I can’t quite remember if I first saw him on the “It Had to Be You” video for the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack or his appearance on the Phil Dohaue Show. I remember falling in love with him, his voice, his personality. Soon enough my cousin Corin had started gifting me what was basically my fan club starter kit we both started collecting VHS tapes of his music videos and concerts with his big bands. Next, I was watching his Christmas Specials on tv and watching him in movies. HCJ kept expanding his body of work and we were ready to consume all the creative output.

In 1994 Harry Connick, Jr and his band came to San Diego at SDSU’s Aztec Bowl, open air theater. My cousins and I all got tickets, I was so excited. I wore the little black dress that I was loving at that time, and probably paired it with some pearls or something more elegant than my usual concert attire. This was going to be special, a night of HCJ on his She tour, live in our city! I think my cousin Gary took some pictures of us that night but it was so long ago who knows if he’ll ever find them. This was 1994 so definitely way before we all carried mini personal computers with high quality cameras in our pockets at all times. Gary was basically our family documentarian for so many years and in return he now gets the lovely designation of being hassled to search the archives for photo evidence of some of these fading memories. I think he secretly loves the important position he’s in, not to mention the honor of knowing he inspired a new generation of family photographers to carry on the  tradition in memory keeping. This was the first of many big group concert outings I had been to with my cousins. This makes the event all the more significant as they were and still are my favorite and most fun group of people to hang with.

Once the show starts we’re all vibing and just feeling it as we sang and danced to the magical performance and all of the sudden security comes over and moves us closer to the stage. At the end of the show security once again approached and asked if I would like to go meet Harry and the band. Seriously, what?! Would I like to go meet Harry and the band? If you’re reading this and you already know me, you might be laughing to yourself right now knowing how ridiculous this question is because, duh! I brought the whole crew down with me and we met Harry and the band. This would be the first of many Harry moments where I was just left dumbfounded. Harry was so sweet and approachable and I just told him my name was, “Cristina with no H”. I thanked him for the autograph and then kept moving. What on earth happened to my brain and why didn’t I try to say a few more words, maybe a compliment specific to the show or his albums or anything at all? Next, we met the bassist who I think was most likely responsible for calling us down there in the first place. Tony Hall was so nice and traded numbers for any future show hook ups and I’m realizing this as I type that using the phrase “hook ups” here might not be the best use of words but instead of changing it I’ll just clarify in case anyone questions, I definitely mean as in free tickets to a future show, backstage passes etc hook ups. I have lots of backstage concert stories but none of them involve any true groupie situations. Not that I wouldn’t have partaken in them had George Michael been interested but unfortunately I never made it backstage to one of his shows so he never had to let me down easy as they say. Anyway, Harry was already in love with the stunning Jill Goodacre by this time so he was obviously very professional and gentlemanly and Tony was just as friendly as can be and I’m sure he appreciated watching some real fans getting really into the music and actually dancing to the fantastic music coming from these amazing musicians. 

Fast forward two years, Harry is coming back. He’s touring for Star Turtle now and one of the local radio stations is giving away a limited number of invitations to a pre-party where attendees will have a chance to win tickets to the show at 4th & B. First step, win the invites to the “party”. I heard the question asked on the radio, I was the right number caller and I knew the answer was “Memphis Belle”. Ok, not too bad, pretty easy or pretty lucky but first step complete. Second step, play games set up by the radio station hosts at the party to win the actual concert tickets. I should have been super confident with Corin and I as a team and our history of all in good fun, competitive nature and having just breezed through the first round but I had a plan to make us the winners before the games started. I called Corin and told her we had to walk in that place and prove we were the biggest fans and most deserving of winning the grand prize. I reminded her that between the two of us we could basically set up a Blockbuster size display of Harry merch and memorabilia. We would pack up our stash in bankers boxes, and even made a trip to the hardware store to get supplies for our poster display in picket sign fashion. We set up shop with VHS tapes, CDs, posters etc and waited for the games to begin. I wish I remembered if we actually won the challenges or by biggest fan default, I think it was both but I know we walked out with a pair of HCJ concert tickets in our hands and smiles bigger than the Mardi Gras parade on our faces. We arrived at the show as giddy as could be and danced the night away. We end up backstage again and talk with our old friend Tony who informed us that there was a pair of tickets waiting for us at the Box Office all along. All that effort and we could have just grabbed them at the venue. Where would all the fun have been had we gone that route. The thrill is in the chase in my opinion so I guess I’m glad we didn’t get the message in time. Meeting Harry for the second time, I graduated to a new level of interaction when I congratulated him on the recent birth of his daughter, Georgia. It was kind of a blur, I almost passed out, I basically choked again but in slightly better fashion. Corin and I decided to keep the party rolling at the best possible after party location, Patrick’s II in the Gaslamp Quarter. Suddenly some of the band members started showing up at the pub and we couldn’t believe it but next thing we knew, Harry himself was at the entrance waiting to be let in. It seemed to be taking some time and we noticed something going on with the bouncer and then Harry’s bandmates going to investigate. Turned out, Harry got denied because he wasn’t carrying his ID!!! How on earth could this actually be happening?! Corin and I were just stunned and nearly in tears with this news. We were SO CLOSE to getting a VIP party experience to beat all others. Harry was staying at a historic hotel very close by (which I won’t name here in case he still stays there when touring) but he didn’t return once he had to leave and I didn’t blame him. Corin and I couldn’t help but wonder if the bouncer that didn’t let him in would get in trouble for not recognizing him and making an exception. These days Patrick’s is a fun place to catch all genres of up and coming local bands, but back then it had a better reputation for being a live blues music spot and it just seemed so wrong that Harry was turned away.

In 1999 Corin and I went to Come By Me at the San Diego Civic Center but no backstage shenanigans were to be had on this night so I will skip to the next tour stop in the story.

July 2004, Corin and I were once again partners in crime on our date to see HCJ. This time it was his Only You tour at the Embarcadero Marina Park South, Bayside Summer Nights series. Only You consisted of covers of songs from the 1920s to the 1960s. It has been said that this album’s song choices were geared toward Baby Boomers and from the looks of the crowd they succeeded. I mentioned before, I’m a huge fan of old music and I’ve always been a big fan of old people as well come to think of it. However, at this specific concert with it’s combination of specific set list and mostly older crowd it lent itself to become one of those sit tight, stay quiet kind of shows. We of course didn’t let that stop us from having a great time. Suddenly Harry and the band switched gears and started playing “Mind On the Matter” from his Star Turtle album. Looking around, nobody in the crowd seemed to know this song. I, on the other hand was thrilled to hear it. I had been obsessed with both She and Star Turtle in the recent years ahead of this show. The funky music he had been recording and performing was so energetic and life giving and those newer albums had been on heavy rotation at my house. I was so excited to be there for this live performance of this upbeat New Orleans style song. This song actually features Tony Hall on lead vocals instead of  Harry on the album recording. During the show it was Harry and the famous Lucien Barbarin front and center and when the moment came for the song title lyrics, I just belted out very loudly, “Got my mind on the matter”! Because of that previously mentioned quiet audience and my loud enthusiasm it was easy for Harry to hear me. Well, he kinda stooped the whole performance to talk to me. I’ll never forget it, he turned to Lucien who mirrored his expression after dropping his trombone from his mouth. They both opened their mouths so big it was like the cartoon characters when their jaws fall to the ground. They both turned to face the crowd as if they were shocked but they were so in sync it almost felt rehearsed. Harry said he needed to see who it was that sang out. The whole band stopped and people in the crowd started pointing and yelling to him that it was me. It was surreal. After multiple stumbles on my part when trying to complete basic sentences for him I was now about to have a conversation in front of the entire concert crowd? I actually didn’t have to talk, he did the talking. If you have seen him live before you know he’s very funny and charming. He made a joke about how he felt like Dave Matthew’s Band or something and that this sort of thing doesn’t happen to him. He asked if I could go backstage after the show and they would have something for me. I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the night or week or longer even. Once the show ended we went backstage to meet with someone who ushered us to a VIP section with cocktail tables while we waited for Harry to arrive. He came to introduce himself not knowing we’d met twice before. Thank goodness for that because that would be embarrassing, I swear I’m not an actual stalker. Harry gave me a canvas tote bag with his tour logo, a fleur de lis and his monogram stitched on the bag and it contained all sorts of great swag: a tour t-shirt, a water bottle, tour program, a teddy bear with a HCJ t-shirt on. He signed our VIP stickers and chatted with us and thanked us. I don’t remember how badly I might have botched this specific encounter. I think I was too deep in euphoria to process or at least store the details to memory. One of the most fun nights and concerts of my life.

I should probably end this blogpost here but I might as well add that my worst of all the Harry convo botches had yet to happen at this point. We made it this far, I might as well tell you how that went. My cousins Gary and Gina invited me to join them on a road trip to LA for a taping of American Idol and yes, Harry was one of the three judges at this time. We had great seats on a balcony above the judges table. I was cheering for Harry when Ryan Seacrest asked me if I was a fan and then what my favorite Harry song was. I choked. I choked bad, and it’s so weird because I feel like I’m so not a shy person but in that moment or in this fourth moment, again, I was tongue tied or mute or something. In my defense, it’s such a hard question. It’s almost like when someone asks you who your favorite child is. I mean nobody really asks that except maybe your own children but you know what I mean. Do you want to know what I would have said had I had a second to compose myself? If you subscribe to this blog you might be reading this while the answers are still up on my Instagram stories. Hurry, go check!

Sailing off into his Last Sunset

Last weekend was my last hurrah of the summer. That description is quite literal as we spent time at a bar called The Last Hurrah attached to our hotel. We traveled to Boston to take our brother-in-law to Fenway Park for his 50th birthday. We had a blast at our first game at the iconic ball field and as much as I loved every minute touring the stadium, cheering on a great game and joining in on ‘Sweet Caroline’ with the fans I couldn’t help but make sure everyone knew that it didn’t beat my Wrigley Field. Day two in Boston we sailed around Boston Harbor and explored the waters around the historic city. It doesn’t have to be tropical waters for me to want to play Jimmy Buffet when on a boat ride and especially with it being our guest of honor’s 50th birthday I had to add a ‘Pirate Looks at Forty’. We played another three or four of his songs and I wondered when I’d get to see him live again. This summer was filled with lots of boat trips, soaking in sun rays and saltwater splashes, sandy toes, and just like any Jimmy Buffet playlist Cheeseburgers in Paradise, blowing out flip flops, and searching for lost shakers of salt. Cheers to the end of another great summer and the end of a musical era, only his legacy wont ever end until the last Parrothead hangs up his hat or we stop playing these magical songs on our boats, beach days, barbecues, road trips, parties, you get what I’m saying. I’ll end with words from my friend, Brian Betti, a true Parrothead, who fittingly mentions our beloved, Wrigley Field in his tribute to Jimmy Buffet.

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This morning we are listening to Radio Margaritaville and I am reflecting on how a man that I only interacted in person with one time (I saw him on a catwalk at Wrigley during a Cubs game - I yelled Fins Up and gave him the fins sign - He pointed back at me and responded with the same Fins Up sign) has been such an influential inspiration to my life. I was lucky enough to see a JB concert almost every summer since 1992...starting with John Henry Czapla at Popular Creek, many shows on the hill of Alpine (from the monsoon/mud hill to some absolutely perfect beautiful nights, a few at House of Blues and my favorite show was the initial Wrigley Field show. All in all, we laughed, we danced and we sang along as the fun loving Parrrotheads should! JB created a pilgrimage for my family (Jay Nawrocki and Katie Betti) and friends (Erik Stromberg - those camping nights - will never be forgotten. He was also an influence to me in business....my last school paper i wrote 20ish years ago for my business degree was on Jimmy Buffett and my teacher thought i was crazy. But at that time, he was one of only 5 authors to have a fiction and non fiction #1 best seller and he owned the #1 restaurant (by sales) Margaritaville in Las Vegas. He sold escapism and we all could use some escapism from our every day lives....and look at where his business went from there...more restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, etc... And it all started from one simple song he wrote on the shores of Key West. Everyone has their own Margaritaville and trust me, you will know it when you are there. Enjoy your One Particular Harbor, your Lone Palm, your Captain Tony's, etc...

My favorite JB line comes from a song called Barefoot Children - "Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been."

RIP JB - Sail on Sailor.

Fins UP

I Want my MTV

The birth of a media revolution. August 1, 1981, video footage of the first Space Shuttle Launch of Columbia and it’s countdown with the added quote, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll”by John Lack, creator of MTV. Next the iconic Moon Man and the unforgettable music, “Man on the Moon (MTV Theme) by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen as we zoom into the MTV flag and watch the MTV logo change outfits in fun flashes of 1980s graphic art. Mark Goodman introduces us to the concept, “The best of tv combined with the best of radio” and promises that, “starting right now, you’ll never look at music the same way again” a quick break and introduction to the other original VJs, including Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn, J.J. Jackson and Nina Blackwood. What followed was the airing of the very first music video on MTV, very aptly titled, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. What was your favorite video?

I often think about how lucky I was to grow up in the 80s and not have the kind of access kids have these days. Part of the fun was the anticipation of waiting to see your favorite video again. There was no YouTube to pull up the video on the spot and while we have grown so accustomed to the comforts of modern technology and unlimited hi-speed access to movies, shows, music videos and any media really there was something special about waiting and hoping. I’ve written and shared before about running from the bus stop to catch a favorite video once the video countdown days started. There was finally a show that pretty much promised you’d catch your favorite video within that certain hour as long as it was on the top 20 chart. Like the story I mention, it was usually a George Michael video at the top of my list but there were so many others. Among my favorites were “Take on Me” by a-ha, my dad really loved that video and song also. Pretty much any Madonna video was a favorite for me, especially Borderline, Material Girl, Vogue, La Isla Bonita, Cherish, shoot, seriously let’s just say all of them. The funky ones like Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”, comedic ones like Cindy Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, Prince’s Raspberry Beret was so fun and colorful, I always loved that cloud suit. Of all the videos whether 80s and 90s or current none made such an impression as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. It was more than a music video it was an experience, a Hollywood movie premier. We were so invested as a family that my dad used to wake my younger brother and I up if it came on after hours. He would come get us and let us know, “hey, get up, its on!” We sprang out of bed like it was Christmas morning and run down the hall so fast to not miss too much. We watched in awe and excitement and a bit of fear. Once the video was over it was time to go back to sleep but what cruel joke is that? It was a terrifying walk back down the hall to our bedrooms. That childhood house as small as it may have been, on these nights that short hallway seemed to go forever. With each trembling step I could still hear Vincent Price and his evil laugh ringing in my ears.

About a decade after our introduction to MTV, we were introduced to what most consider the birth of reality TV, The Real World: New York. Much more programming options to find on MTV throughout the years to follow including game shows and talk shows. Many more personalities were presented after the first five mentioned above including Kurt Loder, Downtown Julie Brown, Carson Daly, La La Anthony, Kennedy and one of my favorites because I loved seeing a Cuban American girl on my favorite channel Daisy Fuentes to name a few. Sadly, MTV shut down it’s news department earlier this year. I guess it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, MTV was the pioneer but these days I find myself watching new music videos released by VEVO on YouTube. Times, media, channels change but the interest and love for videos like Jackson, Madonna George Michael is still there for me when watching the new Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo etc video, but I still think streaming instantly isn’t as emotionally exciting as the anticipation I had as a kid in the MTV glory days. Like Dire Straits said, “I want my MTV”.

It’s a Major Award! The Grand Prize of all Prizes!

George Michael was bringing his 25 Live to San Diego and you better believe my tickets were secured. It was going to be somewhat of a reunion for my cousin Andrea, and friend Bridget, my two concert dates from our Faith tour night way back nearly two decades earlier (read about the Faith tour experience

https://www.jukeboxjournal.com/musical-memoir/george-michael-the-wham-faith-years).

Susanne would also be with us this time and I was beyond excited to have all my George fan besties on board for this momentous occasion, the return of the love of my life. Speaking of the love of my life, my actual real life hubby was definitely a trooper for all his support and patience as the shenanigans played out.

A local radio station was running a contest for George Michael’s upcoming concert tickets. This wasn’t your normal contest where caller number 10 gets two tickets to the concert. This was the big daddy contest with separate rounds and a GRAND prize! There would be five winners a day for five days. Those 25 winners would each receive the most recent album, 25 box set including the videos. The 25 winners would also be placed into the drawing pool for the GRAND prize. 10 tickets to 25 Live at San Diego Sports Arena, pre-show dinner for 10 at EXY, Greek Fusion restaurant in the Gaslamp, 2 tickets to the Las Vegas show, including airfare and hotel!!! I already had the four tickets to the show for me and my George besties and the latest album box set but I was obviously going to be calling in to try and get my hands on that GRAND prize. I made it in as one of the 25 and was more than excited to wait and see if I could possibly be the big winner. The final day came and went without any breaking news or notifications but the following week as I lay in bed sleeping, my phone rang and I answered in a half dream state. It took a few seconds for my brain to process the news coming into my ears but once I understood what was happening my legs and voice took over as I catapulted out of bed and ran up and down the halls screaming. Brian was instantly in a panic upon waking to such chaos. He kept asking, “What happened? Are you ok? What’s wrong?”. All very sweet reactions from a concerned husband but also all in vain because I was too wrapped up in my frantic celebration and euphoria or possible temporary insanity to provide him any relief. Eventually he was able to figure out what was going on and he laughed at me and all my crazy and tried to get more sleep. I wrapped up my call and started texting everyone I knew. This was breaking, urgent news, it truly was safe to say, “It’s a major award!” and I was crazier than ‘The Old Man’, Mr. Parker in A Christmas Story, as I wandered around the house on cloud 9. I take that back, cloud 9 isn’t high enough to describe the state I was in. 

I invited more girlfriends to join us for our epic night. I wrote up a ridiculously silly invitation, choreographed a dance (really we just studied the choreography from the Outside video) for us to perform at some point at the show, coordinated matching police costumes for our Fab Four to wear, booked a limo and waited in great anticipation for one of the best nights of our lives, or at least of mine. June 17, 2008, the big day had arrived, we all met at my house and practiced our moves, blasted a George only playlist, made each other up and had so much fun. The limo arrived carrying us off to a delicious dinner and we continued on our path to the show. Upon exiting the limo I realized I had the original four tickets but the envelope of contest prize tickets had been left behind at home. Remember when I previously mentioned that Brian was a trooper?  I immediately called him and put him on the task to leave work, drive home and collect said envelope of tickets and bring them to our limo in the Sports Arena parking lot. He again laughed at me and set forth on the mission assigned. Truly a knight in shining armor and possible saint status especially when you consider I was literally dressing up in hopes George might see me and reconsider his romantic choices and if he would have I’d have to say, “Brian, it's been a great 10 years of marriage but I think this is where we part ways.”. I have since matured and grown enough to understand it doesn’t work that way and I would never attempt to or encourage anyone to “turn” someone else. However, it did make for a very chill husband because in all my glorious groupie attempts at GM concerts he knew there was no threat, totally unphased. I for one was a bit delusional but had a great time trying.

The four of us with the originally purchased tickets had great floor seats with an open section between us and the closest first section of seats. We used that open walkway as our stage before the show started and while lights were still up. We performed our ‘Outside’ dance moves in front of an entire crowd of awaiting fans at a packed Sports Arena. We made all sorts of friends and cracked ourselves up while we sang our hearts out and boogied the night away. The next morning my friend Bridget forwarded an online article about the concert in an email with the subject line: “GM Review - we’re famous! ;)”. In the comment section Cesar from Tijuana wrote something about enjoying the girls dancing in the cop outfits. We all got a kick out of this in our email threads and laughed at each other’s stories and pictures from the night. My sister in law, Erin, childhood friend, Michelle, Andrea’s childhood friend, Nina and others were among those in the nosebleed section and they had their own set of adventures to laugh at.

Four days later on June 21, Andrea and I were on our way to Vegas for show number two on my big GM tour adventure. We spent all day at the hotel pool, and lounging in our cabana with personal misters. Fun fact: upon describing our upcoming GM getaway experience with personal misters Andrea understood this as we would be receiving poolside personal Mr.s as part of the GRAND prize. We still crack up when we picture us in  swimsuits, daydreaming of our night ahead at George’s concert as we sip on frozen cocktails brought to us on silver platters by cute poolside servers. Andrea was still nursing her then baby daughter, Marley and between the all day sun and pumping and dumping back in the hotel followed by a sweaty night of dancing to the setlist in a crowded arena, we were a bit like one of those best friend comedy movies after the show was over. I was all pumped up to go hunt my idol down or go Vegas club hopping but my sidekick was literally all pumped out so back to the ac in our room we went and to catch up on some much needed sleep it was. 

Six days later, June 27 and I was now at The Honda Center for my last show of the tour. This was not part of the prize but more of a can’t be over yet and cousin Corin (the original chauffeur for Faith concert) needs to make it to a show and Susanne wants one more show as well because she lost the name pull for Vegas to Andrea. We once again donned the police hats and walked in proud carrying large homemade signs for our George. On this magical ending to a great run I was lucky to meet  Deon Estus, bass player for Wham! As well as on Michael’s Faith album and tour, among many other credits. His biggest or most recognizable personal hit was ‘Heaven Help Me’, which included backing vocals by George. I remember how much I loved that song when it came out. I also met George Michael’s father, Kryiacos Panayiotou, also known as Jack. I was starstruck in my encounter with them and they were gracious enough to let me take pictures with them. 

The three shows were like a dream come true for me. The talent and energy were still in full force on stage. The signature dance moves, the voice like honey, (I swear, no other voice like his). I made it to the front couple of rows at some point, I know he saw me. He was beautiful and sweet, kindness poured out of him. I got kicked out for trying to get closer again at another point, I made my way back in like a ninja in the night. Again, as mentioned earlier, I have since matured. Well, at least when it comes to groupie antics. I have graduated to higher concert goer standards, a much more civilized experience is part of the plan these days. Thank goodness though for these wonderful and wild memories. How would I behave if I could go again right now? I wish I could find out. Have you been lucky enough in life to see George Michael live in concert? Let me know in the comments.

Brown Skinned Brownie

I remember the cashier at the grocery store (after overhearing my mom speaking to me in Spanish) telling my mom that if she was going to live in America she was going to have to learn to speak English.

I posted the photo above on my Facebook page one year with the comment, “I was the only brown Brownie”. It was meant to be funny but the truth is it wasn’t always funny. I remember selling Girl Scout cookies door to door with my mom and an old man asking her how long she had been speaking English and when is she going to lose that lousy accent. My mom didn’t hesitate to answer him that she was a proud American citizen and she may have a lousy accent but she speaks two languages and asked him how many he speaks. After his response of one she told him that when he learns a second one he can come talk to her about her accent and finished off with, “Are you going to buy some cookies or not?”. He bought two boxes.

I remember sorting through my piggy bank money and my mom finding out I was going to throw all my pennies away because they were brown. You see, I had been walking to school and other kids were calling me ‘beaner’ because I was brown. My mom took me by the hand and told me my brown skin was beautiful, she then walked me to the living room and pointed out the picture window. On the driveway across the street laid a very fair skinned blonde woman slathered in oil. “See?”, she asked. “Women all over want to have your skin color, they pay to perm their hair to look like yours and they fry their bodies to have skin like yours”. She reminded me that I was beautiful but mostly because of my beautiful heart, and that I would always be beautiful because the inside comes out so strong.

I can go on and on with stories similar to these but the important thing is with the example and reactions of my mom I was able to grow into a confident woman who didn’t let those events continue to effect me in a negative way. Thanks to this, years later when I was walking in a strip mall with two daughters of my own and a woman sped dangerously erratic and close to us I threw a hand up to gesture “are you serious?”. She looked out the car window and said, “oh relax” and I replied that she should slow down and to that she said, “Why don’t you go back to the country you came from?”. The funny part came when she pulled into a spot, got out and walked into a tanning salon. Looks like she was in a big hurry to get a tan. Anyway, I was then able to laugh at the comment and remember my mom’s message.

When I became a mom myself and started all our little nightly routines one of my favorites was something we called the color sleep. Starting with Isabel, I would list off colors and the things that each might represent. Like, Pink is a satin ballet slipper as it spins on the stage. Pink is cotton candy, sticky, sweet and melting on your pink tongue. Pink is a squirmy, squealing piglet before he splashes into the cold mud. Brown is mommy’s morning cup of coffee waking me up. Brown is the fresh earth on our hands and in our nails when we plant pretty flowers in the garden. Brown is a strong, fast horse running down the field. Brown is a yummy chocolate bar, milky sweet for you and bitter dark for me. Brown is your beautiful skin, eyes and hair, curly or straightened out, from shades of caramel to cinnamon, you are beautiful inside and out.

I’m so happy that my kids and others have more representation out there now than when I was growing up. To them it’s normal to see more diverse faces in roles that had been cast or written another way in the past. Just recently when I showed Grace that our highly anticipated live action film, The Little Mermaid had begun casting and Halle Bailey had been cast as Ariel her response was, “Cool!” And her little sister, Lucia’s was, “She’s SO pretty!”. So when I read online that people were having major temper tantrums about it I felt bad for their narrow minded views and the little ones they may be shaping. When I see and hear the supposed President of this country talking about US congresswomen going back to their countries or amused by and encouraging rally chants of “send her back”.... I feel more than sorry.

I will keep telling my kids that they are beautiful. I have two with brown skin, two with much lighter skin and one in between and all will continue to hear that their beauty comes mostly from their kind and generous hearts, their brave, adventurous spirits, love of books and curiosity and so much more. They will always be exposed to diversity in real life and in the media we choose.

She’s Gone Country

When I was younger I thought the only Country music I could really like was the stuff I already grew up listening to. You know singers like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. I mean I guess we technically heard some other acts pretty often and liked those too, including, Tammy Wynette, I definitely knew how she told us to “Stand By Your Man”, and Loretta Lynn, I remember watching Coal Miner’s Daughter with my mom and we knew some of those songs and Hank Williams well he was super famous and just kind of didn’t even count as someone stuck in a genre, he belongs to everyone. Wait. What about Kenny Rogers? What the heck is going on? He was on heavy rotation? Was my family going country? Isn’t it funny? While there definitely is such a thing as music genres sometimes musical acts crossover without being a crossover act. Sometimes it's because they have made it to classics standing and sometimes it’s just simple, humans and music and connecting. I do remember when I officially started considering myself a country music fan though, it kind of snuck up on me and then I was ready for some “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”.

When I was about 18 years old I worked part time at a retail clothing store called Clothestime. It was a fun job with a great discount on all the floral print dresses with matching dress cinch back clips and hair scrunchies you could wish for. I learned all about upselling, cross-selling, loss prevention and country music. We had a specific pre-selected radio station we were supposed to listen to according to some marketing research based on the demographics of our key hopeful shoppers or it was just what our manager wanted us to listen to but it definitely wasn’t country music. It was your basic pop music, top 40 style radio station. Every day, like clockwork when our manager drove away, the assistant manager switched the radio to a country music station. She was a short lady who loved wearing denim skirts and cowgirl boots, it wasn’t exactly the style of the clothes on our racks. We were more like the wardrobe department for Beverly Hills: 90210. I remember hating this part of the day, when Cindy the assistant Manager took over the music. It sounded so bad to me, the other stuff wasn’t great either because it was all the same stuff every day but this was just torture. Somehow though, after days turning to weeks and then months I just kind of started liking the music. Suddenly I knew all the words and there were so many really good stories. I have always really loved a singer that was also a storyteller. Billy Joel and Paul Simon were some of my most favorites for that very reason and here I was crying because Tim McGraw was telling me the most gut wrenching story about true love and fear of losing the love of your life. Have you ever listened to “Don’t Take the Girl”? If you haven’t, you definitely should but first, get your tissues ready. 

Not long after, I became an official country music fan, Brian and I were on a road trip to teach me to ski and there was barely any reception for music. Finally we got two choices, a station playing Tejano music which technically is like Mexican cowboy music so pretty similar and a country music station. We went with the country and Brian was reluctant at first but I told him he needed to give it a try and I thought he’d really learn to love it and how wonderful the stories are and promised him that they weren’t all like the joke, “What do you get when you play a country song backwards?” ….”You get your wife back, your dog back and your truck back.”. He gave it a chance and by the end of the trip he was a believer. Soon enough we were going to Garth Brooks’ concerts together, we got married and were “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House”. 

I still love listening to those country music stars from the 90s that were on the top of the charts when I had my Country awakening. Some of those albums are etched in my heart and brain, I have no idea how many times I belted out songs from The Woman in Me by Shania Twain especially “No One Needs to Know” and anything Reba, The Judds, The Dixie Chicks before they dropped the Dixie, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Josh Turner with that deepest voice, and so many others. I love so many more recent acts as well. Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, the latest shooting star of the country music scene and again, so many more. I’m always on the hunt for new artists and music to listen to. When I finally made it to Nashville I spent a whole day walking the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and visited the amazing Johnny Cash museum also. On this epic Nashville trip we also had a night of wonderful performances at The Grand Ole Opry and hopped around to so many local live music venues with songwriter showcases. I know I’ll be back for more exploring neighborhoods, more live music and food in Nashville soon. With each visit, I’ll dust off my boots and send a silent thank you to Cindy for sharing a little bit of her Country with me.

I have to give a special mention to the following country artists who sing and say what they believe in no matter the potential backlash from an audience and industry that might not always be welcoming to progressive ideas and beliefs. Talent and courage together make for acts such as these.

The Chicks, formerly The Dixie Chicks, the changing of their name alone shows us they are hopeful for change and righting wrongs. Most of us know the price they paid and what they have been through. Tyler Childers, if you aren’t familiar please listen to “Long Violent History”. Kacey Musgraves, what a beautiful voice and message for a younger generation of country fans. Jason Isbell, listening to him feels like you are at a live show, he comes through the speakers and touches you with that honest voice. Of course the power couple, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, are classics who keep reinventing themselves like the recent addition of starring roles in the huge hit, 1883. In a heart wrenching scene with McGraw, I couldn’t help but imagine a GIF of him singing “Don’t Take the Girl”. In fact, Faith Hill could bust out, “Wild One” a few episodes earlier on the same show. This brings us back to the biggest of crossover stars, herself, the little girl who once sang about “Tim McGraw'' and now a mega star who waves a Pride Flag in solidarity on “You Need to Calm Down”, Taylor Swift has brought a huge number of youth to voter registration with simple messages to her Swifties. Another example of a celebrity using their voice for good.

George Michael-Wham!-Faith years

October 11, 1989. I was Thirteen years old when on this most special of nights, a core memory was formed. I would see the love of my life, George Michael in concert. George Michael, live and in person on stage at San Diego Sports Arena. Not only was I infatuated with this pop icon he truly was and remains for me so much more. An enormous talent of songwriting and producing with a voice that is unmatched. Kindness and generosity that has touched so many. A real life superstar and I would witness his first solo tour. That night as I excitedly got ready in a haze of Aqua Net hairspray combined with the intoxicating scent of Exclamation perfume, I fumbled through my Caboodle and wondered whether I should wear my Wet n Wild lip gloss or the Bonnie Bell Roll-On. What would be the best choice for an unforgettable night like this? High shimmer or high gloss? Flavored? Scented? I mean this night was crucial, I was feeling so grown up and so cool! That is until I got the news. The news that the guest list for tonight’s outing had just had a very last minute change.

I was a Wham! fan from the beginning. I was in love with George Michael. I mean, obsessed might be a more accurate description but far less appropriate for a hopeful music blog writer so I’ll just go ahead and stick with LOVE, I was in LOVE. See, there I go again, the all caps are just a bit juvenile but maybe I’m transporting back as I write this. The music was my absolute favorite. From Fantastic, and Make It Big, to Music from the Edge of Heaven. When the music was fast it made me happy, made me dance. When the songs were slow they made me dream of a future love and the heartache that would most likely follow.

As I fell in love with the music of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley along with their friendship that came through so strongly. Wham! was also goofy and hilarious and not afraid to show it. There were the two heartthrobs in George and Andrew but we also had the beautiful, glamorous and funny Pepsi and Shirlie to look up to as well. All this made for a perfect combination for young kids falling in love with a band and forming their own bonds as best friends. From hanging with my older cousin Corin and listening to the more mature, “Nothing Looks the Same in the Light” to dancing and being silly with my elementary and middle school besties Susanne and Bridget. We had future married lives with George and Andrew all planned out. But my biggest fan friend, Wham! partner in crime was my cousin Andrea. Andrea and I worshipped Wham! Together we choreographed dances to their songs, actually choreography is a bit of a stretch when in actuality we just motioned the lyrics as we sang and danced in front of the mirror. To be totally honest, even saying we motioned the lyrics could be a generous way of putting it because there were a few botched lyric translations, most notably in the song “Credit Card Baby”. We were acting out a muscular body builder for the line “I guess they think that I’m a lucky guy” because we thought he was singing about being a love “big guy”. We cracked up hysterically when we realized our error and it still makes us laugh every time we bring it up. We had a whole Charlie’s Angels meets Punky Brewster faux photo shoot thing we would perform in front of my huge French provincial style bedroom set mirror. This was quite impressive because we would hold fabulous poses as we made the imaginary camera clicking sounds and all the while we were holding the door closed as my little brother, Donny tried with all his might and crazy strength to get in. There were the recording sessions of sing-alongs and more hysterical moments like getting a fart caught on tape or as we still quote,  “got it on recording!”. A few years later when “Music from the Edge of Heaven” came out with noticeably  more grown up content we would sneakily listen to the lyrics on “Battlestations” with our jaws dropped, hoping Tio Hugo wouldn’t bust us but soon enough he did. This album was like a beautiful farewell to their fans and the video for “The Edge of Heaven” was a great compilation of all the best video moments. As the song title implies, I was in Heaven. This video was my most favorite televised, video recording ever. George in his most absolute glory wearing a fringed suede jacket, singing, dancing and celebrating his fabulous run with Andrew. I was in total awe every time and those were precious occasions as these were not the days of DVR and YouTube. Andrea and I watched happily as we sat on Tia Evelyn and Tio Hugo’s couch and then it happened, Tio Hugo heard the lyric, “My daddy said the devil looks a lot like you” and he walked straight over to the television set and turned it off. This was devastating, but we barely protested. We may have questioned with tears and begged a little but we didn’t really revolt because Tio was usually a fun loving and easy going Tio so if he took this stand he meant it and we better leave well enough alone. Seriously though was he not listening to the rest of the lyrics or was that the line that put him over the edge? I was over the edge, “The Edge of Heaven”. To this day, I haven’t made it back.

One year later we were graced with the release of George Michael’s first solo album, Faith. Of course I could not get enough and my room was covered in posters, pillows, t-shirts, all the Faith merch I could get my little hands on. I lived and breathed Faith. I have a memory so vivid that I can still feel myself in that moment. When the “Faith” video came out and opened up with that jukebox in black and white and the vinyl record sound of “I Want Your Sex” playing and then transitions to the organ and then to guitar strums and boot taps of the now oh so famous, “Oh I guess it would be nice…” I was hooked. I remember running home from the school bus stop to make sure I would catch the “Faith” video on MTV’s Top 20 Video Countdown show. Once the video started slipping its way down the chart, for each slot it dropped I had to speed up my running pace to get home in time. I was desperate not to miss it and I can still feel my backpack hitting me as it violently crashed back and forth from left to right on my back as I ran down the very steep hill at full speed. On one of these days as I watched George strut his stuff in his infamous blue jeans my little brother randomly decided to walk up to the TV set and turn it off. What the heck? Had he been commiserating with Tio Hugo or something? Well, Donny wasn’t going to get the go down quietly kind of reaction from me. I'll spare you the details this time but I’m sure you’ll learn all about our WWF style encounters some day. 

The days of Faith were now in the Bridget chapter of fan friendship. Andrea was really into New Kids on the Block at this point and I really didn’t have too much time for that. When I got the most amazing news ever that my mom was buying me tickets to the Faith tour for my birthday I flipped! The tickets went on sale around my birthday and the concert itself would be held on October 11, just three days after Bridget’s birthday so she was the obvious choice for a concert partner. The age gap of three years suddenly seemed to be widening and Andrea was probably going to bring the cool factor down if she tagged along. She had started copying all my style choices lately and it was getting really annoying. I mean, it wasn’t exactly her fault when it came to the hand me downs, that was between our moms. I definitely wasn’t holding that against her but the other stuff was too much, when she picked the exact same Swatch watch I already had, well that was the final straw. I needed to go with my older, cooler school friend. My mom bought four tickets and said that two were for me and Bridget and the other two were for my older cousin Corin and whoever she wanted to bring. Corin had a license and would be chauffeur and chaperone all in one and so she should at least get to have a friend along for the night. That was all the more exciting! Bridget and I would be hanging out with two high school girls at a big concert for our favorite singer ever! My mom took me to Tia Evelyn and Tio Hugo’s house to drop me off with my cousin Corin. My heart raced with anticipation and excitement but with the announcement of a change in plans that heart of mine quickly sank. I was possibly still lightheaded from all the questionable fumes from the cosmetics chaos mere moments earlier but I swear my knees started to buckle as it was explained. Corin’s friend, Rachel was sick and unable to join us and it had been decided that Andrea would be going in her place. What happened next was like a scene straight out of a movie. Andrea came down the stairs with the biggest, silliest grin, her shiny bob bouncing with excitement that filled the room. And wait for it, I had planned my outfit very carefully, attempting to somehow match George Michael’s suspender look in his video for “Monkey”. However, in front of me stood Andrea in what she had decided was her best look for the night. It was a skirt and matching tank top with scenes of cartoon dinosaurs having fun outings of all kinds repeating randomly all over the outfit. Again, I repeat, Cartoon Dinosaurs all over. Dinos at the gas station, Dinos at the drive up diner, Dinos everywhere. How was I going to keep my cool image tonight with a baby dino cousin tagging along? You haven’t forgotten, I was going for “cool” and this new addition to the night’s squad was definitely going to cramp my style. Thankfully the music that we all loved and shared erased any silly ideas of needing to be cool. I’m sure once I stepped in there and realized how much of a baby I still was as well it all vanished and I know for sure I sang my heart out with George, Bridget, Corin and of course my ride or die George bestie, Andrea, that night. I still remember him dancing all night and running back and forth and all his energy and love he gave back to us. 

This isn’t the last George story and there’s plenty more with my fellow fan club member cousins and besties but I can’t end without saying that the little Dino dress wearing kid who used to copy me from toys to watches is now the woman I would copy most if I could when it comes to fashion, she is the most fashionable person I know. Hers is the closet I raid if I’m ever in desperate need of a last minute wardrobe rescue. She’s the one who gives me the amazing hand me downs these days and her daughter to mine and she’s still the one that shares the couch with me most often on a George Michael video watching and sing-along session. I still hold the card for biggest George fan though. After her NKOTB phase she moved on to N’SYNC and then Justin Timberlake so….

 Stay tuned for more chapters to our adventures with George, much much more where that came from. 

VMAs and a Special Appearance

As far back as I can remember I’ve heard the stories from my mother and my aunts about generations of women in our family and their gifts and abilities to see spirits, see the future, know the truth. It’s much more than that really. If you heard all the stories, you might feel as though giving you a tweaked version of Isabel Allende’s The House of Spirits. After years of listening to endless stories, on the night of the 1990 MTV VMAs,  I finally had my first encounter with a spirit.

1990 was the year I started having premonitions and dreams that came true. It was definitely different from deja vu, not foggy but clear images and detailed descriptive events that would play out exactly as I had dreamt mere nights before. This time of clairvoyance didn’t last very long. I think one of the reasons it was a short-lived phase is because of what happened on the night of the VMAs and how intense it felt. I think I forced that door shut, choosing to no longer be open to those experiences. 

The MTV Video Music Awards were coming up and I was so excited about them that year because there would be a very special appearance. Not quite as special as the previous year when Madonna presented my beloved, George Michael with the MTV Video Vanguard (Career Achievement Award). This specific year was special because New Edition would have a reunion performance live on the VMA stage. I loved New Edition and the news that they would be together again for one special night had me feeling very eager for the occasion. This and Madonna to perform ‘Vogue’ , how awesome was that? The MTV VMAs were always a special night, I had made a tradition of watching with my cousins at my Tio Hugo and Tia Evelyn’s house and this year would be no exception. This house had a reputation for possible paranormal activity and the tales of how these activities came to be grew more and more elaborate over the years. I had yet to experience anything concrete and just had fun with the possibilities. On this very exciting night, it became a reality for me. As I sat on the family room floor watching New Edition perform a medley of their greatest hits, I sang and bopped to the rhythm until my cousin, Corin’s cat, Sebastian started freaking out. Sebastian was a very fluffy, very fancy Persian who spent most of his time lazily wandering around with no real emotion as so many adult Persian cats do. No kitten energy for this cat. But on this night, out of nowhere it seemed, Sebastian went wild. Sebastian ran up the walls and curtains, across the back of the sofa and around the living room in a frenzied feline marathon. Everyone was very surprised with this behavior and as my aunt and cousins commented and wondered what could possibly be the cause of all the raucous, I suddenly felt a presence and feeling as if I had been hypnotized. I turned to see what was behind me, beckoning me. I stared at the hall at the back of the room through an open door and waited as if I knew something was coming. Suddenly, he appeared, the man in the white suit. A man dressed in a white pant suit walked past the doorway toward the dining room. This is where it gets really strange in case the start wasn’t strange enough for you. For reasons I can’t explain, I stood up and followed the man. I was in some sort of trance it seemed and I followed into a dark dining room and into the formal living room. It didn’t take long before I snapped out of it and was overcome with fear. Why had I done that? What was I thinking? I started to cry as I told my Tia and cousins what I had just seen and that I had tried to follow him. I described how I had seen very detailed clothing and hands with veins and knuckles. I repeated that it wasn't like the typical ghost floating with a white sheet you hear about in stories. My Tia Evelyn recited the Our Father prayer and told me that if he was wearing white he was a good spirit. The stories of more ghost encounters at that house continued, nothing terrifying ever happened, more like cohabitation with a trapped soul. I wonder if he ever made it out of there? I wonder what’s in store for tonight’s VMAs.

The Go-Go’s

I was only 3 years old when the band was formed but by the time I was 6 or 7 they were one of my very favorites. A kick ass all girl rock band!! Yes, there had been all girl duos and trios going way back in our beloved Motown and Oldies music collection but an all girl band actually playing the instruments out touring with punk rock artists and holding their own while they shred on guitar and bass and pound on drums. So epic and so influential to little girls watching. Growing up in the 80s I was lucky to have Wonder Woman on my television set and The Go-Go’s in my Walkman. Luckier still, I had a big cousin to look up to as well. 

For me, it was my big cousin, Corin. Actually I was lucky with many amazing older and younger cousins to grow up and learn with, have fun with, get into trouble with. No shortage of wonderful family but during these oh so formative years, I was awed by everything that my cousin Corin represented. Corin was so cool, she was everything I wanted to be one day. Her cool clothes, makeup, room, friends, boyfriends, she had it all. She was like a character ripped right out of a John Hughes’ movie and I was obsessed with her. I wanted to copy all she had going on and for some reason she didn’t treat me like the annoying little cousin like most older cousins would have. Corin let me tag along and wear her clothes, listen to music with her, go for rides with her. On one occasion, I almost made it out to a high school party with her! I was SO CLOSE, until my dad caught wind and stopped me literally right in my tracks on the way out. One time when I was in middle school and being harassed on the daily by girls that had just been good friends the previous month, Corin picked me up from school and drove me past the mean girls’ bus stop with bass pumping and an intimidating few turn backs to make it known I had back up. Thank Goodness that plan worked because I have no clue what we would have followed up with if it hadn’t. The drive by stare down was the heaviest hit, the strongest hand in our deck of all bluffs. 

Corin’s clothes and makeup were ever evolving, there were so many influences: Madonna, The Go-Go’s, Prince, Thompson Twins, Flock of Seagulls, ok kidding about that last one but definitely the Robert Smith hair and eyeliner was popular for a good while with her and the other cousins and friends and they rocked it. Times were so different for kids their age, they were so edgy and mature. The high school actually had a smoking section and it was a sea of black clothes, big sprayed up hair and eyeliner for days. The Go-Go’s look was a favorite of mine. I remember thinking Belinda Carlisle reminded me so much of Corin. The cool girl dance moves, the independent female, total rockstar. I used to practice my dance moves in the mirror and play all my favorite tapes, I loved those tapes.  I never got over losing my purse during a family outing in Old Town. Inside was my holy grail of girl bands collection: The Go-Go’s, The Bangles and Bananarama. All in one purse, all gone at once! I was devastated. Not only did I practice the moves I wanted to dress like Corin and Belinda so bad. Our Honduran grandmother, Tita used to come to visit and bring suitcases full of little gifts. Mostly cheap, useless, probably broken things, maybe some candy but whatever it was didn’t matter. It was so exciting to be next to her when she unzipped that suitcase on the bed you would be sharing with her during the next month or however long before you got moved because you kicked her all night with your tossing and turning. I remember everything smelling like stinky Honduran cheese and covered in broken rosquilla crumbs. Our dads would be so happy as they had long awaited to dunk these hard rings of dough into a cup of strong coffee, our mothers on the other hand, would have to clean the mess and find a temporary spot for the silly souvenirs or pretend they didn’t notice if one of their gifts to her were now in the re gift pile. How I miss those visits, along with the wacky stories of her trek from either Chicago or Tegucigalpa. Like the time TSA thought she had a bomb in her bag because she had a ticking gum ball machine she brought for one of us, which I now know had just made it to second inspection but of course that was much more rare an occurrence back in the pre 9/11 days. Next there was the complaint heard each and every arrival, flying Southwest meant they only gave her a measly bag of peanuts and she made sure everyone knew it. Every. Single. Time. We asked her how the flight was and her scripted reply in Spanglish would always be, “puras peanas”, again, only peanuts. Tita loved to shop and one time during one of our outings she saw me admiring a very cool skirt. It was definitely giving Belinda Carlisle, Susanna Hoffs vibes and I was loving it. Tita bought me the skirt and I was so excited. I was going to go straight home and take that skirt for a wild spin in my room with ‘We Got the Beat’ blaring in my ears. Well in typical Tita fashion, I had to wait for my dance party because somehow we got separated and the skirt didn’t come with me. I figured I’d get it later but nope. Who knows how much longer it took to be reunited with the skirt but one day I found it stretched and faded. I think it went through at least three other cousins before it got to Corin’s drawer and I laid eyes on it again. It was a fair trade for all the times Corin let me feel included and shared her things with me. 

As time has passed and responsibilities increase we have less time for the epic Solid Gold type dance lines we used to have with Corin, her big sister, Gina and her amazing MC Hammer pants, and little sister Andrea. Sometimes our cousins Marlene and Arlette were also in town and we would all goof off together. We have seen each other grow through many beautiful and hard things. Corin still comes through for me and for everyone. She is the number one supporter (excluding grandparents, of course) of my kid’s events and theatrical performances and that is saying a lot because there are many loyal fans in this family. One year, my oldest daughter danced in a skit we made up for her elementary school variety show. We titled it ‘Dancing through the Decades’ and it consisted of each child in the skit dancing for about 30 seconds to a song from a specific decade and Isabel wanted the 80s so we chose ‘We Got the Beat’ for her to dance to and I was so excited to teach her some moves. We watched Belinda Carlisle in her old The Go-Go’s videos. We still crack up thinking about how she did about four moves and repeated them over and over until her turn was over. I was excited for Corin to see it. 

Just before Covid hit, I was all set to go see the musical, Head Over Heels which was set to play at Diversionary Theatre. I love organizing outings with my friends and family and was looking forward to this one and told Corin first because she was going to be the “has to be there” guest and I’d need to see what date worked for her before planning the night. You can all guess what happened to that season. Thankfully, it looks like the show has been added to the Spring season in 2023. I will definitely be planning one of my signature themed parties and group field trips to the theatre. Luckily for all of us we don’t have to wait for 2023 to see this amazing show. Head Over Heels is currently playing at San Diego Junior Theatre and my daughter, Maya just so happens to be a dancer in the fabulous show. 

Head Over Heels the Musical is a jukebox musical featuring The Go-Go’s and Belinda Carlisle music. Think Shakespeare meets the 80s. The show is hysterical while simultaneously delivering beautiful and wonderful messages about love, feminism, forgiveness and important representation for LGBTQIA, and especially for our nonbinary friends. From the Broadway licensing page: “A hilarious celebration of love, Head Over Heels follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction - only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.”  

Songs by The Go-Go’s, Based upon The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney

Conceived and original book by Jeff Whitty, Adapted by James Magruder

https://broadwaylicensing.com/shows/broadway/head-over-heels/

SDJT has done a fantastic job with this production. Directed by Blake McCarty, Music Direction by Ian Brandon, Choreography by Ricardo Valenzuela, Costumes by Tammy Molenaar 

Do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful show. You won’t be able to contain yourself and you’ll be bopping and singing to all the old favorites. It was seriously had to keep from being the disruptive fan and belt out ‘Vacation’, ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’, Head Over Heels’ and more!

For tickets and/or more information:

https://juniortheatre.com/shows/head-over-heels-2022/

For tickets and/or more information of the Diversionary Theatre production:

https://www.diversionary.org/head-over-heels

Super Trouper: What it Takes to be a Best Friend and a Scandinavian Soul Sister

I wish I remembered the exact moment I met her. We both have our stories or versions about how it probably went down and faded memories from those earliest of our chapters. What we both know for sure is that we met at Rolling Hills Elementary. When it came to looks we were as opposite as could be. The Danish Blondie with freckles and the girl with the Mayan brown skin and dark brown poofy hair (quite a few bad haircuts back in the day). We had little jokes about being the cinnamon-sugar sisters but we had more in common than meets the eye and really bonded from the start.

Although both sets of parents were immigrants from different countries they had similar styles and whenever I visited the Nielsen household I felt very comfortable, they played Julio Iglesias records at their house too! I loved the collection of troll dolls that decorated the house and the beautiful Scandinavian furniture. I really felt so at home and relaxed, a second family. To this day that feeling hasn’t changed. Whenever I have the wonderful opportunity to find myself in her family’s company it's like a visit catching up with your super fun extended family. Always an abundance of love, laughs, and memories shared as well as some bubbles to be poured.

 Susanne and I eventually ended up at different schools but our parents did a good job helping us keep our friendship alive with frequent visits and sleepovers. Even the rides back and forth sometimes made for exciting adventures. There was once a wild goose chase in Betsy the Bus, our big, brown Dodge Ram Van. A combination of both our parents being English language learners and having us distracted daughters as their communication team, plus the fact that whenever Susanne and I reunited we could pretty much bet we’d find ourselves in what felt like starring roles as Lucy and Ethel in an I Love Lucy episode, all made it hard work to coordinate the pickups and drop offs on many occasions. Susanne and I hung ourselves upside from the sleeper sofa in the back of the van and couldn’t see her mom who was outside looking for us as we goofed off and laughed hysterically. The same van where Susanne had to witness my brother and I in what looked like a re-enactment of a WWF showdown. Susanne watched in horror and amusement all at the same time. Susanne didn’t have a little brother, she had no idea what it was like being the older sibling to a kid that was the cutest and sweetest buddy one minute, only to turn into your exhausting responsibility the next. He had to get our attention and trouble always ensued if we were too busy having fun to give it to him. Susanne had something else, something I had always wanted, a big sister. 

Naturally, a cool big sister was an exciting aspect of this friendship. Pia was busy with her teenage social plans and outings but we loved watching her get ready, wondering what she and her friends were up to, and listening to her albums. I vividly remember Susanne playing an ABBA album and explaining as we listened to ‘The Winner Takes it All’, that this is the song you listen to when you break up with your boyfriend and you have a broken heart. I think that was the song that made me actually want to get my heart broken. Susanne, at seven months older, was way more knowledgeable in this whole boy department. It was she who educated me on the actual physical explanation of exactly what happens in the act someone else explains as “the birds and the bees”. I remember being stunned and announcing that was never going to happen to me because, ‘Ewww gross!’. She laughed at me and we both cracked up as we continued to pump our legs to go higher on the swing set. I always thought I grew up in a home that was far from prudish, very open in fact but Danish culture was next level free. One time, during one of our High Country West community pool outings, which I loved so much because we would spend hours playing synchronized swimming and Who-Can-Hold-Their-Breath-The-Longest? games, we’d pack the best lunches that always included our own can of Hansen’s drink. I remember swimming up to Susanne and telling her that the most humiliating thing ever had just happened to me. My top had unsnapped, revealing my barely-there boob to a man swimming with his children. Susanne immediately replied with the cringiest response possible for a girl in my situation to hear at that moment. Apparently, she babysat for the man who witnessed my moment of epic embarrassment and he happened to have a collection of Playboy magazines at home so I better beware. Boobs were no biggie in the Nielsen household though, I mean they are Scandinavian for crying out loud. Sunbathing at their new house a few years later meant this brown-skinned girl would get the worst sunburn ever. How is that possible you ask? Let’s just say my upper region had never seen the sun and, ouch! Our friendship carried us through the days of innocent little girls packing Hansens and singing about future mystery heartbreak. Singing along to ABBA and choreographing dance after dance, to days of talking about the birds and the bees, and embarrassing middle school moments like getting trapped in the closet with Dana’s little brother for a game of Seven Minutes of Heaven. As we got older we added more musical acts to our routines and stories, especially Olivia Newton-John, Wham, Madonna, and Duran Duran. Later she went more towards the rocker chic direction with Big Hair and Heavy Metal bands while I leaned more towards Hip Hop and R&B acts. I definitely loved bands in all of the genres and was right there with her for Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Warrant, and more. However, I was still convinced I was going to marry George Michael and she had moved on from believing she would snag his bestie, Andrew Ridgeley. Sadly, our dreams of celebrating a double wedding with George and Andrew were squashed because she had traded Andrew in for Sebastian Bach, lead singer of Skid Row. I guess I could let Susanne bring Sebastian as her plus one to my future nuptials to my true love, George. I guess we would always have the memory of her pretending our middle school classmates, Jeremy and Doug were George and Andrew as they chased our bus as we drove away from their stop.

Our friendship took us on many wild adventures including trips to Mexico, ski trips, nightclubs, raves, and concerts. Our Xanadu skate parties had been upgraded to Mission Beach rollerblading days and Pacific Beach apartments for each of us. As we continued to grow up together Halloween always played an important role, a favorite for both of us, one year in particular we got to go as a pair. My cousins, Gary and Gina, used to host the most epic Halloween parties at their home. They had decided to do a few years with a theme. I believe the first year’s instruction was to come as a movie character and the next year was a Musician/band. Susanne and I instantly knew we would get to revisit our childhood heroes, ABBA. The Cinnamon-Sugar duo would live the dream of becoming or at least impersonating the Swedish Pop Royalty, Anni-Frid (Frida) and Agnetha. Of course, we love Bjorn and Benny too but we were ready to pay homage to the girl power half of the wonderful band. We had the best time hunting down two matching white velvet dresses and all the art supplies and silky fabric to embellish them and turn them into something special. We really outdid ourselves with our recreation of the famous dog and cat dresses. I remember being so proud. I have seen so many ABBA cover bands wear their own version of these iconic dresses and never have they even come close to how amazing ours were. I consider myself pretty crafty but I was seriously impressed with our work. It was like our real love for the band mixed with the fun we were having as we listened to the ABBA music and cut, glittered, bedazzled, jeweled, glued, and danced the night away helped make it turn into a magical creation. I announced we would have to choreograph a dance to my very favorite ABBA song, “Super Trouper”. We had a blast and we were so excited to perform for the crowd at the party but we had so much fun throughout the night that we waited too long and by the time we decided to put on our show where the beams were going to blind us as we searched to find our favorite fan somewhere in the crowd (see what I did there?)….let’s just say it was too late to get anyone excited to come to watch. We may have gotten three suckers to come inside for our big show but it didn’t slow us down or dampen our spirits. The show must go on and it did! We spun and sparkled to a dark and mostly empty family room adjacent to a rowdy patio bar party. Bravo, hooray, hugs and curtsies all around or at least from and for each other. That’s all we needed, my Scandinavian soul sister and me, Skål! Unfortunately for Susanne, I can’t tell this story without sharing the part that she must feel for certain is where she cursed herself in committing this most egregious act, for I will never, I repeat I will never let her live this down. After the Halloween party was over and the dresses were hung up, the feet recovered from hours of dancing in go-go boots and the afterglow of disco fever was all but a blur of smeared glitter, Susanne decided to take her blue dog ABBA dress to a thrift store and leave in the donation bin. Can you even believe it? Left to live the rest of its life separated from its soulmate. It was an innocent lapse of judgment but I guess for me as a mother of two daughters at the time, who were both in attendance at Aunt Susanne’s house when we crafted the works of art and who are also huge ABBA fans, I imagined them inheriting the dresses. In her defense, I never actually spoke about this out loud but I assumed it was a give-in. Maybe I should start a social media campaign to track down the blue dog dress. If we make the story go viral do we have a chance of finding the missing blue dog? It would probably be easier to just start over and re-make it. If I did that how could I continue to torture my Agnetha? See? We are both Super Troupers in this friendship through patience, forgiveness, and teasing.

Susanne and I have been through the journey of innocence, young girlish dreams and imagination to adolescence, discovery, change, growth, heartache and loss, and all the love and support that comes with a promise of a forever friend. As adults, it isn’t always easy to schedule the reunions or phone calls but whenever we get them in we never skip a beat or have to fake it until we make it back. Muriel’s Wedding to Mamma Mia movie nights and ABBA Tribute bands, we always have a Chiquitita in the other. A shoulder to cry on, a best friend to rely on. We have talked about taking a big friendship anniversary trip and I think it might just have to be an adventure to the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

*Post publication edit/update:

Upon spending time with Susanne and my parents this past weekend my dad told a story of Susanne’s mom arriving at our house to pick her up from a play date. My mom was at work and he was in charge. We weren’t in the house and he had no idea where we had gone. He began his search in all the local neighborhood hot spots i.e., the cul-de-sac on Paymogo, the friend’s house on Nawa, the hilltop on Amazon, the park at Rolling Hills etc. Finally, they spotted us walking towards the house holding hands and singing songs out loud together. Not much has changed.

Rat Pack and a Sidekick

No matter the generation, I’m sure we all have our fair share of experience enjoying the Rat Pack. If not the whole gang at least Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Frank Sinatra is by far the most famous and Ol’ Blue Eyes is at the center of many of my childhood memories but this story is about another one of the members of the Rat Pack. Actually, it's about one of the other member’s sidekicks. As much as I loved Sinatra, I always really gravitated toward Dean Martin songs. He’s still a regular on my rotation. Having fallen in love with Dino, I couldn’t help but become a fan of Jerry Lewis. I loved that duo and they have definitely brought me many laughs. I especially like to play the song 'That Certain Party' for my kids when we are feeling super silly. Jerry Lewis was so much fun to watch with his crazy facial expressions, outrageous slapstick and surely exhausting physical comedic stunts. His own movies such as The Nutty Professor, Cinderfella and more were unforgettable but it was his work as spokesman for Muscular Dystrophy Association that I thought of first when I heard the news of his passing.

I'll never forget the feeling I had when I received my first Cabbage Patch Kid doll. I had dreamt of what she would look like if I was lucky enough to ever get one. Everyone had or desperately wanted one it seemed when I was a kid in the 80's. My Tia Evelyn had a sister who worked at Kmart and with that came the early access to new shipments. I got lucky and had an aunt with an "in"! There was talk of the doll coming soon and then the day came, we got the call. Tia Evelyn was on her way to my house with the doll. I had a major freak out and couldn't take the excitement! I remember running up and down the hall with a blanket over my head because I ... actually I don't know why, that part is just weird but I vividly remember doing it. I was half laughing, half crying with anticipation of meeting my new baby.

*side story: I was later told that my mom and Tia Evelyn had seen the dolls when they were stacked high on shelves of a store and picked them up, actually had them in their hands and said something like, "Man, these are ugly. Who would want these?"  and set them back down.

I opened my box and was in heaven with the intoxicating smell of my "beautiful" Roxy. Blonde side pony, green eyes, one tooth, Xavier Roberts signature on the hiney.

Roxy had everything a baby could need. I got her a diaper bag, stroller, come to think of it I never got the playpen, I thought I was getting it for Christmas one year but that ended up being for my cousin Andrea, heartbreak. Roxy was my sidekick, I brought her everywhere. All my friends and cousins at all our sleepovers and parties always had their Cabbage Patch Dolls. We were like our own Raggamuffin Rat Pack crew with our sidekicks. Most kids’ CPK doll collections started to grow and about a year later I decided it was time for Roxy to get a baby brother. Unfortunately, I was told something to the effect that those silly dolls were too expensive. I’d have to start saving my own money and so I did. The night before I was set to go buy a new Cabbage Patch Kid I ended up in front of the television after dinner.  Watching the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, it didn't take long before I was bawling crying and dialing the number on the screen and pledging all my doll money, I believe I had $60. I remember that I didn't feel an ounce of regret or remorse for giving away every penny I had saved.

News traveled to another aunt, my Godmother, Tia Marita. She was proud of me and wanted to reward me for what I had done so she bought me a boy Cabbage Patch baby. He was perfect. He had a bald head, blue velvet overalls with a little grey elephant on the left side of his chest. I couldn’t wait to introduce him to his big sister Roxy and complete our family. I opened the envelope to read his birth certificate and his name was…….. Jerry.

In Every Chapter, We Find Billy

If I'm keeping a Jukebox Journal to help me as I write my Musical Memoir, then in every chapter, we would find Billy. It was October of my Sophomore year in High School and a bunch of us were on our way home from the Pink Floyd Laser Show. We were packed like sardines in my friend Brian’s car and, please don’t tell my kids, but I was in the hatchback. It was like 1990 something and things were just different then. Anyway, Brian had moved to California from New York about a year before and was one of the regulars in this group of friends. We were listening to very loud music, I think it was probably Master of Puppets on cassette tape. Suddenly Brian switched the tape out for Billy Joel. As soon as the rest of the crew heard the change, just about all of them, definitely all the guys in the car, started to complain, ‘Man, come on, put Metallica back on!’ I, on the other hand, jumped over the back seat and crawled all the way up to the front of the car, placing my head right in between Brian’s and the girl in the passenger seat to sing my heart out. Because Billy was on and that means singing along to the best stories ever told to music. Brian had no way of knowing but as a little girl I used to listen to my parents’ Billy Joel albums and my favorite thing to do was lay on the floor with the album lyric books, CD booklets, liner notes, anything I could get my hands on to memorize all the lyrics and look at every picture of Billy, the Band, all of it. My parents both worked at Sony and Zenith in Chicago before that and always had a pretty cool entertainment setup. When we got the first 200 disc CD player everyone was impressed and I was just excited to not have to switch out CDs as often. My dad’s music collection has always included so many of my favorite albums. I used to fall asleep to his Nat King Cole CDs just about every night. Elvis, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Julio Iglesias, all the classics, and tons of Boleros that he loved to sing along to as he played the guitar. Paul Simon and Willie Nelson were two more of my favorite musical heroes he introduced me to. So many great artists to listen to but Billy was like an obsession for me. I remember being in love with “Don’t Ask Me Why” and “Rosalinda’s Eyes”, “Vienna”, “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant”, and “An Innocent Man” of course my mom’s favorites were the usual mom favorites of “Uptown Girl”, “Tell Her About It”, and “The Longest Time” and I loved singing those with her. For these reasons when I heard Billy start to play from the back of, well worse than the back, because again, I was in the hatchback, basically stuffed in the trunk of the old Hyundai. Actually, the Hyundai wasn’t really old and that piece of information doesn’t really fit in with the narrative of Brian’s usual car stories from his childhood. It’s the long-running joke that he never had a car from the same decade growing up. This time his mom bought a pretty new car, she was shocked at the deal she got, pretty proud of herself even. She thought it was a steal….because she thought she was buying a Honda! The poor Hyundai didn’t make it very long as the family car but the memories have lasted a lifetime. Back to my story… When I heard Billy start to play it felt like kismet. Brian had been what I considered a pretty good friend so I should have known or guessed he would love Billy, being from New York, but of all the NY accent jokes and hilarious stories he shared with us, I guess I missed that key piece of information. Now, singing at the top of our lungs and laughing about our newfound connection, things would never be the same. Our friendship had earned a new special badge of sorts. At the time we were both dating other people and both those relationships, if you could even call them that, didn’t make it to Christmas. Brian and I remained good friends until our senior year. It was that year, about two years later to the date of the clown car incident in fact, that so happened to be the weekend before the big Homecoming dance. Brian and I had decided we would go together and had planned to hangout with some friends to watch a movie. As we went outside to his parents' backyard, he walked over to a tape player and hit the play button. And just like the great memory we shared before, Billy began to play. That was the night we shared our first kiss. Billy has been a huge part of our lives ever since. Brian even has a signature song and of course it’s by Billy Joel. Which one you’re asking? See if you can guess. Music Trivia moment: The album is Glass Houses and the opening sound reflects what you would hear seconds after the scene takes place on the cover photo. If you know the song without looking up the album, Congratulations, you’re a real fan! That or a music trivia junkie, either way, we should hang out. Every road trip, every party, karaoke nights, so many playlists, countless concerts, weddings and so much more. Most special has to be that he was playing in the delivery room for all our children’s births. Thank you for the music Billy, you’ve been with us for the whole ride. Ups and downs, ‘sadness or euphoria’ . We love you!