I confess. I am an American Idol fan. In the early audition stage it can be excruciating to watch these young people make complete fools of themselves on national TV. It can also be hilarious.
Finally, getting down to the final 32, most of the contestants can actually sing. I do love music of all kinds with a few exceptions most notably some of the heavy handed rap that I find boring in its repetitiousness and arrogance. Given that much of the pop music scene is also boring in its lyrical shallowness none the less I enjoy following the antics of the budding artists as they strive to become the next big thing in pop music.
Now that it is all over for this season and America has crowned Fantasia their choice to make a few industry moguls richer than they already are (taking up to 50 per cent off the top) I must tell this story I read about how Fantasia almost didn't even get in the door.
Apparently, in the Atlanta auditions a small scuffle broke out among a few contestants near the entrance where she was waiting to get in. The guards broke up the fight and refused to let anybody else in. She was heartbroken, of course, and called her father crying and lamenting her plight. He told her to wait around for a while and see what happened. While she was waiting a guard who had noticed her practicing a song for her audition asked how the audition went. She said she couldn't get in because of the aforementioned scuffle. He apparently recognized her talent and promptly escorted her into the audition area personally.
And now you know the rest of the story!....
This reminds me of how my own life has taken numerous changes in direction, sometimes detours, all because of seemingly small events at just the right moment. For example, I almost missed the bus back in 1965 to Greensboro from New York but my mother begged the driver to wait just a few more minutes which, surprisingly, he did. When I finally got to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and finally found where to go only to be told that the bus had already left, I walked dejectedly away until I heard my mothers voice calling to me. She had seen me in the terminal and made the bus wait as she got off to catch me before I got too far away and out of the building. That is how I wound up in Greensboro and have been here ever since. I dread to think how things would have turned out had I stayed in N.Y. I had a sister there who at that time practically disowned me. Most of my friends were unreliable at best and I had no job prospects. I would have gone back to the unhealthy culture my mother was trying to rescue me from.
There were other such turning points in my life as I'm sure there were for you as well. I, for one, am grateful for the way it all turned out.
1 comment:
This not anonymous, Your web site wouldn't accept my name. Yes. it's cookie from New York.Your site was forward to me again by "I don't know" At first I wasn't going to read it but I took my cup of coffee sat down and started to read some things.
I don't remember a lot of things from 40 years ago. I have spent most of my adult life trying to forget my "teenage" years. I wonder how my life would have been if "Mom" had ask me to go to NC. I do remember I wasn't asked and was left on my own at the age of 17.
even now after Mom is gone for 16 years things haven't change. Yes. I have a lot to be greatful for. I've be married for 38 years to the same person we have 3 grown children and 5 beautiful grandchildren. To bad Mom wasn't here to see them. But then again I do believe she can. I pray to her every night to watch over us and to help my girls. But I guess I can't get her out of NC. See nothing has changed.
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