America’s Got Talent

Friends and patients urged me to do an audition for America’s Got Talent.  An interesting consideration.  How would being successful in something like this effect my life?  I talked it over with each of my children, one that understood immediately and didn’t like the idea and one that just wanted a ride in a limo so thought it was cool.   I know that the chances of being noticed, even though I may be deserving, are very slim.  Popularity is just a flash in the pan, anyway.  I thought about the pressure of being judged and criticized and time away from my family.   My ego can take it and it would surely be a growing experience.  So, intrigue and the thirst for adventure is probably the obvious drive.  But, the time away from my girls is the most suffering sacrifice that I can imagine out of the whole thing.

Given the unlikely odds, I decided to take a crack at it.  If God really wants me to experience this, it will happen.  It won’t break my heart if the phone doesn’t ring.  I have to admit, though,  it would be nice to be noticed after so many years of hard work.  Just thinking about the thing is a bit of a rush.  I guess it’s like playing the lottery…and about the same or worse odds, I’d imagine.  **chuckle**

Simply the audition experience was good and growing.  Ashley

Furniture store, Grand Junction, Saturday just after 6AM.  Doors to open at 9:00.  The thermometer read 25 degrees at home.  When I got there the wind was blowing and people were huddled all around the outside of the

building, some in sleeping bags, some without coats or gloves.  They had probably been nervous as I and hadn’t slept much and just finally got up and came without much thought to anything but what they would do for their performance.  Some had been there over night, some since midnight and some from earlier morning than I.

Most were young people,  10 to 20 yrs. old, mostly girls…wo

rried about whether their earrings matched their dress or whether to wear their hair behind or over their ears.  I felt like I was surrounded by young budding women who were hungry for encouragement, a kind hand on the shoulder and a loving smile.  A young woman  just in front of me had nothing on her legs and had goosebumps as large as the dimples in her knees, no coat, no gloves, only a slinky dress with a thin shawl.  She insisted t

hat she wasn’t cold for the first hour.  I asked where she lived.  It was close by.  I insisted that she go get warmed up and get on a coat.  I would happily hold her place in line.  Without  hesitation she  and ran off to return about an hour later bringing me a much needed mocha to warm me up, as well.  The people standing in line  became imme

diate, yet temporary friends, sharing our dreams, our histories, and all of us taking care of each other.

Once inside, we all took turns flashing our 90 seconds of “WOW” for the cameras.  Some were shaking and shy and others were bold and possibly didn’t know how they sounded to others.  There was a fellow with a raccoon puppet and some kids on bikes and a few fellows rapping.

But mostly there were singers, singers that had to sing with no accompaniment.  Some couldn’t carry their key, but mostly I just wanted to reach out and give everyone a rousing cheer and a big hug for being brave enou

gh to get u

p there and do it.

My downfall was the cold.  Aside from the problems with keeping a nylon string guitar in tune through many temperature changes in a few hours, there was my hand…Many of you know about my fall of 6 years ago and that I couldn’t play my guitar for more than 3 years.  You kno

w that my left hand is still numb sometimes and that it can cramp up.  The 3 hour wait in the freezing wind chill and then the 30 minute wait in the warehouse before going out on the make-shift stage in the showroom wrecked my fingers.  I kept trying to warm them under my sweater as I waited in line behind the stage.  I could feel how cold they were and how numb the side of my hand was.  I haven’t had problems with it, even with all of t

he concerts that I’ve given.  So, I was surprised by this cropping up and the last minute and felt a terrible panic build in my chest.

I stepped out, did a quick check of my guitar and then played a little to be sure it was in tune.  I felt my left hand constrict.  I tried to begin again and it tightened.  sick sigh.  My stomach turned and for a moment I thought about stepping off stage.  But, I put down my head

and began my song from the vocal part, where the guitar is easier and the speed not as demanding.  By the end of the piece I was able to play without any problems.  But, I had missed the “WOW”.  At least that’s how it felt.

Returning home we found that we could submit o

n-line, so we did.  Again, I can’t imagine that everyone even gets heard in this crazy batch of dreams that people send in.  But, maybe in all of it I’ll have made a new friend.  Maybe I’ll have encouraged a shy young lady who needed my support on Saturday.  Maybe someone will see me in a new way or see me fo

r the first time.  You know that I’ve always said that I don’t know WHY, but I know that I MUST be heard.  Maybe God will let me know the WHY some day.  I hope you enjoy the video.  Rate it for me…But only if you like it!  **chuckle**