My sky-blue dream is that Ellen Degeneres will read my memoir and invite me on her chat show. Yes, I know how remote the possibility is, but isn't that the very factor that defines a sky-blue dream?
My daughter Lila and I have loved Ellen since her eponymous sit-com. It aired around the time Lila came out as being gay. There was even an argument between Lila and myself about who came out first-Ellen, as her sit-com character, or Lila. I was convinced that Ellen's character had inspired Lila to come out during that Christmas of 1998. However Lila had a different take on events. She maintains that she -Lila-came out first, and months later when the 'Puppy Episode' (as Ellen cleverly named it to keep the Press on their toes) did air, our family squirmed our way through it, trying to pretend it had no relevance whatsoever to our lives. Lila admits that the episode did air in America before she came out, but didn't air in the U.K until the following Spring.
Lila and I have many conflicting memories. It usually ends with me accusing her of having False memory Syndrome and her smiling sweetly while reminding me that as a qualified psychiatrist she only needs one more doctor's signature to have me committed.
Anyway, back to Ellen and that sky-blue dream. My best friend Shirley casually threw in to our weekly phone conversation that during her imminent holiday to America she will be in the audience during the filming of an episode of Ellen's chat show. (Apparently her American cousins part own the studio.) Once I had recovered enough to speak I knew what was required. I just had to get my book to Ellen. Luckily Shirley also loves Ellen, and is open to any crazy project. Back in the day, when Shirley and I were star-struck teenagers, Don MacLean ( he of 'American Pie' ) was our heartthrob of choice. We drooled over him singing on T.V. and were fascinated when fans showed their appreciation by throwing roses onto the stage. When we eventually got the opportunity to see him sing live, Shirley and I spent all our pocket-money on roses and attempted the same feat. Unfortunately the stage was too high, and the roadies refused to give him the roses. In desperation we hurled the roses onto the stage before he came on. We never did find out what happened to them. He probably stood on them and scrunched them into the stage floor.
Now we're forty years older, and in the words of another idol, Paul Simon, 'still crazy after all these years.' We're due a break this time, don't you think? Watch this space.
My daughter Lila and I have loved Ellen since her eponymous sit-com. It aired around the time Lila came out as being gay. There was even an argument between Lila and myself about who came out first-Ellen, as her sit-com character, or Lila. I was convinced that Ellen's character had inspired Lila to come out during that Christmas of 1998. However Lila had a different take on events. She maintains that she -Lila-came out first, and months later when the 'Puppy Episode' (as Ellen cleverly named it to keep the Press on their toes) did air, our family squirmed our way through it, trying to pretend it had no relevance whatsoever to our lives. Lila admits that the episode did air in America before she came out, but didn't air in the U.K until the following Spring.
Lila and I have many conflicting memories. It usually ends with me accusing her of having False memory Syndrome and her smiling sweetly while reminding me that as a qualified psychiatrist she only needs one more doctor's signature to have me committed.
Anyway, back to Ellen and that sky-blue dream. My best friend Shirley casually threw in to our weekly phone conversation that during her imminent holiday to America she will be in the audience during the filming of an episode of Ellen's chat show. (Apparently her American cousins part own the studio.) Once I had recovered enough to speak I knew what was required. I just had to get my book to Ellen. Luckily Shirley also loves Ellen, and is open to any crazy project. Back in the day, when Shirley and I were star-struck teenagers, Don MacLean ( he of 'American Pie' ) was our heartthrob of choice. We drooled over him singing on T.V. and were fascinated when fans showed their appreciation by throwing roses onto the stage. When we eventually got the opportunity to see him sing live, Shirley and I spent all our pocket-money on roses and attempted the same feat. Unfortunately the stage was too high, and the roadies refused to give him the roses. In desperation we hurled the roses onto the stage before he came on. We never did find out what happened to them. He probably stood on them and scrunched them into the stage floor.
Now we're forty years older, and in the words of another idol, Paul Simon, 'still crazy after all these years.' We're due a break this time, don't you think? Watch this space.