My "Second Chances" show debut, some reflecting

Hi all, have had about a week to let all the excitement, joy, well wishes, anxiety, feedback and sitting with my self after the show time to settle in a bit and now wanted to write a few thoughts about the experience.

First, thanks to all of you that were there. A theme in my life that has become a true guidance for reality for me in what is real and what is not is the axiom, "Actions speak louder than words".

The fact that you were there for me to support me with your presence with no guarantees that what you were going to see was going to be "good" or "moving" or "inspiring". That act of faith alone has meant more to me than you will ever know. And I thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for that gesture alone.

For those of you that wanted to be there but couldn't be, I am sure there will be more opportunities in the near future and I thank you for your support as well.

So now that the first show is over and, by all accounts given, a success, I look forward with more confidence and conviction to follow my dream and make it a reality for me every day.

I did manage to be present for show. I was so concerned before the show about remembering the words to the first song, "A New World", a great song that I had to replace my original opening number, "I'm Only Human", due to the needs of honoring the songwriter's request, only a week before the show. I was having some trouble remembering all the lyrics and getting them right in the right places.

I guess things always happen for a reason because that song was just so perfect as the opening song for my show. Amazing how that just seemed to come to me and say, "Here I am, sing me." Thanks Barry for showing me this song!

So how did you all like my little "dance" number to "Nice-n-Easy"? Dunno what came over me, but I guess it is true what some good friends commented on the show, I just tried to let go and let down my "guard" and let folks see a part of the unfiltered me. And you know, it felt good doing that.

It felt intimate.

By the time "Beyond the Sky" came around I felt back "in my body" and probably the most present when I sang this song. It helped that Daphna, the songwriter of the song, was smack dab right in front of me. It's funny because I actually had done that song a number of times since she so graciously gave me it to sing, and that was the first time since Barry changed the key on it for me as we experimented with it, that Daphna actualy heard me sing the song. It is a powerful song and one that resonates so very much for me that having all those combinations there right then made it so very right for me and my "experience" with it that time. Tks to all for your feedback with this one and, of course, Daphna, for writing such a beautiful song and sharing it with me.

You know, I use to not care very much for Stephen Sondheim. Then I started hearing and learning his music in the cabaret scene and boy, I becamed hooked. So having "Being Alive" and "Everybody Says Don't" in my show proved to be both challenging and very satisfying. Both need a bit of work but I am thankful to the folks that have helped me get better with the phrasing and enunciation of the words in these two great tunes. I love a challenge and there is still more challenge in these two for me.

"You're Still You", the first song I ever sang in public, in the common era (most recent times not including high school :-) went off well...and would have been great if I would have not screwed up the lyrics on the third verse....who would have figured I would have done that on this song I know forwards and backwards...oh well, glad you overlooked it Diane, on this, your favorite song of mine. ;-)

My encore, "The Best of Times". Wow, I knew it was a great song, but I never knew that I would get such a great response from the audience on this one. I guess it really did bring back home for them how precious it is to live in the present and not to take life for granted. Tks for the response all.

I am so happy that I touched you all and that my story made an impact on you. My whole purpose was to move you and to share a part of myself with you and it pleases me greatly that I was able to do that. :-) BEAMING!

Thanks for the experience so very much! and for believing enough in me to be there! I am truly honored by you. :-)