A Little Girl's Dream Come True...(Partly.)

As many of you know,

I am a Donny Osmond fan.

This is how I remember him best.

How much cooler can you be?

I mean, really.

Yes, from the time I was a young lass I have loved Donny.

My sister, Coni, and I would play house and Donny was always my husband.

(Coni's was Robert Redford, had a daughter Felicity, and a mansion with a doorbell that said, "Ding dong, Ding dong, Welcome to the Redford House".

I just had Donny and our eight children -- four boys and four girls.)

Anyway,
I have always wanted to meet Donny and see him perform live.

I remember going to the Rose Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, CA -- autograph book in hand-- thinking I was going to meet Donny. I didn't meet him but I did get to see him drive by on a float.

My second chance came years and years later when he drove by in a car at the Freedom Festival parade and my kids were yelling "there's Donny mom!" but I missed getting a good look at him because I was fumbling with my camera. (I only have a blurry picture and he's too far away to even recognize him.)

I did meet his son, Don.

When I was taking my digital video class, we had the assignment to go out and stop people for interviews and put together a short documentary on a subject of our choice. Well, I just so happened to stop Donny's son. I asked him if he wouldn't mind giving his opinion on the parking situation at UVSC (a hot topic on campus at the time). He stated his name and I said, "Are you Donny Osmond's son?"

He answered, "Yes."

I then proceeded to make a complete fool of myself and said,

"Oh, I love your dad!"

Yeah. Not one of my shining moments.

I never did live that one down with the guys in my group.

But, Saturday night, a part of my dream came true.
I got to see Donny perform!

Lee took me to the Pioneer Celebration at the Conference Center where the Tabernacle Choir performed and had the whole Osmond Family as their special guests.

It was the last performance on their world-wide 50th anniversary tour.

Lee said he would take me only if I promised to contain myself and absolutely not dance in the isles.
Can I tell you how hard this was for me?

Seriously.

But, I was good.

I did have to keep my arms folded for most of it so I could contain my excitement.

I didn't dance in the isle,

but at one point I did kind of dance in my seat.

Lee was embarrassed -- whatever!

You should have seen the old lady sitting next to me!

She was conducting the music along with the orchestra conductor.

Yes, hands were waving and she even punched the air when the bass drums played.

So as I see it, a little dancing in my seat isn't that embarrassing!

First the Choir sang a couple of Pioneer songs (awesomely done.) and then the Osmonds were introduced.

Once they were announced,

the groovy rock music played and spotlights were shining all around and they came out.

The spotlights were going back and forth across the Tabernacle Choir.

I wasn't expecting that!

Funny to see the Tabernacle Choir in their choir clothes sitting still with spotlights and groovy music playing.

Funny and odd at the same time.

Then Donny said that they had permission to "have a party" and wanted to hear some excitement and everyone loudly cheered.

Kind of strange in the Conference Center but it was fun.

President Eyring was there along with members of the Twelve.

I wonder if they cheered and danced in their seats?

Just wondering.

I bet some toes were definitely tapping!

Anyway...

The Osmonds performed a bunch of old favorites like "One Bad Apple" and "Yo-yo".

(I guess "Crazy Horses" would have been too crazy for the Conference Center.)

I have to say, for old guys,

they still got the moves!
Then they took a break and the choir performed some frontier songs.

If you haven't seen the Tabernacle Choir sing live,

it's incredible!

The Osmond's came back and sang some more favorites.

Donny and Marie sang a medley of some of their hits and this included one of the highlights...

I got to hear "Puppy Love" live!

Wooo Hooo!

It was great!

Donny also sang a song he wrote called "Whenever You're In Trouble".

Beautiful.

He is an awesome singer and I don't care what anyone says!

The whole family sang "Through the Years"

(I think Kenny Rogers originally sang it.)

and they showed video clips of old performances and old photos.

Well, I started to cry during this song.

Not for reasons you might think.

(I'm not that pathetic!)

This song always makes me a little teary-eyed just like Barbara Streisand's "Memories".

As I was watching and listening,

floods of memories came into my mind.

Floods.

I was reminded of my carefree days of playing house and pretending to be famous.

I was thinking of how Coni and I would buy Tiger Beat Magazines and pin up the many posters of Donny and Marie in our bedroom.

I remember watching the Osmond's cartoon and the Donny and Marie show.

The Osmond's were a part of my childhood.

I had the best childhood and when I heard this song,

I couldn't hold back the tears.

For the last song "I Believe", they had the two oldest brothers come up and sign the song along with them.

It was amazing!

The Choir sang "Come, Come Ye Saints" (a favorite of mine) for the finale with the Osmonds joining in on the fourth verse.

What a great show!

Really.

So, part of my childhood dream has come true.

I just have a question...

I live in the same town as Donny,

so, why haven't I met him yet?

A girl can only hope...