Oprah!

Every time I tell someone that I live in the Chicago area, the question is asked, "So have you been to Oprah?"

And until now, the answer was "No, I haven't even tried to get tickets."

Well, now I can check that one off my list! My friends Kelly and Amy recently went to a taping, and it motivated me to get online and try for some last minute seats. I saw that one of the upcoming guests was Dolly Parton. I like her!
So I sent in a quick blurb about how much I would love to hear more about her, and a week later I got an email telling me to bring a friend, and come to the taping!

We attended an 11:00 taping, and let me tell ya, that is an ALL day event. We drove, instead of taking the train, so that we could leave our phones and cameras in the car. You can't bring them into the studio, and you have to check them in if you do, and then wait in line to pick them up.

BUT both Kathy and I had no idea that you also can't have pens, pencils, or notebooks either, and we both had a planner in our bag, so we had to check things in anyway.   Then you get herded around like cattle, and wait, wait, wait.

Kathy has been such a good friend ever since I served as a counselor with her for three years while she was Primary President. (That is the Sunday program for children at our church.) I was so glad that she could come on such short notice!

We got to see cute, funny, TINY, little Dolly, and watch her perform "Nine To Five," "I Will Always Love You," and a song with surprise guest, Kenny Rogers. He is a cutie for being 71 years old! It was the last taping of her second to last season. So I guess when it comes to tickets, it is get em' now, or don't get em' at all.

I had been feeling pretty much awful all day, and after being stuck in traffic for two and a half hours with one more to go on the way home, Kathy took the wheel and got me to my house safely. Thanks again Kathy! Chicago traffic, in the evening, on a Friday...UUHHGGG!
So it was fun, I am glad I had the experience. But if you go... go with energy and patience. And maybe a good book to read when you have had enough people watching. Which was some of the best people watching I have ever had access to, by the way. Oprah has a good looking audience! It was cool to see her in person, and you can see our show on Friday, May 21st.

If the camera is ever on me, (which I am praying it never is,) and I am glassy eyed and spacing out, or if I look like a crazed, dorky fan, just realize that I didn't feel well, and people were encouraging us to be louder, stand, clap, and act enthused.

Or you can just say, "Hey, I know that nerd!"