May 23, 1976 was Sunday

And I flew to Las Vegas.

One exact week after high school graduation.

Why--especially since I wasn't old enough to gamble?

Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Donny Osmond were the reasons....why else? :)

My diary tells me I landed there and met my chums, from Allentown, PA, at the Las Vegas Hilton. Stayed for a week and nothing but Osmond memories on every page. Like sliding in the elevators , after the Osmonds. to get pictures snapped with them. HA! Or when we spotted Donny at the pool-we thought we would faint. He was shirtless! Or the two hours we waited on the golf course for Jay, Jimmy and my fave Merrill to finish. Pictures galore, along with sun burns. Or when I gave my fave Merrill a bear, and his wife Mary, even thanked me for it. Or when we went to a LDS church to listen to each Osmond give their testimony. Oh wow--to see that now, because back in 1976, I just went to see them. Didn't really want to pay attention to their words about God. A whole different mindset in 1976.

Nonetheless, one of the sweetest Vegas memories, is while my chums and I ate in the restaurant. Yapping anything Osmond and not paying any attention to anything around us-I felt a hand on my shoulder. Heard "Hmm, I like watermelon too!" I turned and saw a fork with some body's hand attached to it take a piece of my melon: Mr. Osmond! My chums were too stunned to get a picture and I was almost speechless! He and Mrs. Osmond just smiled and were so gracious.

Yep May 23, 1976 was the start of week of Kodak moments.

Now I'm gonna cue up a song the Osmonds did do in Vegas, not sure if it was '76 or later--I just know I like it. It's Saturday and I still got words in my mouth so I say them!

Donny Osmond...Encore

Last night watched the Pioneer Days Concert on the BYU channel. Clueless I even had the BYU channel. Beauty of having over 200 channels—a surprise everyday—I digress—back to last night--I sat speechless. It was LIVE. It was NOW. It was 2008, not 1978—when I flew to Salt Lake City. I was going to help celebrate a girl’s birthday in the Osmonds’ Studio Green Room in Provo. We hoped Donny would surprise her (and us) by coming in for a moment.

Had to change planes in Denver. As I entered the plane and located my seat, I almost passed out because it was behind Alan and Jimmy Osmond. My eyes and Alan’s met. The guy, who sat in that row’s aisle seat, didn’t know who they were. Alan schooled the guy about their family and history. I stared at the garment bag, which hung with “Osmond” written on the front. Once we landed in Salt Lake City, the flight attendant took Alan and Jimmy off first. When I did off the plane, my friend asked, “Were you on THAT plane?”

Last night. Older. Grayer. Smiled just as broad as ever. Oh yea, and the Osmonds too. Through the years there was my Mom who asked if the Jackson 5 sang “One Bad Apple.” There was my first ever Osmond concert, Aug 21, 1973, Row 4, Section B, seats 11 & 12, if I’d reached up as Donny threw that infamous purple cap from the stage, it woulda been mine! It sailed to the girl directly behind me. And the time we drove all night from Allentown, PA to Norfolk, VA. We crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on fumes. And from Norfolk, we headed to Washington DC. After being checked in the DC hotel for about an hour or so, we spotted Donny walking toward a tour bus—alone. We got pictures, plus a chat. Donny also informed us they were heading to Allentown (really Ft Washington, PA) right after the concert. So we checked right out of the hotel and back to Allentown, from wince this adventure started.

Through the years Donny was here in Dallas, to promote “Pyramid”. We bantered from the stage. Told him I really didn’t like him until his voice changed. He took the mic away from me. We all laughed. Or after a Dallas radio interview, Donny asked if I had a car to get him to the next place because his driver was nowhere to be found. I panicked more because I had Doritos crumbs all over my car floor. Donny’s driver showed in the nick of time.

Last night. Where did the time go? When did time fast forward from me being 16 to a offer to get an AARP membership? The Osmonds weren’t the Jackson 5—even tho I thought Jermaine was cute. The Osmonds seemed more accessible for me. That could be a whole ‘nother post—sometime. Not now. Right now, I just want to remember through all those years, the memories of people, places and things.

I’d do it ALL again.

Oh, and did Donny show, in the Green Room for the girl’s birthday party? Yep. The picture above is from that day.