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Volume I Number 4 |
September 2009 |
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Welcometo the September 2009 issue of theLisa Kelly Fan Club Newsletter |
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 Welcome to the September 2009 issue of The Voice. The Isle of Hope tour will be returning for 35 shows beginning October 7 in Waukegan, IL. Check the full schedule on the Celtic Woman Web Site. We hope you enjoy this issue, and we're always open to suggestions and reader input. If you'd like us to include your original work (articles, reviews, graphics, etc.) send them to us at info@lisakellyfan.com.
Our features this month include a new fan club logo, our annual charity drive, a big announcement, my 65th birthday, a message from "The Village Smith", and a few chuckles. Without further ado, let's get to it! Enjoy yourself, and let us know if you have any suggestions or questions.
Dat Ol' Fat Guy
Rich |
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Message from Lisa
Hi Everyone!
Hope you are all well and rested after a lovely summer! I've had a lovely break this summer and got to spend much needed time at home and with the family. We had so much fun recording in Powerscourt and I'm so excited for you all to see the DVD!
 But the last few weeks off have been really nice.
It's nearly time to head back on the road again to complete the Isle of Hope tour. We're heading to some cities that I have never been to before so I'm really looking forward to that. Hope we get to see some familiar faces in the audience this time. If not, we'll see you next year!
Lots of love and best wishes Lisa xxxxxx |
New Fan Club Logo |
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Fan club member and all-around great guy Carl Cullen has created this remarkable new graphic. To save bandwidth, this is a low resolution version. It is truly a beautiful piece of work.
The logo is already featured on a couple of cool items in the Fan Club Gift Shop. We hope you like it as much as we do, and thank you, Carl!
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Forum Re-Launch
After an 8 month absence, we've decided (with Lisa's endorsement) to re-launch her forum. Featuring a spectacular redesign by our friend, co-administrator, graphics guru and webmistress Lindsey Hooten, it's now available right here.
Lisa's fans once again have a place where we can meet online and discuss her career, post reviews and original artwork, and generally celebrate our favorite performer. When she has time, Lisa may even reply to some of our questions and comments. And here's the best part: if you were already a member of Lisa's forum, you still are. We were able to restore the old database, so all the original posts and member names have been saved. (If you were a member but have lost or forgotten your login details, click here.) |
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A Mom's Perspective - Celtic Woman Isle of Hope Show on June 23, 2009 in Tulsa, Oklahomaby Lisa Hamilton
 June 28, 2009 will be a day that I will never forget, it was a day that has left an impression on me that I wish everyone around could feel. The day started with my husband, my five year-old son, and I leaving Texas for a six hour trek to Tulsa, OK to see Celtic Woman or as my son frequently refers to them, 'The Pretty ladies." This would be our third show this year but by far the most amazing because we had fourth row tickets, a feat that was not expected when we bought tickets late in April after seeing the first two shows. We arrived to the hotel about an hour and a half before show time, basically enough time to change clothes and leave for the show. I knew he was just going to die when the show started because we were so close and while I was wrong about him dying he was beyond excited when the lights went down. The first half of the show was as always amazing, it was during the second half that changed me a bit. After dancing to some of his favorite songs we were down to the last few songs when the idea struck him to get their attention by waving. I had my doubts that this would get him a reaction but he stood in the aisle waving his heart out. The first girl to notice him was Chloë - she flashed him a huge smile that melted his heart and mine. So after scraping him up off the floor he began waving again, this time Lisa noticed him and smiled and waved back. My child was amazed - he grabbed my neck and said, "Mommy she saw me!" Never one to quit while getting attention, he was still waving at them received the shock of his life - his beloved "Weesa" blew him a kiss before running off the stage, but not leaving before he blew one back to her. We couldn't get him to stop talking about it.
I find now having a child around that the simple things in life make the most lasting impressions. A simple act from these ladies had such a huge impact on my son, and on me as a mother and a fan that I can now say without hesitation, they are much more than fantastic talents and pretty faces, I have been to many concerts and shows and they were all just that, shows. Celtic Woman is about 5 women creating lifelong memories for people by continually allowing themselves to connect with their audience on a more personal level. I have heard many stories about the connections they have made with others and now have one of my own stories. I think my family has experienced only a tiny piece of how much CW differs from the rest, but at the same time have experienced what words cannot express both through their music and now with their kindness to my son during a performance. Here we are now long departed from the show in June and my son still talks about how the girls noticed him and how special he feels. I will always remember how two ladies without the need to notice picked out of a crowd my son and took a little time to make sure he knew they saw him and made him feel like he was the most important boy in the room. It's things like these that put CW in a league of their own, I am truly blessed to have found them a few years ago. |
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...Emily Smith, that is. Emily is going to be a regular contributor to The Voice. Herein, she chats a bit with Lisa, and allows us to listen in.
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HEY LISA (don't you love when people type in all caps?)!!!!!!!!by Emily
I know this is a very exciting time for you what with a new issue of The Voice coming out and all, but I hope you have room for a little more excitement because it looks as if I'll be chit-chatting with you a little more in the next few newsletters! Are you still there? Have you just simply *died* from excitement? Hahaha. Okay, okay, anyway, since I don't have any amusing anecdotes to tell you this time (like when the kid behind me accidentally poured coffee down my back in class, can you believe that? Ugh, my shirt still smells like French Vanilla), this will just serve as a small introduction for all the rest of the fine people who were SMART enough to join this fan club!
I'm Emily Smith, a 20-something South Floridian, devoted Lisa fan, lover of sarcasm, and just an all around groovy (and slightly nerdy) chick. I enjoy long walks on the beach, fine wine, and romance novels. Okay, the last bit was a lie, but seriously, I'm a big Lisa fan. I had the honor of meeting the fabulous Miss LK herself at a Meet & Greet last spring (right, Lisa?!) and I must say, it was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life! I don't think I'll ever forget it!
Well, that was pretty painless. Thanks for reading, Lisa and everyone else! I'll be looking forward to blabbering on a little more in the next newsletter. :)
Later alligator!
- Emily |
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Fan Mail |
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| Lisa has generously answered hundreds of questions from her fans. This month we decided to give her a break and send her some fan mail. We asked forum and fan club members to write short greetings, and here are some of the responses.
Lisa is such an angel. Surely, Grantland Rice's famous written philosophy of life applies to the beloved Lisa.
"For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes not that you won or lost, but how you played the game." He will surely write, Ah Lisa, my beloved angel. I sent you to give great joy and happiness to others. You have done that well. We love you, Lisa. Bill and Jackie Kelly
Hey Lisa!
First of all I would just like to say that I am a ginormously hugantic fan! lol. You are a true inspiration to anyone who hears you, including myself! I just turned 18 and have been singing since I was 8 years old. I've always loved music because it just puts me in a euphoric state. But the problem is that I have always had outrageous levels of stage fright! After seeing your grace on stage it makes me want to go back to my choir teacher and sing a solo for him in front of the whole class!! I love how you portray yourself on stage and in person (though I have, unfortunately, never met you ). I am going to see you this October, an 18th birthday present, and the anticipation is killing me! You are beyond an amazing human being and I would be absolutely thrilled if you just even read this!! Can't wait to see you!!! (and the other girls of course) With undying gratitude and eternal love Dayna
Dear Lisa,
Hello! Well about three weeks ago my mother found out she had a tumor. I really didn't know what to do, or expect and I was really nervous. So to keep myself calm, I listened to your music. It helped me relax and it kept my mind off the topic. During her surgery I also listened to your music, which kept me from thinking about the things that could go wrong. After her surgery, we were told that it went very well. She didn't have to go into the intensive care unit, which made me feel more relieved. As I went to bed that night I listened to some CW music. When The Blessing came on, it felt as though you were actually singing to me. It made me feel that my mom was blessed and that she was going to get through everything. Six days after her surgery she came home, the doctor expected her to stay for more than a week, but she healed fast. So I want to thank you for everything you've done! Your music has helped me so much! See you at the Fargo concert! No M&G :(
Sincerely, Amanda
Lisa,
My name is Kevin and believe me I do not make it a habit of sending fan mail to people but I wanted to make an exception and let you know about your part in helping to protect Los Angeles during our brush fires. You see I am a firefighter/paramedic here in LA and the last few days have been rather busy for us. Sometimes we can spend 24 hours or more on the fire line. And I just wanted to let you know (and thank you for sharing your talents) that when I have a moment to rest or find some time to myself I pull out my IPod and listen to you. It helps me find a few minutes of peace and relaxation in what can be a very noisy, confusing and scary place. And as silly as it sounds that few minutes of quite time can do wonders for one's physical and mental well being. So thank you and when your here in Pasadena you can look at the hills and realize you had a small part in helping LA. Kevin LaSota SoCalFan
Dear Lisa,
Rich has assigned us the task of trying to convey to you, in 200 words or less, our sentiments to you, as fans. You’ve seen us gush on about you on the Celtic Woman Forum in countless posts for years now. Yet we are never really sure that we have succeeded in capturing in our words to you the depth of our feelings for you, nor explaining exactly why you have affected us so. Obviously, we love your music and the shows in which you have appeared. We are eternally indebted to David Downes for bringing you to us—not just on CD and TV screen, but in person in hundreds of cities throughout the US and around the world. You have captured our hearts in the many kindnesses you have shown to so many of us as individuals. For so many of us, you represent a model for the influence of decency and hope for young people in our popular culture that is so lacking, particularly in the American music business today. As the mother of young children, this has probably taken on new meaning to you as well. We are your fans always! John Mann/Starman
Hi Lisa. This is Ed Tompkins (edtom). I've had the great pleasure of seeing two Celtic Woman concerts so far this year (Wilkes-Barre and Richmond), and I'm hopeful of seeing you again in late October in New York.
I've spent the last couple weeks trying to think of something intelligent, profound and witty here, and have finally succeeded. Here it is: "Lisa Kelly" Intelligent, profound and witty.
Hey Lisa!
What’s goin’ on? I hope you are having a rockin’ summer! I’m disappointed that I won’t be seeing you soon, but alas, I must continue to slave away in school! I’ll be ready to see you all again in the Spring though, so prepare yourself for my enthusiasm. I’m sure you will miss it this Fall. >;) I have no shortage of energy at your concerts. Hehe. So anyway, I waited until the absolute last minute to send this e-mail in because I was trying to think of something incredibly witty and/or hilarious and/or profound and/or whatever to say to you, but for the life of me I couldn’t think of anything good that I wouldn’t rather just wait and tell you at another M&G and wouldn’t sound like a cheap greeting card. So, I’ll just leave it at this: You ROCK, you’re fierce, you’re awesome, you’re completely fabulous, and girl, I will MISS hearing your voice live this fall! Keep smiling, keep singing and COME TO FLORIDA IN THE SPRING! I’ll be in the mood for a serious helping of “Fields of Gold” by then. ;) Your fan always, Emily
Dear Lisa,
Hi! I hope this letter finds you and your family in peace and happiness. I am very glad we get this chance to write to you because we all get to show you just how much you are appreciated and admired. Throughout the years you have captured the hearts of many adoring fans and part of that is because it is very obvious how much you love what you do. I have had talked with several other Lisa fans and we all agree that it is impossible to watch you onstage and NOT smile. Another aspect that makes you wonderful in my eyes is that you have such a soothing voice. There are days when I am misery itself but then I listen to you sing and it’s like the clouds are lifted and I know I’m not the only person that that happens to. It takes a very special person to have that affect on someone. You never cease to caputre us all. You are truly extremely talented and beautiful too! Thank you for everything you do. With love and admiration, Tiffany McClure (Lisa and Helen fanatic) PS. Could you say hello to Helen for me?
Dear Lisa,
There is so much that could be said about you and the gift that you have shared with us. Words cannot express what your music has done not only for myself, but for my family and friends as well. Many of the songs that you sing hold a special place in our hearts and your preformance you give makes the song so much more emotional. Your CD is the only one we can play in the car without any arguement. Everyone loves to listen to it. You have been an inspiration to us and I personally cannot thank you enough. Thank you Lisa for sharing your gift with all of us. Good luck on the new tour and maybe I'll see you along the way. Colleen
Dearest Lisa,
I have been so blessed by your music. I discovered Celtic Woman about five or six months ago and I feel as though I discovered a part of myself in the meantime. My mother's side of my family has been able to trace our line all the way back to the first of that family to journey from Ireland to America. I was born and raised in America, but my heart belongs to Ireland. Thanks to your music, I’ve been able to explore and understand my rich Irish heritage. You are a true example of beauty and grace. I pray that God will continue to richly bless your life. I hope that I’ll be able to emulate your many amazing attributes as I grow into an adult. I plan to raise my children with good Irish music and of course the glorious voices of Celtic Woman. And one day, I hope to travel to Ireland to be closer to my heritage. It is the place of my dreams and I’m so glad that your music has helped to bring me closer to it. A world without your music wouldn’t be quite as bright! Love always, Elizabeth Cox (lifeismusic2009)
Dearest Lisa,
What I like most about your fan mail is reading all the wonderful compliments that your fans have in store for you. I am saying internally while I read, "That's right...or...yes...Lisa does sound like an angel..etc. You sing like you really enjoy what you are doing. You sing with conviction as in "The Voice" ...Now, honestly,Is there any doubt who the voice is? I think not. and the Love song to Scotland, so superb and so often requested by your listeners. I truly enjoy your album and the songs "Home and the Heartland", " A Deer's Cry" and "Now We are Free" are some of the best , most pleasing songs I have ever heard anyone sing in my life and I love music and have heard many singers all along my journey! I am so glad your parents brought you, Joanne and Helen up to revere music and the power it has to enrich lives. You certainly have enriched mine. I am the Tulsa fan in Row one Seat one that was incredibly blessed by all of the CW Ltd.show that evening in June. I have to agree with your husband Scott who said, you ladies all were born to sing! I sincerely hope you will continue to create song treasures for all your fans. We will continue to love and support you in every way that we can, and I know I am speaking for your fans when I promise this to you. Sincerely with love and appreciation.. Carla Deane Shank Okinawa, Japan August 28, 2009
Dear Lisa.
I have humbly tried to think of something to write that is worthy of you, the lady Lisa. A very hard task. Each day I read all the posts to, and about, you in your section of the forum and I am amazed at the number of people that say, "You have helped me through so very much". and " When I need a lift I just listen to your beautiful voice." or " "When I am down you lift my spirits like no other ever could." Things like these are such a tribute to such a beautiful lady-- in every sense of the word. You are a great singer and entertainer, but mostly, you are just being "Lisa", a wonderful wife and mother. There is a song, "If I can help somebody as I move along, then my living shall not be in vain". So dearest Lisa, you can live your life knowing it will never have been in vain, because you have helped so many and so many throughout the world love you. What you do to help others that no one knows about must be beyond comprehension. I know of just a few things and they show such compassion and caring so few of us have. So, I thank you Lisa Kelly, for being Lisa Kelly,-- and a friend to so many of us that know--- you will never live your life in vain. May you always walk in sunshine and your life be as beautiful as you so richly deserve. Thank You Lisa Gary (cool2it)
"Hi, I'm Lisa" -- My First Meeting
I remember well my first Meet and Greet, as we waited so anxiously in that little room for this event which I thought was held solely for the benefit of us, the fans. But as soon as Lisa appeared, that notion was quickly dispelled. The look in her eyes, that knock-you-over smile, the sound of her voice, all made it abundantly clear that this was in fact a shared experience, that she shared our excitement and was genuinely happy and thrilled to meet her fans. So much more than I was expecting! I'll always hold dear the memories of that moment and the first time I heard, "Hi, I'm Lisa." Glenn Davis "Glenn"
Lisa: I can't begin to tell you how much my wife and I have been touched by your music. We saw our first Celtic Woman concert in 2008 but unfortunately you were not performing. I remember checking the CW website daily hoping to view news of your return to the tour but such was not the case. Our chance to see you perform finally came this past spring in Boise, Idaho. We purchased some premium seats from PBS and we were tremendously moved by the performance. I wanted to holler out during the performance to get your attention but did not have the nerve. My wife is of Irish desent and has been trying to convince me to take her to Ireland for years. When we found out we could get tickets to view the recording of your new DVD we quickly scrambled to make the connections. The day before the performance we went to Powerscourt and were pleased to see the group rehearsing for the performance. During one of the breaks the girls were being transported in golf carts near where we were standing. My wife exclaimed "Mick, Look! It's Lisa!" This time I was more bold and hollered your name. You turned around and smiled and waved at us and made the entire trip worthwhile. I know how sincere you are about showing your fans how much you appreciate our support and your gesture meant the world to us. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and look forward to the release of the DVD and CD. We have watched the DVD at Slane Castle on numerous occasions and often commented on how great it would have been to actually be there. When we view the new DVD we can say we were there! We look forward to seeing you and the group in the future. Your music has truly touched us on so many different levels.
Mick and Margie Shepard
Dear Lisa,
Hello! I hope you are well and enjoying some time to get rested and relaxed before the Fall Tour! I look forward to seeing you at Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN in November!! I have been listening to the song "If You Believe" from the Lost Treasure. I LOVE it!! I'm really looking forward to this soundtrack coming out! I can just hear in your voice how much fun you had singing/recording this song. Thank you so much for choosing to do an official forum again where you participate some. You are such a special person and so sweet. Thank you again for all that you have done and continue to do for us. You are such a blessing, such a gift. God Bless you!! You are greatly loved. Le Grá, Jeanine
Dear Ms. Kelly,
On June 23, 2009, at University Park, Pennsylvania, one of my dreams came true. I had the honor of meeting you and Ms. Alex Sharpe at a meet and great. I am the person decorating your walls with needleworks. (I think that is what Rachel calls them) I hope that you have liked them, especially the crossword. I wanted you to have a memory of your 2009 tour. Thank you for taking the time to meet with your fans and sharing your gift with the world. It really means so much to many of us. Your songs and your voice are magical. They turn a good day into a great day and a bad day into a not so bad day. There has not been a day in the last two years that I haven't heard your voice either from your solo CD or with the other phenominal Celtic Ladies. I hope you have plenty of wall space, because you have more needleworks coming and I have ideas for at least two more, provided you tell me you have the space for them. a Lisa Kelly fan forever Annie Hutchinson Hutch
Dear Lisa,
I just want to say thank you so much for just being you. Your voice have the power to make people feel their trouble just disappear into thin air. It is not easy to be on tour, look and sound amazing yet taking care of three children. I am so grateful for you sharing your talent with us. You must have heard stories of how your songs affect people’s life. I really like your version of the blessing and send me a song but to me the most special song you sang is the voice! I first heard this song from the PBS special A New Journey. I was going through a rather dark period and things just seem to go wrong in many ways. It was a tough time. What motivates me is I just happen to hear you sing this song on TV and I was deeply moved! You sing it with such energy and emotion that it makes me feels rejuvenated and ready to start over again. I wish you have an amazing vacation back home with your family at Ireland! P.S. You sound amazing in live! I hope I get to meet you someday. Best Wishes, Joanne Ng (Celtic Woman Forum: hakuryu)
Dear Lisa,
I just wanted to say how much I really enjoy my last three shows of the Spring Tour. Sorry about the surprise at Cincinnati, but when someone dangles a front row ticket for a show on the night before my day off, well I had to go ;D. Really enjoyed our second meeting at Youngstown. I am sure I was a bit more relaxed than at our first meeting in Chicago. Our chat on Vegas was a plus. Now that is one topic I can talk about all day. Cleveland was just the icing on the cake. Celebrating a certain someone's birthday was a day I hoped we would be able to do, and I think some of the surprises he got were very special to him. Thanks so much for being a good friend to Rich. Looking forward to the Fall Tour, and especially the New Spring Tour of Songs from the Heart. Take care, 'Mel' Melanie P.S.: I promise Sara and I will behave ourselves in Columbus....mmmmaybe ;)
My Dear Lisa,
I found your music like most flipping the channels and found you singing on PBS. I sat and watched the special and went that week and bought both CW Dvd's and since bought all your cd's and some from the other girls. I had to send my youngest daughter she turned 21 while over there to Iraq just after i had bought your music. I took all the cd's of yours and the other girls plus the sound tracks of both CW dvd's to work and would listen to them each day and it would take my mind off my daughter over in Iraq getting shot at and bombed each day. Now she is back in Iraq for the 2nd time and i still use all your music to make my day alittle nicer and more so to take my mind off my daughter in Harms way. I did see your concert Feb.14 in Milw I tried to get meet and greet but they were all gone. I have front row seats to the show in Wisconsin Dell Oct 17th but there are no meet and greet for that show. I have asked rachel via email if the show will be doing meet and greet but not heard back. Love your music and a big plus to see you ladies live at the shows. Thanks for the help getting thru each day you take care and keep up your great work Glen Swiggum
Hi Lisa!
I couldn't pass up the chance to let you know how your music, and the person you are, has touched me! From when I met you in University Park, PA (Oct 28, 2007), I knew there was something special about how you relate to your fans. As we talked briefly about a certain OFG (but won't mention names) I could see the twinkle in your eye showing a true caring, and I knew that it's for all of us who have come to know you. That knowledge has made it even more special to come to know you and your family through CW and the Lisa fan club ... and made special days like Ellie's birthday a thrill! Thanks so much for being who you are, and for sharing yourself with all of us! And thanks to Scott and the kids for sharing you as well! Peter Allen (hesprit) Miscellaneous:
Dear Lisa,
I hope that you can FINALLY get a little R & R now that the DVD taping is over! It's no wonder you look stunning in your gowns - between three children and performing you can burn off just about any food you intake - not to mention those Starbuck's lattes! LOL Thank you for this past Spring tour in the US. You never gave less than 100% every time that I saw you perform. You are not only 'The Voice" but "The Entertainer" ! It was a pleasure to meet you in Chicago with my forum buddies and again in Baltimore with my mom. Enjoy the rest of your summer! Love, Zee ( Susan Zaleski ) Screenname: SusanZ
Lisa, you had my heart from the moment I first saw you sing Caledonia. You are so warm, gentle, and passionate when you sing. It was that passion that caught my attention. You have been the only singer able to move me to tears. You have been with me through thick and thin; your voice, like a blanket for the soul. To be in your presence rendered me speechless. When you smile, it makes me smile.
You are always able to melt my problems away, whether they are as small as a mouse or as ferocious as a dragon. Even though I haven’t yet had the honor of meeting you, when I do, it will be one of the best moments of my life. For you have touched my life like no else has and I will be forever grateful to you. You mean the world, the sky and the heavens to me; you are a God send. You have been blessed with gifts no other human possesses. You have been gracious enough to share them with me and the rest of the world. Lisa, thank you for just doing your job. You raise me up every single day. ~LL7/Caitlin
Lisa Kelly,
I remember the day I decided to buy a Celtic Woman CD, I wanted ideas for a Solo contest. Little did I know, I'd first hear my future musical idol. You gave me the inspiration I had been looking for. Thanks to you, I now know what true natural talent is. You inspired me to work harder in choir, and if I hadn't discovered you, I don't think I would've became the only Sophmore in my choir class. Thank you for sharing your unbelievable talent with all of us. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't listen to you sing, and to this day, I still get shivers down my spine. I was lucky enough to see you perform in Seattle back in May. You put a smile on my face that lasted for about a month, just thinking about it gives me chills. Thank you Lisa, you're truly an inspiration. I will continue to support you in everything you do. Sincerely, Natalia Masterman (Talia)
HI Lisa, Just want to say from the first time I heard your lovely Voice I was immediately enamored with you. You have a 1 in 10,000,000,000 voice. I wear your badge from your fan club everywere and tell everyone who you are and that to me you are simpley called the voice of music. Loved seeing you on Dancing with the Stars and on GMA and the Today show. Cant wait for the new DVD and CD and cant wait until you come back to the Bay Area.
A fan for life Steven Murphy (Lovelycherylwinner)
And finally....
LISA-LISA-LISA!!!! Oh-my-goodness, can it be? That you might actually get to read Something sent from ME?!! Gosh, what do I say? It’s just that…wow…you’re so darn pretty Every time I think of you My insides get all “giddy” I love your beautiful voice It’s like a gentle lullaby And your presence is so precious That it sometimes makes me cry Your hair and face and smile Are breath-taking, yes it’s true And the kindness of your eyes Oh-those sparkles of steel blue I love you, like so many You’re a blessing to us all An angel sent from Heaven An answer to OUR call If hugs could reach through words I'd write you everyday And I’d just keep saying “thank you” If I ran out of words to say Your life is so important To so many of us here We all hold you in our hearts For you bring us so much cheer Thank you so much, Lisa You’re so thoughtful to your fans Thanks for being so sweet As you graciously hold our hands Thanks for all you do and sing And oh-that “shoulder sway” (*giggle!*) Thanks for being OUR LISA Every-single-day! WE LOVE YOU LISA!!! *MWAH!* ((HUGS)) Cindy Hathcoat “LISAHOLIC”
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2009 Christmas Charity DriveIn 2007, we started a tradition of raising funds for a good cause. In two years, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our members, we were able to donate almost $5,000.00 to GOAL in the name of the performers and staff of Celtic Woman.
This year, we're going to continue this tradition, but we're going to change it a bit. In honor of our dear, courageous Kelli, we're going to designate The ALS Association as the recipient of this year's forum donation.
 
"For the second year in a row, The ALS Association has achieved a 4-star rating, the highest ranking possible assigned by Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities." (http://www.alsa.org/news/article.cfm?id=1403)
Our non interest-bearing donation account is open and ready to accept deposits. This can be accomplished in several ways:
This account will remain open until 30th November 2009. At that time, I will close it out and make a lump sum donation of the entire amount to the ALS Association, in the names of Kelli Johnsen, the performers and staff of Celtic Woman, and this forum. I will send a framed certificate to CW Ltd, acknowledging the gift. If any of you would like a copy of this certificate, I will email you a copy suitable for printing and framing.
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Preface: much of this was written way back in July, so the chronology may be a bit confusing. Some things written in present tense actually happened two months ago. My intent was to finish it and post it on the CW Forum, but I changed my mind and decided to wait til the newsletter was published.
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Finally! I'm determined to write and post something about my 65th birthday before I turned 66. We've had no phone or Internet connection since lightning knocked everything out on Friday. By Saturday night I had begun to stutter badly and my eyes had glazed over. As I write this on Sunday, I'm quivering and drooling uncontrollably and losing touch with reality. During my occasional lucid moments, however, being offline has given me time to collect some of these thoughts and put them in writing.
Chris and I spent the weekend of 13th June in Cleveland, immersed in beautiful music and surrounded by the best friends any man could have.
So - where do I start?
Well, in my life, every silver lining always has a cloud around it. So let's get that out of the way first.
At the airport in Jacksonville Friday morning, I discovered that something happened to the stent they put in my right femoral artery back in December. I can't walk a hundred yards without my right calf feeling like it's on fire. This is not good. Made a mental note to contact the surgeon as soon as we got home, and did my best to ignore it the rest of the weekend. (More on this later.)
Anyway - back to the good stuff. And there's a lot of it.
We had an uneventful flight - I LOVE direct flights! - on a toy airplane. If you flipped it over, it said "Hasbro" on its belly. After fifteen minutes, the seat felt like it was stuffed with newspapers and old bicycle chains. But it was less than two hours, and a little discomfort's a small price to pay to get to a CW concert.
I'm convinced that the landing gates at Hopkins International Airport are actually located in Indiana. Or Illinois. Once you're off the plane, you get to Cleveland by walking there. Of course, walking was a bit of a nuisance for me, so it took us a while to reach the terminal. Coleen had kindly offered to collect us when we arrived, so we maintained cell phone contact with her and were able to home in on her location. It was a bit like a movie scene, where someone yells to a character lost in a cave, "Keep talking! We'll find you!!"
(I have to interrupt myself here to warn you; many people were incredibly kind and generous that weekend, so there's going to be a lot of superlatives used when referring to them. Deal with it.)
Coleen delivered us to our hotel, where we chatted for a while. Coleen is one of our favorite people in this world, and we don't get to see her nearly often enough. Coleen left to pick up her friend Michele, which gave us time to check in, relax for a bit and get cleaned up for dinner.
(Just a quick note on the accommodations. The Wyndham is a really nice hotel; friendly, clean and efficient. It's also very convenient, a block away from the Palace Theater, where our girls were appearing. (In fact, they also stayed at the Wyndham, although we didn't know that until the next day.) My only question about the hotel is - what do they have against snack machines? If you were thirsty, they have a machine to dispense almost anything you want. If you wanted a midnight snack - tough luck. But I digress.)
It's been my experience that good people attract other good people. They seem to travel together. Maybe it's some long dormant herding instinct. But if you find one really nice person, you'll probably find others nearby. So it was that weekend. (I'm not sure how I fit in with such good company.) Suffice to say that Michele was every bit as kind and lovely as Coleen, and we immediately bonded with her. They treated us to an excellent Italian dinner, and we laughed and chatted like old friends.
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Bright and early Saturday morning, after a pretty good night's sleep, I moseyed down to the hotel bar in search of a gallon or two of strong, black coffee. Ashley, Mel and Zo were sitting in the lobby talking, so I got my coffee and joined them. Everyone was jazzed about the upcoming show and "meet-and-greet". As we talked, I looked out the big front window, across the street, and spotted a familiar figure. It was Lisa - probably on a Starbucks run - pushing a stroller with Ellie in it. I excused myself hurriedly and dashed (okay, lumbered is probably more descriptive) out the door to intercept her. I had brought with me a photo of our pal Emily, modeling her Fan Club t-shirt. I wanted to get it signed for Emily, and I had no idea if I'd see Lisa again that weekend. I'm not usually so rude as to accost one of the CW performers like that, but it was a special circumstance. Lisa was, as always, sweet and understanding. She suggested I leave the picture at the front desk and she'd collect it there, sign it, and leave it with them so I could pick it up later. It worked out well, and it's a good thing since it turned out that Lisa was not in that night's M&G lineup. I returned to the hotel lobby and rejoined my friends, where I was greeted with much laughter and good natured ribbing. Mel said she'd never seen me move that fast.
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Half the fun of attending a concert is meeting and getting to know other members of the various forums. The Celtic Woman Forum was well represented in Cleveland, and it's great to re-connect with old friends and to meet people whom you've previously only known as anonymous screen names.
Tom Troxil is a master at organizing pre-concert gatherings for forum members, and he did another great job that weekend. He found us a terrific Irish pub called Flannery's and reserved the entire back room for our group. We all met there for dinner, to share our anticipation for the show that night.
I'm sure I'll leave some folks out - and I apologize for that - but our group included Tom and Darla, Mel, Andi, Anne, Zee, Sharon, Ryan, Joe and a co-worker whose name I've forgotten, Coleen and Jim, Zo, Ashley, Dwight, Tara, Daryl, Michele and, of course, Chris and myself. The food was wonderful - I had their fish and chips - but the group had surprises in store for me.
During dinner, someone mentioned that Zee was on her cell phone. I looked up and, sure enough, there she was, strolling around the room with her phone pressed to her ear. I thought nothing of it until she came over to me and handed me the phone, telling me that someone wanted to talk to me. I took it from her, completely bewildered, and said hello. And heard a lovely Irish alto voice singing, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…………" followed by, "Helloooooooooooo Rich, it's Órlagh!" Of course I recognized the voice immediately, so the introduction was completely unnecessary. But I was absolutely dumbfounded that Órlagh would take the time to call me. She is priceless. As much as I love Alex Sharpe, I really miss Órlagh. I'm so glad she's still in my life. We talked for several minutes and she finally rang off with a last "happy birthday" wish.
The next happy surprise was another phone call - this time from my dearest friend in the world, Kelli Johnsen. We were disappointed that Kelli hadn't been able to get to Cleveland, and she wasn't about to let my birthday go by without talking to me. Despite everything she's been through, Kelli continues to think of others first. I truly love that young lady.
I tried to compose myself and gather my thoughts, but the gang wasn't done yet. It was time for cards and gifts - including an American Express gift card and a personal letter from Deirdre! - and this incredible cake, shaped and decorated as a theater! Luckily, it only had one candle on it. I guess they didn't want to set off the smoke alarms. I was able to man up and blow out the single candle, and Darla was drafted to cut the cake. Mmmmmmmm………. Good cake!
I can't find the proper words to thank everyone for their kindness. I was truly overwhelmed. And I'm eternally grateful for the friends I've made through my association with CW and the forum.
Finally it was time to catch our ride back to the hotel and head down to the theater.
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The Palace Theater is a lovely venue - very ornate and old fashioned. Our tickets were at will call, so Chris and I had been holding our breath for weeks wondering where our seats would be located. We picked them up and experienced our first and only disappointment of the entire weekend. While our fellow forum members filled the front two rows in the pit, we watched the show from a different Zip code. We were seated in the center, about two-thirds of the way back in the main floor. Okay, I'll admit I'm spoiled. After seeing so many shows from front row center, anything less is a letdown. But it was kind of cool at the same time. I got to experience a concert from a different perspective. And I have to say that I was really proud of our group. Their enthusiasm was boundless. They whooped and cheered and clapped along and gave many standing ovations and it was a lot of fun watching them. The performers were obviously caught up in it, and you could see that they were having a blast and playing to our crowd. I won't go into a big blow-by-blow recap of the show. Anyone who has seen IoH knows what a spectacular experience it is. Anyone who hasn't seen it - should. But I have to mention that somehow, against all odds, Lisa was able to spot me, way back in the audience. Maybe it was all my frantic waving that tipped her off. At the end of the show, as they were filing off the stage, she honored me with a huge smile and wave and a blown kiss. She's a very special lady.
Claire led us up to the meet-and-greet area on the second floor. (I have to pause and give kudos to Rachel and Claire for the wonderful job they do. Bravo, ladies.) There was a pretty large group for the M&G, and we made sure that our forum members hung back at the end of the line so we'd have a bit more time. After a short wait, we were delighted to see Chloë and Máiréad walking toward us. They were lovely, warm and charming, as always. When it got to be my turn, they both greeted me with huge smiles, hugs, kisses and birthday greetings. I held up the line for a while, as I had a bit of business to transact. Chloë's birthday is just four days before mine, and I had brought with me a collection of cards and gifts for her. Our forum presented her a big stack of cards, a personalized teddy bear, and a gift certificate to Sephora (which I had been told is one of her favorite stores). She was delighted.
We talked and laughed for a few minutes, but I wasn't allowed to leave yet. Máiréad and Chloë both stood up and Chloë, acting as the spokesperson, said something like, "Happy Birthday Rich. We at Celtic Woman wanted to give you something." Whereupon they bent down and produced a huge drumhead stretched across a metal frame, with "Happy Birthday Rich" written across the center and bearing the signatures of virtually the entire CW troupe. It's not often that I'm speechless, but on this occasion I was momentarily struck dumb. I'm sure I had tears in my eyes and a catch in my throat as I accepted their gift and tried to express my thanks. I'm sure I was the envy of the entire crowd. (Incidentally - in the photo, below my name, you can see Nicky's signature and "eat cake" inscription. This was a drumhead that he had actually used in concert. Nicky is one of the nicest guys I've ever known, and he had given me a similar drumhead backstage at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles in 2008. Both have now taken places of honor on my "Celtic Wall" above my computer desk.)
Sadly, I finally had to leave and let others have their turns with the ladies. After a few more words of love and gratitude, I took my leave. The only remaining item of business was - what to do with the drumhead? I obviously wasn't going to transport it back to Jacksonville on one of those baby airplanes. But Coleen came to my rescue. I was able to impose on her to hold onto it for me. When I got home I sent her my UPS account information and she brought it to their office and had them pack and ship it. It arrived a few days later, in perfect condition. Thank you, Coleen!
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We had an early flight the next morning and once again our friends pitched in to help us out. We had thought about taking a cab from the hotel, but Sharon and Zee wouldn't hear of it. They volunteered to get up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning and drive us to the airport. We got a little lost on the way, but that just added to the good humor of the weekend and we made it in plenty of time for our flight. Thank you, Sharon and Zee! We said our final, sad goodbyes and departed. Our cats were mildly happy to see us when we got home (the little stinkers). Naturally - as anyone who follows CW has experienced - the post-concert withdrawal began to set in immediately. Since this was to be our last show on this tour, we were doubly depressed. But the memories of that weekend - the kindness of our friends, the laughs, the ladies, the camaraderie, the PRESENTS - will last a lifetime. Number 65 was the best birthday I've ever had.
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One final postscript. Once I was back home I was able to get an appointment with my vascular surgeon. He did another arteriogram on my right leg and discovered that the stent he implanted last December had gotten clogged. That explained the return of my symptoms. He was able to clear it out easily, and I'm happy to say I can walk painlessly again.
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A few items of interest:
 Have a great autumn, y'all! |
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Chuckles
Actual entries in Lisa's Guest Book:
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