I am Woman (Happy Birthday Helen Reddy!)
Hey there!
Did you have a fab Sunday? Great weekend? Hope so.
A few blogs ago, I mentioned that entertainer Helen Reddy has had a major impact on my life. Um. That would be a HUGE understatement!
Well today is Helen Reddy's birthday and I always celebrate this wonderful woman on her special day.
Let's go back a few years (post-Jurassic but not by much). I was 12 years old when I heard the song "Leave Me Alone" on the radio. At a time when I was riding my mustang bike, loving "Nanny and the Professor", and playing with Barbies, I fell in love with this song. Helen's voice was so powerful and nothing like I had heard before. I told my Mom I HAD to have this song so promptly got the 45-record. Played it over and over for hours. Wore it through to the B-side (this was before cds folks)!
Next I saved up my allowance and bought the albums "I am Woman" and "Long Hard Climb" and got "Love Song for Jeffrey" for my birthday. It just kept getting better!
The FIRST concert was August 1974 at the CNE Grandstand in Toronto (wasn't that place amazing for concerts?!). Sat up high just below the clouds. WAS IN HEAVEN!!! I mean Helen's voice on vinyl was incredible, but LIVE? Whoa! That set me for life.
Then as the years went on, I continued to buy her records, watch the tv specials, see her movies, made the scrapbooks, and attended every concert available.
Wrote tons of fan letters, got answers, autographs, and made some AMAZING pals through the journey. Most are still in my life today. That is the kind of bond we shared.
Eventually got backstage (persistence does pay off, kiddos!) and have had some truly special one-on-one conversations with Helen over many years.
In November 2002, I sat front row centre in Edmonton, Alberta, at Helen's last two concerts ever. I don't know who went through more tissues - Helen or us! A very magical evening for everyone there (THANK YOU Jim, Mark, and Gemma). Met one of my bestfriends during that weekend too. *waves to Suz*
Helen wrote her autobiography "The Woman I Am" and did a book tour through the US and Australia. Helen is retired from the music business, and is pursuing her passion in hypnotherapy and spirituality and also gives lectures on various topics. She may not be in spotlight but is certainly no less busy! We're still in regular contact and I am happy to say that Helen is happy with her life.
I could write this blog for weeks and still not capture every emotion and amazing memory on paper. After 36 years from that initial song, all I can say is, there are no words that will do it justice.
Just know that this gal is truly grateful that Helen Reddy was born on this day!
Catch ya on Monday!
Linda
Did you have a fab Sunday? Great weekend? Hope so.
A few blogs ago, I mentioned that entertainer Helen Reddy has had a major impact on my life. Um. That would be a HUGE understatement!
Well today is Helen Reddy's birthday and I always celebrate this wonderful woman on her special day.
Let's go back a few years (post-Jurassic but not by much). I was 12 years old when I heard the song "Leave Me Alone" on the radio. At a time when I was riding my mustang bike, loving "Nanny and the Professor", and playing with Barbies, I fell in love with this song. Helen's voice was so powerful and nothing like I had heard before. I told my Mom I HAD to have this song so promptly got the 45-record. Played it over and over for hours. Wore it through to the B-side (this was before cds folks)!
Next I saved up my allowance and bought the albums "I am Woman" and "Long Hard Climb" and got "Love Song for Jeffrey" for my birthday. It just kept getting better!
The FIRST concert was August 1974 at the CNE Grandstand in Toronto (wasn't that place amazing for concerts?!). Sat up high just below the clouds. WAS IN HEAVEN!!! I mean Helen's voice on vinyl was incredible, but LIVE? Whoa! That set me for life.
Then as the years went on, I continued to buy her records, watch the tv specials, see her movies, made the scrapbooks, and attended every concert available.
Wrote tons of fan letters, got answers, autographs, and made some AMAZING pals through the journey. Most are still in my life today. That is the kind of bond we shared.
Eventually got backstage (persistence does pay off, kiddos!) and have had some truly special one-on-one conversations with Helen over many years.
In November 2002, I sat front row centre in Edmonton, Alberta, at Helen's last two concerts ever. I don't know who went through more tissues - Helen or us! A very magical evening for everyone there (THANK YOU Jim, Mark, and Gemma). Met one of my bestfriends during that weekend too. *waves to Suz*
Helen wrote her autobiography "The Woman I Am" and did a book tour through the US and Australia. Helen is retired from the music business, and is pursuing her passion in hypnotherapy and spirituality and also gives lectures on various topics. She may not be in spotlight but is certainly no less busy! We're still in regular contact and I am happy to say that Helen is happy with her life.
I could write this blog for weeks and still not capture every emotion and amazing memory on paper. After 36 years from that initial song, all I can say is, there are no words that will do it justice.
Just know that this gal is truly grateful that Helen Reddy was born on this day!
Catch ya on Monday!
Linda
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