The Big O

It’s one of the things that I wanted to accomplish in the next nine months.  I tried several times, sometimes daily, but it never happened.  Well, it did actually happen seven years.  I knew I wasn’t the only person trying (unsuccessfully) to do the big O, but I kept thinking positive and never gave up.

Sitting in my spam email last Monday was an interesting address.  Here’s what it said: “We received your email regarding the B taping on Thursday, Oct. 28th and we have some limited availability for this show!  If there are still seats available when we receive your email, you will be sent a confirmation sheet with all the details about attending this show. Please understand, you are NOT confirmed until you receive this confirmation email from us.”  I re-read the email a couple more times before realizing that I was finally able to snag tickets – to the final season of the Oprah Winfrey Show!

Milton and I talked about whether we could get off work just three days later and said going to the Oprah Show was a once in a lifetime opportunity.  So, I made the drive to Indy and then we made the drive to Chicago together.  Since we received last minute tickets, we had no idea what the subject would be.  We arrived early and stood in line with others.  A group of giddy women said the following things, “I can’t believe we get to see him!”, “I’ve been to all of his concerts!” and “He is so cute!” They never said a name so we became very curious as to who it was.

So, I asked.  They looked at me and said, “You don’t know?!  OMG – It’s RICKY MARTIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”  My response was neutral, but Milton’s face was full of anger.  For the next 20 minutes he felt like he had been punked.  As we watched the line grow, we realized Milton was one of only about 3 straight men in the audience.  I told him it was better than the Sound of Music reunion. He agreed, realized it was really about attending the Oprah Show and put on another smiling face.

Once we got through the TIGHT security (no cell phones, cameras, paper or pens) and sat in the waiting area everyone become more excited.  Once in the studio it all became real.  Because Ricky was performing a concert, they hyped up the audience and had us all dancing in our seats.  Ricky Martin gave a heart felt interview about telling the world he was gay and he and Joss Stone performed their new song “I Am Me Because of You”.  We walked out of the theater with a sense of accomplishment.  Milton apologized for his brief saltiness.  We experienced something that many people only dream of being able to do.  We were “livin la vida loca”!

M.Y. November 2010