"Call Gloria!"

Have you ever done something far outside your comfort zone? Something just to prove to yourself you are juicy and alive and way more courageous than you think?

Well, I am out here on the skinny branches right now. I am “starring” (along with a number of other “stars”) in a theater production It is the 13^th annual Choc Follies. Choc meaning Childrens Hospital of Orange County. This year’s musical is “The Wizard of OC.” as the narrator and a participant in 8 musical numbers (yes, that means singing and dancing while freaking out!). Check out the fan page on FaceBook.

This adventure began about six months ago when Ted and I were watching Dancing with the Stars. I declared, “My only regret in life is that I haven't done a lot more dancing! I think I’ve missed a whole lot of fun!”

Not long after that a friend told me she had just had an amazing experience with a psychic medium. I was so intrigued and curious that I made an appointment. Yes, it was amazing, and I won’t go into all of it here, but the really interesting result was that my late husband Paul kept repeating, and insisting that this woman tell me “Call Gloria!”

“I don’t even know anyone named Gloria!” I told her. Later, I asked myself over and over Who is Gloria and why should I call her?

A few days later while sitting at my computer my eyes fell on a little post-it note with my handwriting of a phone number and the name Gloria Zigner. Oh, I realized, that’s the woman I met a while ago who is the society editor for Orange Coast Magazine. Now, why would Paul be urging me to call her? Gloria and I had spoken briefly and casually mentioned having lunch together so she had left a message on my phone. I'd put the note on my computer as a reminder, yet had forgotten to make the call.

When Gloria answered, she said, “Let’s meet for lunch. I want to talk you into being in the Choc Follies!” I learned Gloria had founded the Follies, a yearly musical production which has raised nearly $5 million for our world renowned Children’s Hospital. Gloria's beautiful face and bright red hair is a clue she has a past in Show Biz. She invented this spectacular event out of her passion for musicals.

“If you can walk, you can dance!” she declared. Her contagious enthusiasm and promise of fun did indeed convince me to jump in.

So, because of this very magical, mystical story, here I am, dancing and singing my little heart out. My devoted pal Deb has joined me, and the talents of the director, the dance director and the choreographer wow us. The script is hilarious and I get to deliver some great lines. Deb has bought tap shoes and hired a tap tutor to get her up to speed.

Opening night is only two weeks away now. Yikes! I am bouncing around my office to our practice CD training my feet to remember the steps and moves to Ease on Down the Road, the du-wap melody of It’s In His Kiss (the shoop-shoop song), and dance steps I actually remember from the 60s (the Pony, the Mashed Potato, the Watusi), the gorgeous Barbara Streisand hit Ordinary Miracles. (Dare you not to cry when you hear our exuberant harmonies in that last one.)

One of our most rousing songs is A Brand New Day! What a great reminder that every day offers an opportunity to reinvent ourselves and tell a completely new story, to try something wild, and silly, and at times, terrifying.

Say a little prayer for me, please. And, if you are going to be in Orange County, between April 1 and 3, please show up. Showing up is everything! You know I’m going to, and I bet Paul will be watching.

Sorry, no recipes this week. I’m waaaaaaaay to busy to cook!