OT - How the Years Go By

Kelly

unread,

May 9, 2013, 7:38:16 PM5/9/13

to

Today is the 17th anniversary of when I sang Can't Smile with Barry at the Mirage on May 9, 1996. It really does not seem like it could be 17 years ago. I do often say "where does time go?" Sometimes it feels like it was not that long ago, but sometimes it does. Lots of life has passed.
I have happy Memories of shows at the Mirage - Barry did 6 shows (Thursday-Tuesday). Remembering that the remaining 5 CS girls that week I was picked the first night were great. For me it's never been about just my experience but wanting to share the joy.

One memory I do have is getting hugged by a very pregnant Suzan! I wish a very happy 17th birthday to Suzan's daughter.

Kelly H

Lulu

unread,

May 9, 2013, 8:46:13 PM5/9/13

to

Congratulations on your CS anniversary, Kelly. I was not there, but, I saw your video clip. And I remember the yellow "Maniloonie" scarf :-).

Suzan

unread,

May 9, 2013, 10:29:24 PM5/9/13

to

>Today is the 17th anniversary of when I sang Can't Smile with Barry at the Mirage on May 9, 1996.

Congratulations on your anniversary. You were great!

> One memory I do have is getting hugged by a very pregnant Suzan! I wish a very happy 17th birthday to Suzan's daughter.

Awww, How sweet! Your big Can't Smile weekend and yet you remember that! Thank you. Her birthday isn't until June, but I definitely was pretty pregnant at the shows. In fact, she was due June 17th (my husband gave the obstetrician a really dirty look when he announced the due date!) but she chose her own birthday a few days later.

Brenda M

unread,

May 10, 2013, 4:04:39 AM5/10/13

to

I'm a little late, but Happy Anniversary, Kelly!

I wonder if Barry truly understands what those " Can't Smile" moments and memories did for so many of his fans? Mine will always be one of my most delightful memories. What I wouldn't give to step into a time machine and go back to my Dec. 16, 2000!

:-)

Brenda

Maria Mikol

unread,

May 10, 2013, 7:03:24 AM5/10/13

to

It does go by very fast. My 24th anniversary is this month. What an incredible memory he gabe to so many of us.

Maria

--
This e-mail and any files or data transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual named above. If you have
received this email in error and are not the intended recipient, please
notify the sender by e-mail and immediately delete the message and all
materials without reading them. If you are not the intended recipient,
copying, forwarding or otherwise disseminating or distributing this
information is prohibited.

Suzan

unread,

May 10, 2013, 10:10:54 AM5/10/13

to

On Friday, May 10, 2013 6:03:24 AM UTC-5, Maria Mikol wrote:
> It does go by very fast. My 24th anniversary is this month.

Yeah, it's been over THIRTY YEARS since mine (I was one of the very first ever chosen, back in Jan. 83). It does not seem possible that it could be so long ago.

Maria Mikol

unread,

May 10, 2013, 6:22:03 PM5/10/13

to

So, Suzan- you got the t-shirt, not the video? : (

Suzan

unread,

May 10, 2013, 7:19:42 PM5/10/13

to

On Friday, May 10, 2013 5:22:03 PM UTC-5, Maria Mikol wrote:
> So, Suzan- you got the t-shirt, not the video? : (

Yes. In fact, my t-shirt is size small. Later they made them all XXXL but mine is a tiny little thing--it looks like a child's shirt. I also only have one photo--no one knew to have their cameras ready.

I think he started doing Can't Smile around late Nov. 82. He'd only performed with a few girls before he chose me. No one had signs or knew what to expect. After I sang, he escorted me to the steps, and I realized I hadn't had a chance to say thank you. I went back to say "thanks" and I think I startled him when he turned around and I was still on the stage!

Maria Mikol

unread,

May 10, 2013, 7:57:16 PM5/10/13

to

I remember him doing Can't Smile at the Gershwin and the girls got t-shirts. It had to be 1981 because I was really young and the ticket camp out was a nightmare for that one.

Suzan

unread,

May 10, 2013, 10:45:35 PM5/10/13

to

> I remember him doing Can't Smile at the Gershwin and the girls got t-shirts. It had to be 1981 because I was really young and the ticket camp out was a nightmare for that one.

I'm pretty sure Barry only started CSWY as a duet in late 82, not before. Perhaps you are thinking of the Uris run? That was Feb. 83, about a month after I sang with him.

The first girl I ever saw picked for Can't Smile (Nov 82) was a very pretty girl named Holly. (I remember her well, because my husband had asked her out on a date before we met!) She was part of the One Voice backup choir, and she wor a backstage pass on the arm of her sweater. I thought it might be fixed--maybe Barry chose someone from the choir that he knew could sing well? But that show was in Tennessee, so when Barry asked for a volunteer in Florida a few weeks later, I knew Holly wasn't around! I raised my hand, and...

I believe Holly may have been the second Can't Smile girl ever. My friends had attended the previous show and were shocked that Barry had chosen someone to sing with him. Prior to that show, none of us had ever seen him pick a duet partner, and we had a lot of shows under our belts by then.

Suzan

unread,

May 10, 2013, 10:46:42 PM5/10/13

to

Sorry, poor typing. It should have said "she wore a backstage pass"

Maria Mikol

unread,

May 10, 2013, 11:12:50 PM5/10/13

to

Okay. That makes sense. It was February of 1983. I was so excited because I had front row center for two shows. I am terrible with dates.

Suzan

unread,

May 10, 2013, 11:31:10 PM5/10/13

to

> Okay. That makes sense. It was February of 1983. I was so excited because I had front row center for two shows. I am terrible with dates.

Front row center for two shows? I don't blame you for being excited! :D

Maria Mikol

unread,

May 10, 2013, 11:44:53 PM5/10/13

to

The camp out for those tickets was torture. I deserved those seats. It snowed. Scalpers showed in the middle of the night and tried to push ahead of us.

At 7am, the lights to the theater went on and we were on our feet until the box office opened. The scalpers were pushing. I could not raise my arms from my side because we were locked so tight. I felt mu scarf being pulled and found one of the scalpers was doing it. The pressure of people broke the glass on the side of the theater. It was a crazy, scary experience.

dcsharon

unread,

May 11, 2013, 3:17:16 PM5/11/13

to

I thought I answered this the other day, but it looks like it didn't
go through!

Kelly -- congrats on your anniversary. Mine is 9 years this October
(and my license plate is CSWY-04) with a border of fall leaves)
Bren - i would have been at yours if I hadn't been down with
bronchitis as it was my birthday! :-(
Maria -- I was at yours at the Gershwin! :-)
A friend is still looking for photos from Aug 83 -- I think she was
picked in Tahoe. If anyone was at those shows and might have photos,
let me know.
The first time I saw him do CSWY as a duet was my first show (11/2/82)
in Binghamton.
I started a group on Facebook for people to post their CSWY photos.
(Can't Smile Duet Partners). I had a few photos of people that I took
their photo, but never had contact info for them. It's a nice way to
get the photos out there and hopefully reconnect with their owners!

You can never have too many photos of yourself and Barry!
(DC) Sharon

Kelly

unread,

May 12, 2013, 4:27:51 PM5/12/13

to

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and I wish more of the same to all of you.

I was at Brenda's CS and remember being so excited for her. I knew who she was but had not met her and had read her messages on the old Yahoo! board. Brenda called herself "the patron saint of the unpickables" and I remember thinking "she said she was never going to get picked and she just got picked!" and then saying out loud "That's Brenda!" to anyone in earshot. It made me feel that much happier for her.

Yes, Suzan, I do remember. Can't remember appointments, payments, etc these days but specifically remember how pregnant you were in May of 1996 - lol!

Kelly H