Sometimes, if you open yourself up to it, life becomes as magical as a fairy tale.  When he took to the stage of Skate for the Heart, David looked every inch the picture of Prince Charming.  He smiled and waved graciously as the crowd screamed and applauded.  Earlier at the restaurant with YJ, Tofan and Refnaf, we had discussed what he would probably sing and I guessed MKOP.  So when he opened his mouth and formed in smooth, rich tones the words, “I was thinking about cha, I drew a little picture, but some things you can’t put on paapuh,“ I turned to Muldur and drawled, “I SAID he would sing that.”  She shushed me because she was recording and assured me she would edit that out but I can still hear myself.  I sound like a munchkin from southern Oz on helium.

He, on the other hand, sounded incredible.  His velvety voice filled the whole arena from the ceiling above to the ice below, gliding up to meet Joannie, pretty as a princess in pink, as she made her entrance on, “When I turn a corner, see my future in a beautiful faaaace..”  The voice carried her over the ice, lifting and gently guiding her through a flawless performance.  When it was over she climbed on stage and gave David a big hug.   Sheer sweetness and light and “Pure Imagination.”

We’ll begin
With a spin
Traveling in a world of my creation…

Willie Wonka

Sigh….where was I?  Oh yeah.  At intermission I get a text from YJ to look to my left.  She is standing almost on floor level waving at me in a section right next to the stage!  What the heck is she doing over there?  She texts me again to come join her, there are seats.  What??!!  I race over and then run back to tell Muldur and the others.  I can’t get her attention so I ask the camera man if I can come in where he is and he says sure.  The show hasn’t started yet.  I stand on the floor next to the ice rink waving frantically with every eye in the stands watching me but her.  Finally I get her attention.  I make hand signals like an umpire calling a play.  Both hands raised high, then to the right.  Time out, game relocated, down-field.  She gets the message.  Touchdown!  We score!!  The program resumed and the second half was even better.  David is once again announced and whoa! He is so close now!  He sang “Something ‘Bout Love” to paired figure skaters.  I heard lots of oohs and ahs and much applause from the crowd during their performance.  I suppose they were simply wonderful.  I wouldn’t know.  I did see them at the end as they skated up to David to bow in unison.

Before the show started, the announcer explained that this was being recorded for TV and at the end of the evening some of the skaters may redo some jumps if they fail to make them.  Only one guy missed one jump and he nailed it easily on the retake.  OK, done.  As usual it was all over way too soon.  Then, my heart almost attacked me when it was announced overhead that David Archuleta, would be returning to the stage to sing both his songs again!!  Songs btw, he did perfectly the first time.  I hear the announcer describe him to all as, “the ultimate perfectionist,” see him striding back onto the stage, feel YJ grab my arms in a vice-like grip and I think I grabbed hers too.  Funny thing was that once he began, I realized he had been a little nervous the first time around.  I’m sure it was only noticeable by a viewing of back to back performances, and then only, to a diehard fan.  And of course, to David himself, who will not give less than his personal best.  This time he was so much more confident and impassioned.  He was in total control.  Without the distraction of the skaters, all eyes were on him and I’m sure many felt the full impact of his singing for the first time that night.  As he was leaving the stage he claimed command of it by thanking everyone for coming out.  As I said, total command and control.

Check him out here in his encore performance of Something ‘Bout Love by 8throwcenter/Muldur.

After the show we all decided to meet up at a hotel where a lot of the others were staying and then go somewhere to eat.  YJ and I got specific directions and even followed Tofan and Refnaf but soon became hopelessly lost and ended up following the wrong car around for a while.  We finally made it to the right place and didn’t hold anyone up as they had been up in Pastel’s room while she uploaded her videos.  We all walked over to an Outback next to the hotel.  I wasn’t hungry so I just ordered the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under, 1220 calories and 80 grams of fat.  l don’t like to eat very much when it gets late.

On the ride home YJ and I talked and then as she said in her recap, we listened to Falling Stars in silence, holding on to the wonder we had just experienced.

I am awakened abruptly from my dream-like state by a phone call from Marciami telling me that she and Funny Girl have arrived at my hotel and for some reason they won’t let them in my room.  I get them in by telling them that Courtney put a note in the computer saying they would be coming and they get a key.  Good ole Courtney.  As I lean back in my seat I am smiling at the thought of meeting Marciami and thanking her for the VIP and also wondering what the heck it will be like to finally meet Funny Girl for the very first time.

To be continued….