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Oprah adventure!
Posted by joy.the.curious on Feb 27, 2011 in Oprah, Random | 3 comments
Of all the weeks of my life, I think this one will go down as the craziest and most wonderful one ever. Today, Sunday, I’m writing this post from sunny Longboat Key, Florida, where it will be 80 degrees later today. On Monday, I was shoveling 18 inches of new snow at home in Minnesota. And by 6am Tuesday morning, I was in a car with my best friend, Betsy, bound for Chicago and a spot in the Oprah Show audience. It’s hard to believe it’s only been seven days.
But, first things first.
Oprah.
I received this email message ten days ago, on Thursday, February 17…
From: OprahShowAudience
Subject: Audience Invitation to Attend “The Oprah Winfrey Show”! Please READ & RESPOND.
Date: February 17, 2011 3:23:21 PM CST
To: undisclosed-recipientsHello!
You are receiving this message because you sent an email to oprah.com about being available on Wednesday February 23, 2010. I read your email and would like to invite you to attend the taping of this show to be in our audience!
…to which I replied:
“OMG!!! YES, YES, YES! Of course I can make it!”
Logically, I knew there was a snow storm coming. Logically, I knew I would be leaving for Florida with my family on Saturday morning. Logically, I knew my son had a huge presentation due for his geography class and needed my help. These things I knew.
But here’s what else I know. When you’ve been trying to get tickets to the Oprah Show for over ten years, you don’t question the logic. You just go.
Many of you followed our adventure on Facebook, but for those who didn’t, here’s what you missed.
Video update
Feb 22, 2011 6:34am
On our way to the Windy City!
Facebook update
February 22 at 7:37am
Just got on I-94 in St. Cloud… here we come Oprah!
Video update
February 22 at 9:31am
Video update (part 1)
February 22 at 1:15pm
(Betsy writing) After stopping in Eau Claire to eat, we got word that an old friend of Joy’s was in town getting his car fixed. It’s an Oprah-style surprise for Keith Oliver, father of Amy Oliver, a classmate of Joy’s from high school!
Video update (part 2)
February 22 at 1:28pm
(Betsy writing) Joy finds Keith Oliver back in the service center waiting area. “Surprise! It’s Joy Almendinger!”
Video update
February 22 at 4:56pm
“You can say money, but it won’t get you too far…”
Video update
February 22 at 7:28pm
We finally made it! We’re checked into our hotel and having a little wine to celebrate our good fortune. Cheers!
Video update
February 23 at 6:31am
In the cab… on our way!
Video update
February 23 at 6:45am
(Betsy writing) We arrive at Harpo Studio at about 6:45am. It’s a beautiful day and we are among the first in line! We are getting so excited it is hard to think. Once we wait in this hallway for a few minutes, we are escorted inside, they take our coats and hand us a blue disclaimer form. There is a lot of information in small print that totally overwhelms Joy. Soon we are escorted into a holding area where we sit patiently with 300+ women (and a few men) all dressed up and buzzing with excitement! Is this really happening?
***
There’s a big gap in time here, and that’s because we couldn’t have any cameras, phones, or even a piece of paper when we went into the studio. They took us through security and went through our purses, putting all non-admissable items in a Zip-loc baggie. They took our coats and gave us a blue piece of paper to look over and sign.
Here’s how my mind was working at this point:
What is it? This thing? Let’s see… it’s a blue piece of paper. Lots of words. So many words. My God, what does it say?? Think Joy. It’s a blue piece of paper. It has a line at the bottom. That means I’m supposed to read it and sign it. OMG… I can’t read this. I can’t think. I can’t process. Just give me the damn pen.
They ushered us into a holding room with rows of seats arranged back-to-back. At this point, we still had no idea what the show was about, nor what to expect.
Here was my thought process:
Oprah. We’re going to see Oprah. I wonder how all these people got tickets. I wonder what the topic is. Let’s see. Do these people look like they have anything in common with me? Maybe it’s a show about blogging. Maybe it’s a show about Oprah’s biggest fans. Maybe Betsy had something to do with this (I eye her suspiciously). No, but that can’t be… I’m the one who got the tickets. I wonder why no one knows what the topic is?? OMG. Maybe we’re all getting on a bus and going somewhere. Maybe we’re her best, most ultimate viewers ever, and this will be something even bigger and better than the “Favorite Things” show or a trip to Australia. Oh, but it doesn’t matter what the topic is. Just being here is enough. Just getting to see Oprah is enough. But, I just wonder…
Betsy and I had been very careful to wear bright, colorful, non-patterened outfits in hopes of getting a front row spot. When they called our numbers (that were on the blue piece of paper… we had no idea), we were ushered into OPRAH’S STUDIO where we were asked to pick a spot in the back section. We ended up in the second to the last row… which was actually a great seat. Oprah’s studio is much smaller than it appears on TV, so we were actually very close to her, even in the back row.
As it turns out, the show was about Susan Lefevre, aka Marie Walsh, the fugitive mom. She was arrested in Detroit at age 19 for a drug-related charge. She was promised probation, so she plead guilty and ended up getting sentenced to 10-20 years in a medium security prison. She was so distraught, she ended up escaping, then went on the lam for 32 years and became a suburban wife and mother in California.
Note
This episode aired April 7, 2011. View a clip.
It was an interesting topic, but truth be told, I could not follow a word that Susan Lefevre/Marie Walsh was saying. It may have been similar to the blue paper situation, or it could be that Susan/Marie was rambling a bit, but whatever the case, I think I will watch the show and say to myself, “Huh, I don’t remember her saying that.”
Video update
February 23 at 11:30am
(Betsy writing again) If I seem emotional and mushy in this clip, it is because I am. What an experience. Along with witnessing a great Oprah Show, we got to spend another 45 minutes or so just chatting it up with Oprah after the taping. She was all that we had hoped she would be…. so funny, so real, so kind and so gracious. She told stories, swore, answered questions and gave us the inside scoop on lots of fun topics. She also joked about her hairstyles and many fashion mishaps from the 80s. It was fabulous! Yes… I cried… WE cried… out of pure happiness. Sappy, I know. But hey… it was Oprah! And she rocks!
It was an amazing, crazy, inspirational journey that left me thinking… this was meant to be. Betsy and I… at Oprah… after all these years of trying… during Season 25, her last year… while we ourselves just so happen to be on sabbatical celebrating 20 years of business…
Yes, it was meant to be. I have so much more I’d love to share about Oprah, but my word count is already nearing 1400, and I really need to move on to my Villa Am Meer story this week, while I’m on Longboat Key.
So, THANK YOU OPRAH. Thanks for the memories. And don’t forget to check Betsy’s blog at betsybonnema.wordpress.com for more about our Oprah Adventure.
Here’s our final wrap-up video that we took in the car on our way home (note this was taken via web cam, so the image is reversed… Betsy’s the one driving). Thanks for following our journey, and check in to read more about Villa Am Meer this week!!
Video update
February 24, 2011 at 5:36pm
Our last wrap-up video as we're on the road home from Chicago. What a great trip! Join us on our blogs at joybaker.com and betsybonnema.wordpress.com for more details over the next few days. Thanks everyone for following us on our journey! We had a blast.
3 Comments
Betsy Bonnema | February 27, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Oh… so cool! Thanks for the recap! What a week! We just got home from the stage gymnastics tourney, so the whole trip to Chicago feels like it may have been a dream. But alas… no. Your blog proves that it really happened and it really was as fabulous as I remember. I am so grateful I was your “Oprah pick!” Have a great time in Florida. On to the next item on the bucket list…
Mary Carlsen | February 27, 2011 at 4:40 pm
LeeAnn was right! Wow! Fooled me! 🙂 Great story from both of you. Fun to follow and watch the videos. You guys are delightful. Stay that way! 🙂
Thanks!!Kathy Alm... | March 2, 2011 at 9:39 am
now that I have some time near the Gulf to watch this, I am VERY impressed. You two enjoyed the adventure you have awaited forever for. (I know, you don’t end a sentence with a prep.). I vicariously enjoyed every moment of your adventure. How fun to have helium in your stomach for a whole week!!!!!!! Good for Oprah and her enthusiasm for life. You two too!!!!!!