Oprah, Mindy and Me!

Here we are! Mindy (with very dark hair for a change of pace and looking cute) and me outside of Harpo Studios where we had just attended one of Oprah's Final Season shows! We didn't think it plausible to expect anything close to the experience we had when we were there for Oprah's "Pay it Forward" show, but this came really close! Mindy got the tickets again this time, though she was only given two. Being the wonderful daughter that she is, she chose me to go with her (after seeing if David had ANY interest in the show, which he did not!) She had tried unsuccessfully to get tickets to the "Sound of Music" cast reunion, and then when she read that Barbra Streisand was an upcoming guest, she tried once more, and Voila! She was selected. In one night we had plane tickets and a hotel room. We were stoked! We flew to Chicago this last Tuesday, the show was Wednesday and we came home Thursday.

So here is how the show day played out: We were to be at Harpo Studios by 11:00 and we weren't anxious to stand in line outside for hours to be the first there as there are no poor seats in her studio. We went a little early and ended up being the 193 and 194th guests (out of 300.) We filed into the studio, where phones, cameras, paper, pens, hairspray, business cards...you name it, were taken out of purses and checked in. Then we went upstairs to a "holding tank" room where we waited for over an hour while Barbra rehearsed. Finally it was time to move! Several names and their parties were invited to go downstairs and wait to enter the TV studio first. When the fifth name announced was "Melinda Johnson and her party" (that would be me!) we started rebastrating! (made up word from college years...meaning, when you are so excited, you are coming out of your skin!) We had NO IDEA why we had been selected to go ahead of everyone! We passed by the crowds of waiting guests and "calmly" made our way down the stairs to the TV studio door and waited again. Finally the door opened and our line moved in.

Now from our past experience attending the show, we knew that the audience members are placed in their seats according to color. One may not necessarily be seated with their party. The people are placed artistically, like an artist's palette. From the picture you can see that Mindy wore blue and I wore green. Well, when the "placer" saw us in the line, she said, "You two, come with me." She took us to the front row, center section, on the aisle! Once again....we were rebastrating! We were sitting right in the perfect seats! The lady who had seated us was also the one who got us pumped up for the show. We were all singing, "Don't Rain on my Parade", clapping, cheering. Very fun. And then the show began. Oprah and Barbra were right in front of us. At one point Barbra's little white "Chelsey" dog was invited onto the set. She walked down the aisle towards Barbra, but came right to me! She was the cutest, softest, little fluff ball. (She knew a dog lover when she smelled one!) Barbra came and picked her up (I told her what a cute little dog she had) and took her dog to her seat...I guess I shouldn't have delayed the dog...oh well, it was worth it. Barbra talked about her book "My Passion for Design," her home, her marriage, etc. and then she sang "The Way We Were." There were taped tributes toBarbra by co-stars, and then as a surprise to her and to all of us, Robert Redford entered! Now you have to know that Mindy has thought he was the most handsome man in the universe forever. (Never mind that he is older than her father.) The movie clips of his roles through the years would prove her right! He's small and wrinkled now....but he was very handsome in his day! So that was another bonus and cause for more rebastrating! When he left the stage he shook my hand and I was tempted to throw Mindy in front of me, the aisle seat appearing to be where the action was! Well, we haven't seen the show yet. The taping went longer than show time allows and something will have to be cut. I was the most impressed with Oprah. She is a master at what she does. She made her guests feel comfortable and the parts that they retake are the best. She is good! It was such a super fun day to share with Mindy!

We shopped at American Girl, bought leather jackets at Eddie Bauer and the yummy chocolate holiday cookies at Trader Joe's...my favorite purchase. We walked everywhere glad that the weather was absolutely PERFECT! Ate yummy food, walked to Lake Michigan...and went to bed early both nights. All the adrenylin wore us out! We flew on the same plane with Mindy starting from Boise and then continuing on to Boise making longer flight days for her, but we had a perfect Mom/Daughter trip! Thank you, Mindy!!!!!!! XO PS. Showtime Nov. 16th!