Vivid Imagination

"..now it's time to say goodbye to all our company ...."

My months off from Disney were always spent in good recreation. I had joined a singing group that went on the road which led to more recording time in the studio. Cory and I were just friends as my interest in others grew rapidly. I loved him dearly and the thought of abandoning him I pushed away as well. I would go back to him from time to time as he was always available for me whenever I needed him. This was a faulty and out of character personality which arose from the feeling I got from being in control. I was being introduced to many new people everyday and so much awesome inspiring talent. I never understood why some of these people acted so untouchable, so better than everyone. This never intimidated me or stopped me from introducing myself and discovering what it was that I wanted to learn from these individuals. I made them like me, I made them feel comfortable around me. A lot of them saying to me "why do I feel so comfortable around you?" This has always been my winning ticket into people's trust and heart. I knew this and I used it and treated it as a gift. To have a relationship in this business is hard to maintain when traveling and always meeting new people is at your fingertips. Trust is something that is a precious gift coming from someone who didn't ever see it coming.

Every time I came back to MGM studios for the next season, I was there less and less because my jobs outside Disney was becoming booked up. I found that the busier I got the less I saw people. My work day went from a 12 hour day to 22 sometimes 24 hours and I slept with my eyes open. Music was my passion and eventually led me to breaking out solo which happened so fast.
I knew that if I were to sing I wanted to write my own music. The friends that I did have and the short times I had visiting with them were all so beautiful. We all were so starved for human interaction that I left fired up with inspiration from our conversations. Just being around someone with so much talent speaks in the highest vibrations that most can't detect. I am internally grateful for my moments of recharge; that is the foundation from which all talent and skill is born. My fire that scored me in this business was always put out each time I had to say goodbye to someone I would connect with personally; and that happened frequently.
Eventually my last show on the Mickey Mouse Club had come. This final season was a big change for us. The show had become a popular mainstream series and we were all a tight inspiring group of wonderful kids. Us older ones became mentors for some of the young ones that were at one time the little scared kid that I was. This season we introduced 8 new mouseketeers and all of them now are A list celebrities.

My heart beat as I sat in the chair for the last time getting my makeup and hair done. I remembered back to the Chet and Andy Show and how sad our last taping was. It was like saying goodbye to family, to people who have built you up and believe in you. I remember thinking why something like this would even end if everyone was happy. Life will give and take from you so that we can experience what life gives us next. I learned to look back on everything whether I was ready to let go or not, and be grateful for experiencing it, looking forward to what is ahead. Being a mousekeeter taught me to live happily and share that moment where ever you are with everyone. Life is meant to live not in the past and not wishing your life away but to enjoy every moment as it is given.
I was quiet just thinking in the moment and suddenly I heard the bell ring and the director's call for 5 minutes. As I got up the whole group circled around. It was not just me leaving today there were 8 of us; all the ones that started together. We all immediately held hands and the first person I looked at was Cory. The sparkle in his eye and his beautiful smile never changes and to this day I look forward to seeing that again and again. I was grateful especially for him getting me this audition.

"Thank you.." I said under my breath looking at him trying not to cry.

"My pleasure. Now, let's give them what they are going to miss!" He said as he pulled my hand to enter the stage for the last time.