On the list of things D and I wanted to do, seeing Barry Manilow was toward the top.
(If you immediately started making mental Manilow jokes to the tune of "Copacabana", move along. Nothing for you here.)
I can give no explanation (or apologies) for that Fanilow Fact. (Sorry, adult children of mine.) But we tried to go several times and always seemed to be sidelined by yet another surgery or procedure. Then, the end simply came too quickly and we did not make the journey.
I decided I was going to fulfill this pilgrimage and recruited Loyal Sister to accompany me. Barry is headlining at the Las Vegas Hilton, and they had a deal that was too good to refuse: 2 tickets to see "Manilow: the Music and Passion", two nights at the hotel, two buffets and two of a lot of other things for under $300. Score. I made the reservations, but was told "if Mr. Manilow should cancel" we would only be refunded the price of the tickets. Hmmmm. A very interesting disclaimer. Why would the man who makes the whole world sing cancel? We booked it for the middle of November.
I fully believed I would be able to check this one wish off the list, when the phone rang yesterday. Caller ID: the Las Vegas Hilton. Barry canceled. He was available one weekend in November and one weekend in December. "Can you guarantee he'll be there those other two weekends?" Nope. "What about after the first of the year?" I asked. He is apparently parting ways with the Las Vegas Hilton after 2009.
Hang up the phone, and here comes the Ugly Cry. Seriously: I'm not that attached to Barry, even though he was the sound track of the 1970s. When I may or may not have been in high school and college. It was just a plan that I wanted to fulfill. For Dave.
Extended Googling session brought me news that Barry is having hip replacement surgery and is (oh...my...gosh) 66 years old. How thin the veneer of our dreams can be.
Loyal Sister and I have decided to press ahead and go, Barry or no. The trip is already paid for, and surely we can still have a good time on this little get away. Maybe we'll go see the Blue Man Group instead.
Wonder how their hips are doing?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I am so sorry about (and for) Barry Manilow. I really like him, too, and bet it would be a good concert. I'm going to be in Las Vegas in November, too, but the first weekend. Wouldn't that be fun if we were there the same time?
If Cirque du Soleil (not the Beattle's one- Love)is still there, go to that show! It's a feast for the eyes and ears.
Gina: Do you remember which Cirque du Soleil you saw?
Good for you! Shame on them! I wonder if Barry knows the hotel is selling tickets to his show knowing he will be undergoing hip surgery. I love Barry and don't think he'd approve. I would be tempted to write to Barry's staff (ie 'Dear Barry' personally) and state my concern. Take your cue from the Lowe's guy ... time to get out your six shooters and raise some he-double-toothpicks!
Hi R....
Love your recent stories....I laugh all the time! This Manilow thing...I was trying to explain to someone the other day why all the guys liked Sprngsteen and Aerosmith back then, and we liked Manilow and Sedaka....It's starting to make sense :)
Love you!!! V....
Post a Comment