CHARLES CLAIRE KALISTAChapter 35
- 4 years ago
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What was that? Did they say we had moved on, or were they telling us to leave the floor? The crowd was stunned and started to applaud very loudly. I guess that meant ... We made it!
We waved back to the crowd, and Claire took me by my collar and kissed me in front of everybody there.
I knew this was likely to come back on me, but I responded and kissed her back causing the other dancers around us to start applauding as well. We broke up both equally embarrassed, but happy as can be — we made the cut — thirteen-year-olds had never made the cut!
Before we left for the night, we were asked our preference for dancing placement. We deferred until the other fifteen couples had made their selections.
I asked if we were allowed to enquire what the other dancers were performing? The young man at the table didn’t see why not and told us that they were all doing either the Samba or the Quickstep.
Claire and I talked for a moment and then told him we would be doing a Traditional Slow Waltz. We wanted to be last if that was OK and asked if could we give them our music first thing in the morning? He said nobody ever asked that before. After making a call we were told we needed to get the music to them two hours before the competition started.
We thanked him and went back to the hotel, and I had asked Jimmy if I could use his laptop to find a new Waltz number. He shook his head ‘Yes,’ and just looked at me like I was crazy to change our dance music the night before a competition.
I also asked him if he’d brought any empty CD’s that I could burn a new song on? Fortunately, Jimmy followed the Boy Scout tradition of Being Prepared, and again answered ‘Yes.’
Claire turned to me and said, “Charles. You have got that look in your eye. Why don’t we just perform ‘Sunrise Sunset?’”
“Because we have gotten better than that piece of music can demonstrate. Do you trust me, Claire-Bear?” I asked.
“Absotively, Posilutely, X.”
I started to feverishly listen to songs using ITunes maybe a little over eighty songs before I found ... it.
It was a song I heard recently in an elevator. I knew it was from an old movie about a car race from New York to Paris ... THE GREAT RACE!
The song was in the middle of this comedy racing farce, and it was called ‘The Sweetheart Tree.” Now to find the perfect version of it!
Unbelievably, there were almost fifty covers, so I listened to all of them and, of course, the next to last one was a beautiful, but simple version sung by a barbershop quartet called the Golden Staters, recorded back in 1972. That made me wonder if they were still around or not?
I listened to the entire song and was crying by the time it was over being exactly 3:14. I played it for everybody, and they loved it as well.
I pulled Claire up and said, “Are you ready to win this whole damn thing, Gorgeous? I want to win a National Championship with you. We will get through this round because everyone else will knock each other out with their Quicksteps and Sambas, and we will slick right past them all. Are you ready to learn a whole new Slow Waltz routine?”
We will be using the Hesitation Step a lot, but this version calls for it.
I had her in my arms, and she whispered, “I can learn any dance to any song you want to teach me, Loverboy.”
I kissed her, and we went to work on the routine with Jimmy giving us some ideas due to the subtle rhythm changes a barbershop quartet is likely to give a song like this.
Everybody was wanting to watch us. I had asked that only Jimmy or Annie to give suggestions, and everyone respected that wish.
While we were learning this, Jimmy burned two separate CD’s, in case of emergency. About an hour later we had a brand-new Traditional Slow Waltz routine.
We all went to bed with the boys in one room and the girls in the other. It was the most economical way to do it. I don’t know what the girl’s arrangement was, but Jimmy got one bed and Brian and I shared the other ... it was like camping, but on a double bed, and without the sound of crickets!
The next morning, we all met up together and Claire and I went over the routine a few more times. We all thought it was going to be a nice change of pace from all the other dancer’s high-energy routines.
I was secretly holding out that if we got to the finals, we would get to do our Jive to “Footloose.”
Sarah, Claire, Annie, Kalista and I went down and handed them our music in plenty of time. They confirmed we were going last when things started later in the day. She probably shouldn’t have, but she gave us a ‘Good Luck,’ before we left.
“Claire, what would you like to do today while we are waiting for our competition?” I asked.
“Could we go watch the Adult Dancers? Maybe one or two of the dances?” she asked sweetly.
“Sure Claire,” Annie said. “Let’s all go and see them. You two will be dancing against them before you know it. You two can dance in the adult category as soon as you turn fifteen, and we get approval by the NDCA, which I found out they just about always give.”
We walked over to a different pavilion and watched the dancers preparing. Everyone was so tall ... They were all over six feet tall, and girls were all five-eight or taller. None of the ladies were terribly busty. It made me wonder!
We just stood and watched them warming up. Some were talking to themselves maybe a kind of positive mantra or something. Most were talking only to their own partners seemingly avoiding eye contact with their competition. I guess they focus on themselves and don’t have any time for friends or compassion for their peers.
At this level, they are all told what dance to perform in advance, so the judges have specific things they’re looking for. We heard that they were all doing the Paso Doble. This could give us a lot of information about what the judges will be looking for when it’s our turn in a couple more years.
A young lady with her parents walked up to us and asked, “Are you Charles & Claire?” We both blushed a little and said, “Yes” together.
I looked over to Annie, Sarah, and Kalista, who was jumping in place over this.
“Could I have your autograph, please? My parents and I think you are gonna be really famous dancers someday, so we would like you to autograph a program, please?”
I looked over at Claire whose eyes were moistening, and I said, “Sure. I will sign for both of us if that’s all right. What’s your name?”
“Oh, thank you so very much. My name is Haillee Payne. I am only fourteen years old just like you and I practice dance every day. My parents and I are visiting from Colorado Springs.”
“Thank you, Haillee ... That’s awfully sweet of you. What Claire and I would like to suggest is that you find a Cotillion in your area and then make really good friends with the people who run it. That’s what we have done, and he’s now our Sponsor, OK?”
I heard Annie’s snort.
“Thank you, Charles, that’s really good advice.” She looked at her program where I wrote, ‘Good Luck — Hailee, from Charles & Claire. Dancing is Fun, So Have Fun Dancing – March 2013!”
Her mother mouthed the words, ‘thank you’ as Claire was coming back to join me. Claire came up close to me and hugged me whispering, “Oh, Charles ... That was so sweet of you. I heard most of what you said to her. You are really good at this, aren’t you?”
As they left, a face I recognized from TV walked up, and said, with her million-dollar smile, and english accent, “Hello, my name is Cat Deeley, I have been following you two.”
I took her hand and kissed it making her giggle, then said, “I watch ‘So, You Think You Can Dance,’ every chance I can.”
“A few of our contestant dancers have come directly from these National Events. Have you thought ahead enough to possible come on the show?”
You could’ve knocked me over with a feather, before I said, “Honestly, Cat, I know I haven’t thought that far our out. My partner Claire and I have been keeping things close and focused. We will have to think about it, OK?”
She pulled a card from her little purse and handed it to me. Claire was being very silent but was keeping a close arm on me.
After Cat said, “Toodles,” my girl said, “That was Cat Deeley. That was amazing, Charles. She is skinnier in person, don’t you think?”
“Claire-Bear, nobody is as pretty as you are, OK?”
Our posse joined up, with Special K amazed.
After a kiss from Claire, the dancing was beginning.
When it was over, two lovely ladies walked over to us, introducing themselves as Alice Guthrie and Janice Forrester. They were Annie’s age and both very pretty.
“Excuse us, we are unable to stay to watch you all five days, but could we get an autograph, please?” Janice had asked.
Mom and Sarah came forward.
Alice saw this and said, “We left my daughter and her son to come to this event, not knowing it was six days long. We are from Vincennes, Indiana and couldn’t resist coming to see the two of you.”
I gladly gave an autograph for each of these lovely ladies.
Suddenly, my mother said, “Did you used to sing professionally?” to Janice, who answered in the affirmative.
“That was a long time ago, but yes, I did?”
“Can I get your autograph?”
In a matter of moments, they became friends, exchanging phone numbers in the process.
They gave us a ‘Break a leg,’ and walked away. What nice ladies!
We watched a few couples dance the Paso Doble. Granted we haven’t spent that much time on it ourselves, but they are quite good. Claire and I are watching these couples with all their fancy outfits — but we did realize that we have those skills. They just haven’t yet been honed and polished.
After watching a few of them, Claire and I along with Annie, Sarah, and Kalista were walking back to our pavilion when a bevy of teenage girls came up to us.
One of them stepped forward and said, “Charles & Claire — we loved your dance. We think Charles is just the most adorable dancer at this whole competition, don’t we, ladies?” They all tittered.
I felt Claire’s hand become something of a death grip, so I turned to her and said, “Show them your ring, Baby Doll?” Claire smiled a great big grin and flashed her promise ring in front of their faces.
The girl who had been speaking took Claire’s hand, “Damn girls — that’s a real stone in there!”
“We want you to win. These stuffy older people don’t understand what we teenagers want to see. What are you dancing to in the next round?”
I replied, “Ladies, you will have to watch to find out. I will tell you at some point in this competition we may just ‘Cut loose.’”
That caused the girls to make a group noise that sounded like a pack of hyenas, at least what I had remembered from the Discovery Channel. Maybe from THE LION KING!
We walked away from them with my girl saying, “Charles, my knight is shining armor ... Come here.” Claire gave me a kiss on the end of my nose and then, quickly wiped it off.
Kalista laughed and said, “Wait until you win, then see how many people want your autograph?”
That made us all laugh, although I suspect K may be right on the nose about that.
I pulled Claire aside telling Annie we would catch up.
“Claire?”
“Yes, Charles?”
“I love you!”
“I know. What brought this on — those girls? Those girls aren’t my competition! The other girls who are dancing aren’t even my competition. My competition just walked away with our mothers so don’t you think for a second, I am going to let you out of my sight. You have got me for the rest of your life, Bucko.”
With that she gave me a really, sweet kiss. We smiled at each other, she put her fingers to my lips to clean them off, and we walked off together quite sure that we were a couple forever both on and off the dance floor.
We ran into some of the dancers who had been eliminated from the Rising Start competition. They came up to us and gave us high-fives and offered congratulations for making the cut.
As a group, they said they were rooting for us to win the whole thing. Some of them asked what we were dancing in the second round, but Claire told them to watch and find out.
For seventeen and eighteen-year-olds, that was awfully nice of them to come up to us and say that. We waved at them as we went to catch up with Annie, Sarah, and Kalista. We found them.
I asked my mother if it was all right if Claire and I found a quiet place to practice? To that she replied, “Let’s go find a spot, so you can perfect your wonderful routine.”
We found a room. I put my iPod in my pocket and turned it up loud. Before we did anything, I suggested that we slide our feet whenever the quartet slides into their notes.
Claire thought that was a wonderful idea, and we practiced doing that. We also decided to keep the tempo even when the quartet weren’t singing at all. I figured we would catch up — when they sped up. We tried that as well. This really is a beautiful song we’re dancing to. I hope we are going to do it justice.
Annie looking at her watch got our attention and told us to change for our performance even though we were last to dance.
As we walked up to our dance area, some of the eliminated dancers were there giving us a big thumbs up. We gave them back to them. I gave Sarah, Annie and Kalista a final hug, until we met right after the introductions of our sixteen couples.
The Announcer came on: “Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls; school’s out and guess who’s back joining us? Charles & Claire!” A wonderful round of applause came up from the crowd, the returning kids smiled at us, the new kids glared at us. “But they are last today, so let’s get started.” He went on to announce the first competitors and it began. Things were moving along, I felt a bit more nervous than usual. Claire came up to me and said, “Charles, remember we’re waltzing today, this...
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Leaning into Kal, I said, “I think you can do this better than Claire could, but you know I can’t tell Claire that and you can’t either, ever! You promise me? Pinkie Swear?” She put out her Pinkie, attaching hers to mine. I heard her say, “Pinkie Swear, Charles.” I looked over and saw a delicious smile on Claire’s face as K started to try the cut time tempo. She was hesitating. “Look at me, Princess? This song is called, ‘Hold On’ so you can hold on to me and I know you can do this. Try it...
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FIFTEEN YEARS LATER (2032) “Charles?” K said, now 28. “Yes, Princess?” I responded, now 33. “Everybody’s gone, leaving us alone.” “Where did they all go to?” I asked. “Claire, Annie and Sarah with Rose and Michael, along with Ken and his brood, went to check on the newest Charles & Claire Dance Studio in Pittsburgh. On their way back they were going to Columbus for the day, to check on the studio that Brian and Susan, and their family, are in charge of.” “That leaves us all alone,...
Well, again, Tuesday night couldn’t come soon enough for me. This week, Brian’s mother took us to Cotillion getting us there early so Claire and I could confer with Jimmy. We told him about the BBQ and about all the steps we learned. Mr. Bradshaw looked at us flabbergasted and said, “You have learned The Natural Turn Progression? I usually don’t even try to teach that to anyone under fifteen; they ... just can’t grasp it. You two really are something special, you know. Next week, I will be...
We got up, showered and met up with the group for a small and quick breakfast. Sarah got us a room in the hotel to practice in, we went through all of our newly restored routines two additional times letting the girls flash them up a little. We took a cab ride out to Wembley Stadium to check it out. We saw a very large dance floor being setup, it was maybe 80ft across by 100ft deep, easily the biggest we’d seen so far. As fast as they were setting it up, Michael and his merry men were...
That caused Jimmy to smile big as he said, “Now ... Charles & Claire will show us all, the Tango,” starting “Hernando’s Hideaway,” a different version than we had danced to before, but quite lyrical. Claire turned to me and said, “Charles remember, No rise and fall!” What a wonderful dimpled smile was on her face. We proceeded to Tango ourselves into a lather using steps that we know Jimmy wouldn’t be teaching tonight, but when you love to dance ... you do what you do, and what you...
“OK, last subject – turning professional and going on this tour. I am beginning to believe, that we are going to like dancing for people on this tour more than anything else, so I suggest we all turn professional right away, informing the NDCA at the proper time. We go on this US Tour, and maybe even Michaels’ World Tour as well.” “Then we maybe find out about going on the World Dance Council International Tour, or starting our own Tour, something along the lines of ‘The Claire and Special K...
“Ooooohhhhh — That was a joke, Charles? That was my soon to be fourteen-year-old sons’ idea of a joke. Ha-Ha. Hmmm ... you knew I was behind the door, didn’t you? Well, you got me pretty good there, Chuckles. I must admit.” She started laughing with us; so, I guess she was OK, but I am going to start being more careful, generally speaking. RING “Hello, this is Charles Newman, who may I ask is calling?” “This is Kalista McArthur, Mr. Newman. Calling to see how you are doing?” “Kalista. So...
Not having been there for over five years brought back memories. It was an all-new orchestra, with a new conductor, Herbie must have retired or passed on. After getting everyone settled, I walked up and introduced myself and met the new conductor, Harold Watson, better known as Hal. He was aware of who we were and had a large number of our music ready for us. There was no live singer this evening, just a nice meal and dance music. I sat between my wife and my daughter. “Daddy,” Rose said...
The next morning, after working out and coming back to take a shower, I looked at our list of cities we’d gone to so far and determined that we have been to 30% of the total cities, and we’re about eight months into our 24-month long Tour so far, which ... matches up. We’re less than two months from Kalista’s 12th birthday. Our second Anaheim performance was as electric as the first, then we had a day off, then Fullerton for a single, the next day was our ‘Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon...
I chuckled, put the phone down and ran to Mom in the kitchen asking her if Claire could come over in the morning to practice. Of course, she said, “Are you ready to be a proper gentleman this time, young man?” I bowed my head and said, “Yes, ma’am. I have got Claire holding on the phone. Could we get her this time, instead of one of her family having to drop her off, please?” That probably sounded a bit needy. “That was the perfect amount of groveling. Go tell her we will be coming to get...
The performances the next four days in Sydney, were quite outstanding. Kalista was extraordinary, and Claire was at the top of her game as well. I’d begun to go to the gym now and work out every morning. I did look up the latest news on Happy Birthday, finding that only three weeks earlier (On September 22nd) a judge in Los Angeles ruled that none of the companies that have collected royalties over the years, held a valid copyright claim. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Randall Newman (No...
Claire said, “I guess we’ll find out who wins the battle of the chesticles, won’t we, Mom?” Sarah did a shake and said, “In sheer size, dear – there’s no comparison.” They all laughed and snorted. “All right let’s go ... Dammit! The stat site is down, I need to call Ken about this!” “Oh,” Sarah said. “We got a request from Disney to make our posters available in the non-USA Parks. Without running it by anyone, I said to go ahead, but only in Japan. I figured we could find out how...
“Both of our mothers, along with our future stepdaughter, would kill us both if we did something as stupid as that,” she responded. “You’re right Claire, and when you are right – you are right,” I said, first looking over the delicious body of my soon to be wife, then starting another kiss. “I am so horny, and you are so gorgeous – a deadly combination, my dear.” “I am up for a little ‘afternoon delight,’ Charles?” she said grinning at me, reminding me again of that wonderful June evening...
After we got home, I changed into a swimsuit and practically jumped into the spa. Being that everyone else was of a like mind, within a half hour, I was joined by my entire C.A.S.K of ladies. Kalista came up to me and asked, in an alarmingly sexual tone, “Whatcha doin, Loverboy,” and she sat down on my lap, spreading herself out in a leisurely manner. “Well, Special K, you sexy lump of clay, you, I was looking at the final leg of our US SST tour.” I had my laptop on a stool...
“Can we wait and not have sex, until we’re married? Too many kids rush into their first time and end up regretting their decision.” “Absolutely Charles, that’ll make it that much more exciting, when we finally do make love to one another, for the very first time.” Of course, that was exactly when Sarah walked in, knocking and saying, “I want the two of you to know something about love. There’s lust, and it is a very powerful and strong emotion, that can break up friends forever. It can ruin...
“I am so excited,” Annie said. “How do you calm down when you get this excited.” Michael knew, so he walked over to her and gave her a nice kiss, possibly the best kiss they had yet shared. She touched her lips and seemed calmer. “He certainly takes after his father,” Kallie said. “Charles did that to Sarah once, and she was never the same again.” “Five minutes please,” our tech girl announced through my headset. I passed that along to the gang. Turning to my wife, I said, “Ready for...
We all laughed for the next hundred miles or so as we headed towards our, 31st City Salt Lake City One Night SLC Marriott City Center We arrived in Salt Lake City about three am. Sarah had gotten us a large suite with two queens and a rollaway. We’re performing at the Salt Palace the day after tomorrow. We were emotionally drained from the last six hours of things happening, so Kalista got in the rollaway, provided I give her a goodnight kiss, which I did, and I crawled into bed with my...
Eventually, we all changed into rehearsal clothes again. We had less than four full months before we leave on ‘The Next-Generation Tour’, and these routines needed to be automatic. I introduced the third set into our regimen, two weeks later we added set number four. Six weeks later all seven sets were worked into the rotation. Sammi was right — the kids were catching on, smiling as they were barely out of breath after a day’s rehearsal. My daily workout did its job; I was back in the best...
The rest of the day was a blast, the farthest thing from dancing we could do. Occasionally, Sarah grabbed my hand as we walked to the things we wanted to see and accomplish. We’d gotten tired, and let our guide give us a mini-tour, while we stayed in the cart. We weren’t being bothered for autographs that much, but if someone asked, we’d stop and gladly do it. We were all dried out now. I’d seen a place on the Park Map I wanted to go to, so I asked to go to Topper’s Hat Shop. I got a light...
I opened the door to a wonderful scent, thank you Ken, and Claire and I quickly started a load of laundry, then stripped and got naked into our spa. I got a text from K, “Can I spa with U?” I asked Claire and she said ‘Sure’ and I texted K back. She was over in a flash. I was planning on putting on some boxers, but my legs felt so good, I stepped into the spa, naked. K came in already in a suit. “Princess, right now - naked only.” She got in, put Claire between us and stripped herself...
“Kallie?” I said pulling her to where we could talk and not be heard. “Yes dear,” she replied giving me again that smile that radiates love. “I found an ALS Research Center in San Francisco. They are expecting records from your doctor regarding your preliminary diagnosis. I have emailed you their information and would love it if you took care of doing that in the next 24 to 48 hours,” I asked. “It isn’t that important, Charles,” she said. “It is to me, please, Special K, do it for me,...
Things were breaking up and our group quickly surrounded us, as we exchanged hugs and kisses. I looked around and didn’t see Kalista anywhere, at least not until she was in the air, on her way to me and I caught her. I won’t be able to hold her much longer, she has gotten taller and thus, heavier; I certainly wouldn’t say that to her face. She went for the deep kiss, but Annie and Sarah were there in time, to stop it from happening. After signing autographs for over half an hour, Annie...
We laughed all the way down to the kitchen. I pulled the chair out for Claire and we went about our business. I made her a salad and brought it to her, then made us each a cheeseburger and grabbed some chips and took it to the table. Lastly I poured us a couple glasses of water and realized I was the only person moving at all. The ladies seemed perplexed over Claire’s ‘ensemble,’ but nobody actually said anything. Claire looked up and said, “Are Charles and I the only ones having lunch...
Our Three Sports Stadium Performances were not technical sellouts, but they were the loudest frikking amounts of people we ever had, with Dan the Man in his elements. Well, back to the Tour: 40 cities left in California; starting in Oxnard, then Ventura and Santa Barbara for 3, Santa Maria for 2, Bakersfield for 3 (In a new multi-use stadium capable of holding 125,000), followed by Visalia, Clovis, and Fresno for 2, Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento for 3. We were planning an extra two days...
“Yes, a Terrible Tango routine,” I said. “Must find just the right music,” as I started rummaging through our music collection. “What about ‘Hernando’s Hideaway,’ Charles? We have practiced to it a couple of times?” Claire suggested. “No, Claire ... it’s a great song to Tango to, but I want something that works for only you and me ... so nobody else will dare dance to it, after we do.” “Aren’t we getting a little full of ourselves, Charles?” mom asked. “No Mom, the music is important;...
Finally, we went back to dancing. I thought we could now practice the Cha-Cha and the Tango. Those were the dances we were expected to know for Cotillion later. We went back over the four Basic patterns, the New York step, along with both the Spot and Walkaround turns again. I added to that, the Crossover steps, and a really cool derivative step called The Chase. After going through this without music, I looked at their selection. They had the Eliane Elias version of “Oye Como Va;” a perfect...
Disney’s Hollywood Studios was impressive. With twenty attractions to choose from, including Rock ‘n’ Roll Coaster, Star Tours in 3D, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, that Annie and Sarah wanted nothing to do with, Toy Story Mania, the newly refurbished Fantasmic, and a 25-minute long Live truncation of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ with five of the wonderful songs from the movie, including the Oscar winning ‘Be Our Guest’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ We also watched the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt...
She pounced on my slightly diminished erection, enjoying it like a kitty cat that just got a fresh plate of milk. She got me clean and pushed me on my back. She dropped her butt down on my erection, causing her to practically scream bloody murder. I threw her a pillow, as she performed at first a ‘Cowgirl’ then without stopping turned it into a ‘reverse.’ I pulled out and got her on her hands and knees and I plowed right into that beautiful butt of hers, again doing most of the work. Only...
My girls all came up to me wondering exactly what I was going to say. As usual, I said that I didn’t know yet, I’d planned to wing it. The cameraman was getting instructions through his earpiece and I got Claire and Kalista on either side me. He backed up a bit and gave me a 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. The reporter handed me her mike, and I said, straight into the TV camera in front of me, “Ladies and Gentlemen, and kids of all ages, from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Welcome to the Columbus Mall, in...
We got back to Caesars about twenty-five minutes before things started. The same gentleman we’d spoken to before helped us to our seats. The lights dimmed. As part of her show, she does many of her most popular musical selections, including practically all of her music that we had. After her first couple of songs, she took her microphone and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, last fall I was lucky enough to be part of a very special wedding event. It was at a football stadium in Columbus, Ohio....
“I plan to ask her to marry me at graduation, not to marry me at graduation. I know many teenagers as well as older folks seem to think two or three months is plenty of time to be engaged. I hope to be engaged for two full years so when we turn twenty, that year’s McArthur Family BBQ could become our Wedding Day.” “I know you usually hold it in June, Sarah, but that year it could be the Sunday between my and Claire’s birthday’s in July. Could that be planned? Maybe you can get that dunk tank...
We landed in Fairbanks, Alaska, for the first of four performances in the 49th state. Fans in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau all loved our Next Generation Tour. Our hop from there to Hawaii was wonderful. Our Tour of Pearl Harbor was amazing. Michael explained it to his ‘girls’, causing all three of them to cry a little. Sammi did the same with Lily. My Great-great grandfather, Richard Noble Newman, was shipped to Pearl Harbor during the late summer of 1941. By the grace of God, he...
The next night’s performance was something of a letdown. Michael Bublé performed flawlessly, but every one of us fumbled something. After saying goodnight to him and getting our money, I called a meeting for when we got back to the hotel to pick up Sammi and her crew. After we all assembled outside our vehicles, I said, “What happened tonight was totally unacceptable! Even I messed up!” That garnered a laugh. “In the entire history of Charles & Claire, that has never happened. I don’t...