Marie Osmond - Magic of Christmas

I was fortunate to be able to go to the Marie Osmond concert at Mille Lacs Grand Casino last Thursday night. She was an idol of mine when I was growing up. I would watch the Donny and Marie show every chance I could and sing along. I bought at least one album and sang along to every song. Of course I had my hairbrush for a microphone and the couch, or a chair was my stage. But, I could sing Paper Roses just like she did. (In my mind of course!)

So, the Marie Osmond "Magic of Christmas" show was pure magic. It was so fun to see her perform. I had gone to the second show that night, so I was surprised she held her energy level to the very end. Her voice, however, was starting to give in slightly towards the end, but all in all, she was wonderful.

While she sang a variety of songs — some old, some new, some Christmas of course, some Broadway — which were all excellent, what I enjoyed most was that she became a real person. Her charming personality was as brilliant as the North Star, yet she appeared to remain grounded. She was real.

She talked between numbers about her family, her brothers (those cute Osmond brothers!), her divorce, her kids (all 8 of them!) and her parents. She also mentioned her appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" where she finished in third place. She said her brother donny took that third place in lieu of first, harder than she did. I am a fan of dancing with the Stars, and I have to admit, I was one of the millions of fans that voted for her every week.

I am proud of her like she was my sister, almost. And in some ways she is. Like a sister.

Marie Osmond is a vibrant 48-year-old woman who has been through a lot in her life. Regardless of being a young pop star growing up in a famous family, she has had her share of "real life." She has experienced happiness and joy as well as deep sadness of love lost and the loss of parents. She has issues with her skirt stretching out and pantyhose problems, just like every body else.

I believe she gives encouragement to women over 40 all over the country. Probably all over the world. I spoke to a woman in the Milaca coffee shop the morning of the show while I was in between interviews. I told her I was going to go to the show that night and hoping for an interview. I asked the woman what she would ask Marie Osmond if she had the chance? she told me she couldn't think of any particular questions, but she wanted me to tell Marie Osmond how much she is admired and what an inspiration she is to women everywhere. If Marie Osmond can be the mother of 8 children (ages 5 to 24) at the age of 48, go through a divorce, go through the death of her father all while participating in a physically demanding show of Dancing with the Stars while helping with Children's Miracle Network (of which she is a founder) prepare for a Christmas tour and run a doll company, and look fabulous all the time, the woman should be president.

And when you think about all of the stuff regular moms and working moms all over the country go through, it is pretty much the same thing. Only maybe not on such a grand scale and not so public. If Marie Osmond can do all of that, then we can too.

And we do.

We work — either at home or at an office or both — we bake cookies for bake sales, run errands, work at fundraisers, take the kids to hockey and dance practice, we go through divorces and lose our parents and we live on, too.

I didn't get a chance to interview her. She admitted she was a little tired. I don't blame her. But I did get a chance to meet her briefly. I told her I admired her and she told me I was cute.

Here is our superior quality Poloroid snapshot taken back stage. Sort of a chincey photo, but it was all that was "allowed" backstage.


And that was my 12 second brush with a famous person.