Letters from NYC

Belle of the Ball

Well, I just talked to Michele and it seems she’s sick with cold and in bed. She wanted me to relay a message of heartfelt thanks to those of you who sent her messages of support and gifts to cheer her up during this time. She also asked me to post something about the event, since a number of you have emailed her personally asking how it went. Well, I’ll do my best but I’m still in amazement of all that took place. To sum it up, it was a night of inspirational speeches that netted record donations, and had the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen at one time under one roof! I could not ask for a better night.

First of all, let me just say that I was not the only one impressed with Michele dress, women were stopping her to complement her and ask who the designer was. She of course would tell them it was an unknown designer named Misha, the inside joke being that she used her nickname, since she was the one who designed it and had it made. Even though she was a bit under the weather, she was still charming, funny and was incredibly relaxed even though she was going to be speaking to over 500 people.

As for her speech… she blew everyone, including me, away. And she did it from an outline folks. That's it! I have to admit, I was nervous because up until the event Michele had refused to rehearse her speech in front of me saying it would spoil the effect. As the event chairman, my reputation was on the line, but having had the opportunity to see her at work I knew she would be a good speaker. You see, she’s not one of those women who prattles on. She thinks about what she’s going to say and then she says it, quietly, nicely but directly. Well, I’m glad I waited because she wouldn’t have done it justice otherwise. It was a multi-media artistic presentation that incorporated sound (in the form of music and poetry) and visuals (in the form of still pictures & video) arranged in such a way that it engaged, attracted and captured everyone’s attention and imagination. In her speech she drew on her experience as a cancer and 9/11 survivor and how she has used the Fine and Media Arts in her healing. The thing that was most amazing is she didn’t just share her experience, she showed us what has inspired her by sharing some of her favorite images, music and words.

She received a well deserved standing ovation as her last song played in the background. The standing ovation was a first in the history of that event. As the crowd continued to clap Michele simply smiled, blushed quite a bit, and simply clasped her hands together as if in prayer while slightly bowing in different directions to thank the crowd.

As she made her way back to our table she kept getting stopped by people who wanted to talk with her and express their appreciation for her presentation. At one point she looked at me with pleading eyes and I knew it was time for her to be rescued from the maddening crowd. Even while sitting at our table there was a line of people who wanted to speak with her about the music, the visual, or her speech.

By the end of the night she had been approached by a television producer, a radio programming executive, and a screen writer/director, all who were interested in her life story and who wanted to talk to her about how to develop it for television.

What was Michele’s response to all this attention? She thanked them, let them know that at present she was only focusing on her health and asked for their business cards so she could get in touch with them when the time was right. I was truly stunned! Anybody else, I even, would have immediately scheduled lunch with each one of them. I must say, I was terribly disappointed that she didn’t.

This morning when I asked Michele why she didn’t even consider one of the offers, her response was: “I don’t want someone else interpreting or contriving my life to make it more appealing for the tv screen. I like my anonymous life. I had my 15 min of fame in my youth and hated the scrutiny. It’s now someone else’s turn. There are families who lose their loved ones in service to our country and go unnoticed for their sacrifice, as far as I’m concerned they are more deserving than I. They are true profiles of courage.”

And when she puts it that way, I dare say she’s right.
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I was forced to post this because Colin forgot his password.

Posted by Michele at February 9, 2007 07:00 AM | TrackBack