Pick Me Up

02/08/15 Today is a travel day and we are heading from Texas to Florida. I am thankful for slightly warmer weather. We performed in Houston yesterday. After our matinee show we had the pleasure of meeting Vickie Pickering. She is the widow of John Pickering of the group The Picks who recorded with Buddy Holly back in 1957. She was kind enough to share some great stories and insights. She actually knew Vi Petty, which is who I am in the show and told me that my character of her was spot on. I cannot even begin to tell you how much her saying that meant to me. When portraying somebody who was an actual person it is always a challenge to bring that person to life and pay homage to his or her personality and story. Even with doing all of the research that I have on Vi, there is nothing like being able to hear first hand from somebody that actually knew her that my character of her is excellent. Once I returned to my dressing room I had tears in my eyes because that is one of the nicest things somebody can tell an artist. I do not think Vicky knew what those brief comments mean to me. She also gave me a CD of Buddy Holly and the Picks, which I am anxious to listen to. Maybe I will be able to listen during these next two long travel days. We are driving from Houston to Pensacola today and from Pensacola to Orlando tomorrow. Once we arrive in Orlando we have a couple of days off and followed by shows in Florida basically through next Monday. Then, next Tuesday we get to travel to my home state of Ohio and I could not be more excited!