Where Dambreaker Meets RedVamp Meets Inspiration

RedVamp

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”~ Audrey Hepburn

Today was a lesson in inspiration. And figuring out who or what inspires you.

The image that you see before you is of a model who goes by the name RedVamp. I am sure that you can figure out why.

She began her modeling career back in 2001 and I remember the days back then where she seemed to be everywhere you looked… that is IF you did the right searches on the Internet. You just simply were not going to get away from her.

Needless to say that was not a problem for me. I welcomed her (or the thought of her) into my life. And I’ve always been amazed by her and whenever I would attempt to contact her, I would make sure that I spoke to her like a human being… rather than like these scores of “fans” would do. Leaving these disgusting comments as so many members of the male gender will leave behind. I hoped she’d see beyond that and realize that I wasn’t about to be one of those kinds of fans.

RedVamp, ca. 2004

I read in an interview back in 2003 that she had trouble dealing with the idea or fact that she did have “fans” … hell, I have always been one of them.

But as life moves on, RedVamp decided to put an end to her modeling career and focus on other things in life. Including the fact that she live her life as a loving wife and mother. 

Out of the public spotlight she left and into her own personal life away from it all. It appeared that she wanted to focus more on things that were far greater and more important to her than modeling and fame.

But had I made a dent? Did I keep the lines of communication fluid enough for her to realize that I wasn’t “one of those kinds” and that everything would be okay? Was there any impact?

Nobody would be able to tell.

She vanished. Everything that was searchable on the Internet was basically material that was left behind. Nothing updated, nothing new. She was gone.

But then I would be surprised to cross paths with her one more time while  I was with my last girlfriend.

Again, speaking to her like she is…. a human being got me farther than anything else in this world. She was polite, social, friendly, and trusting.

An image that comes from one of my personal favorite shoots that RedVamp did during her career.

And when my last relationship came crashing down in flames, she was there to offer her condolences. It was something that I didn’t expect. After all… what or who was I to her? Just a fan.

I didn’t realize that what RedVamp was doing was reciprocating the favor of treating ME too… as a human being. With feelings, thoughts, and emotions.

That one time that we reconnected, I would learn that she had stopped modeling in 2008 and moved on. And I applauded her greatly. even though as a fan of hers I was greatly disappointed to know that there would no longer be any more modeling work to view.

I was just really glad that RedVamp did not get sucked into that vortex of vanity and selfishness and “look at me! look at me!! I’m pretty!! everyone look at me!!!”

She had come out of the fires and ashes to remain the same woman she was before she became a model. Only now more grown up.

Suddenly it didn’t matter what she was doing. Modeling was now part of the past. And I was dealing with RedVamp in the present. No more RedVamp the model, this was RedVamp the woman!! 

And here I am to the point of telling you this story.

With the modeling out of the way, it was a true test to see whether or not I could hold a cogent conversation with her and talk about other things… outside of how beautiful she is and this photograph was awesome and the like. This model now a woman looked upon me with favor. I just did not realize it at the time. Nor did I realize how much favor was bestowed upon me.

I too moved on. I started playing sledge hockey. Did other things and kept moving no matter despite the bumps in the road that life can often throw in the way.

RedVamp was a silent watcher so to speak.

She took notice of all the things I involved myself in, regardless of the fact of the disability that I live with every day of my life since birth.

It was RedVamp who was finding more inspiration than I could ever imagine there being.

She mentioned in that interview long ago that she was trying to get used to the idea of having “fans” when in fact RedVamp has turned into one of MY fans!! And she has mentioned many, many times how much she finds hope and determination and courage in me. She adores the fact that I play sledge hockey and believes that it is one of the most remarkable things that she has ever heard of. For people with disabilities to be able to play the sport of ice hockey and have it made so that they can enjoy it as well, just really blows her away. The other fact that she knows that I play it and have done well thus far is another thing that causes her to be so proud. 

But who am I? I mean after all, RedVamp is the beautiful model… she’s the beautiful woman that has throughout the years in the past gathered so much attention and built in her own way her “fandom” – how can this be that SHE is the one that gets inspired by me and what I do?

The fact is that its been that way for a while and just lately, she’s been able to tell me about it. And every time that I hear about it… it floors me to the point of actual physical tears that run down my face.

I know that certain people love the idea of me playing sled hockey. My family, my colleagues, my close personal friends all support me. And I love it every time I am introducing the sport to someone new and watching their faces as they begin to learn about this sport that I play whenever I show them the short video clips that are YouTube. It comes with the territory that I have surrounded myself with people who also play the sport and who also have people close that love them that support them too. So everyone is supporting everyone else.

But to have that one person… such as RedVamp to also support me in what I do in sled hockey, its just beyond words. I honestly didn’t think that that I meant that much to anyone outside of the small circles. I never thought of myself to have my own “fandom” but there sits RedVamp. And she still sits there today with awe and wonder.

She and I are starting to become good friends now. We talk whenever we can. And like I said, she brings up all the time that she is inspired by me. And we hope that one day our paths will cross in real life that we will meet face to face. Because if you asked anyone that close, they would tell you that I’ve dreamed of that happening for over ten years now. And RedVamp is most certain that one day that she will meet me… a person that inspires her. 

So in conclusion, here is my point to all of this admiration, this mushy adulation and what not.

Be the best that you can be. Do your best in everything that you do. And give it your all. Because you never really know who is watching you. You never really know who you are inspiring to do the best in everything that THEY can do.  You just may be that secret inspiration of many people, like I just found out earlier this evening.

Meet Laila

“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”~ Abdul Kalam

This is Laila, from Norway.

Yes…. Norway.

Her story is fantastic. Probably the best story I’ve told so far!

She is one hardcore fan of Céline Dion. I mean, its quite obvious from the photo of her here.

Céline Dion however, has left her grazing pasture to go back to her home land and perform in Montreal this evening, on the 27th of July.

Laila became so excited when she heard the news months ago. She planned her vacation with her husband to go to Canada so she could attend the concert, and maybe … JUST MAYBE …. get her chance to finally meet her personal idol.

I remember her struggling while making the decision to go to Canada. Laila had always dreamed of Céline to come to Norway, or some other European country that was close enough and that Laila would finally get her wish.

Laila says that she has been a fan for the past 25 years. Céline’s career started just over 30 years ago. So she’s been a fan for a VERY VERY LONG TIME. Almost a life time!!!

Soon, Laila could do nothing but count down the days from when she would travel from Norway all the way to Canada. She would wear her t-shirt to promote her campaign to meet her idol. And apparently has had a wonderful time in Montreal.

And then last night……… this happened: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq6FpwzjUBo&feature=share&list=UUt2nMvBSjzsdoAbsrG4xIcg

Did you see it??

Again, look for Laila in her white t-shirt. Particularly around the 1:00 mark.

HER DREAM CAME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn’t know about it until this morning. It was incredible that I just about cried because I could just imagine how she felt. It had to have been pretty close to the feelings I had when I first got to meet SIX MINUTE CENTURY.

I do not know where this is, I do not know who took the video, all I know is that I could see her in the video, and I nearly screamed.

It was so incredible to hear that she was able to finally see her idol face to face, be in the same room with her idol. And even get her photograph taken with her, and an autograph.

And I think that I became so happy for her, because I had been hearing for the longest time of OTHER so-called “hardcore fans” saying to me that it would never happen. Just because she was from Norway.

And I thought that was bullshit.

So yes, I’m behind Laila 100% on this. And you know what? Laila never gave up. She fought and fought and fought and kept dreaming. And it paid off for her.

Meanwhile, those same “fans” who said to me personally that it would never happen, are still waiting for it to happen to them.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. DREAMS COME TRUE.

Laila was smart enough to be vigilant and NEVER surrender, and NEVER give up. I admire Laila for having the courage to do just that….. never give up on her dreams. Even though she was surrounded by people who were telling her no.

We all could learn a lesson from Laila. About holding on to our dreams.

She even wrote about it in her own blog. Although I am sure she was pretty excited and still buzzing with feelings when she composed it.
http://cellyd5.blogg.no/1374940262_good_things_happened_.html

From reading this, it sounds like she knew better to listen to those who were negative.

Good for her.

Ladies & Gentlemen: NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE, NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!

 

Champion

“She’s just so talented, so beautiful, so kind, and has so much integrity. I’ve looked up to her and she’s taught me that you can overcome obstacles and work hard and become the person you want to be and achieve your dreams. Having her as  that example of what is possible has meant the world to me. She’s  the best singer in the world, I love her beautiful voice and her music speaks to me, but she’s far more than just a singer to me.” ~ L. Catalano

It has been a few days now since my last visit to Houston. The “high” from the excitement and happiness has begun to cool, but it has not completely diminished.

This blog post is about passion and the great things that can come from it. As is the passion in the quote, many of us are passionate about a lot of things or about people.

But as I reflect in my mind about the past weekend, my passion would lead me to a whole new understanding of what people have meant to me, and what I mean to others in return.

It is clear that I have a passion for the music of SIX MINUTE CENTURY. If you are a regular reader of this blog, and haven’t noticed that then you haven’t been paying that much attention!

I would have to say that I have become very fortunate to have met all of the people that I have met within the circles of the band. Both in their families and in their friends. And those relationships have definitely come a long way since my first show that I attended in April of 2011. I would not quite understand what that would mean until this past weekend.

I know that with each and every journey that I take in order to go see the band, I’m always feeling like the VIP. Of course, I naturally keep that opinion to myself as I would not want to come across as arrogant. Nor would I want anyone to think that I was selfish either. But honestly, it is how I made to feel.

I’ve gone through a lot of “behind the scenes” experiences with the band. And it was something that I didn’t beg or plead for. It simply was presented or given to me that I would have them. I cannot say as to what all I have been given, but sufficed to say that it blows me away as a simple “fan”.

And what I think has been incredible is that with each and every moment that I have gone through with the band and their families and what not, that I surprisingly found myself as “one of the family”…. the Centurion Family.

I was not aware of it until recently, but even the band members go out of their way to explain that whenever I come along to see them perform and the topic of conversation turns into “who I am” OR if I am being introduced by one of the band members or their wives, it is distinctly made clear about just how far I am coming to see the show. Or something to the effect of just how big of a fan I am of the band is almost always mentioned.

I had heard it a time or two, but I had not realized that it happens pretty much all of the time!! Even if I am not present at a show, the tale is told that I am one of their biggest fans and that I do so much for the band.

I have multiple copies of their CD. One of which is autographed. I made sure that I had photographs taken by the band. I have a nice collection of t-shirts, even if it is the same one. Again, one of them autographed. I talk about them at home to anyone that will listen. I even made a Facebook Fan Page for fans BY the fans.

I would absolutely believe that they are extremely appreciative of it all.

My favorite song, “Zero Hour”, has now been given to me in a sense. Each and every single time that SIX MINUTE CENTURY performs it live, they dedicate it to me as well as the members of the United States military as it deals with the war in the Middle East. Once the band started to realize how much I really love the song, from that point on… it has been dedicated to me. Even during live performances when I am unable to attend. Even lead guitarist, Don LaFon, wrote to me in a note “From now on, that is your song!”. (I wonder if one day he might allow me to hold his blue Ibanez guitar?)

Lead singer Chuck Williams said last Saturday night, “He comes a very long way every time to come see us and he loves the song a lot, so this goes to him and to the men and women in our military.”

But some where in the middle, I have made a transition from “fan of the band” to “friend of the band”. And it is a lot tighter than I had thought.

My first clue was when MRS. Froth had asked myself and her husband about how she looked prior to arriving to last Saturday’s show. I waited for Dr. Froth to speak first as he was the spouse. And I just piggy-backed his compliments as to not outshine his words. Because that would be bad juju.

Before I could concur with Dr. Froth, she turned around and claimed that he and I both were biased.

When I asked HOW I was biased, her response was “Because you are one of my best friends”, something that hit me that I never actually saw coming because I hadn’t really thought about it all that much. Nonetheless it touched my heart. I had to turn my face away just in case because I could feel the tears begin to build.

She and I have been friends prior to her getting married to Dr. Froth last November. She and I get along quite well. Except when I end up doing stupid shit and get myself grounded by her.

It is because of her, that I was introduced to SIX MINUTE CENTURY. And I think that she and I share the same passion for the band.

That coupled with how the band has treated me as far as introductions to newer people. New to me, that is. And the band and their families with their endless generosity, it becomes a perfect fit. And the key is reciprocity. With as much support as I have shown for the band and their music, they return in kind with their words and their actions of appreciation and generosity. And it just floors me because it wasn’t something that I had thought about or have been dwelling upon.

When I asked MRS. Froth why it was that she felt that way and how it has become that she has been so generous with me… a simple fan, her response was: “You have been a good friend to me, in spite of SMC, and that’s all I need.”

This is very true. I do not talk about the band 100% of the time with her. Between her and I, it has become a lasting friendship that no candle can be held against.

The same goes for Dr. Froth and lead singer, Chuck, and others within the band’s circles. I am able to talk to them any day of the week about anything… not just “When is the next show?”.

The new understand of what “I” mean to them, has come to the surface. The mutual love and respect for one another grows each time I see them. And you know, I could almost cry.

I feel like I AM the #1 fan in the world. I have been turned into the champion.

I am still the fan and yet I am the friend. I have traded in my “horns” for “hugs”. And to me that is AWESOME!!

I’m so much into the band, because I enjoy the music that much. Therefore, I definitely become a very loud mouthpiece and wave their banner.

The passion that burns inside all of us can definitely have its wonderful consequences. All of my experiences are living proof of it. Don’t be ashamed of being so supportive in what you believe in and what you are passionate about… whatever it is. Never let anyone stand in the way of what you enjoy. Life will have its moments of rewarding you in the end.