connie smith |

MY DINNER WITH OLIVIA

Olivia Newton-John at CARMEN'S BANQUET CENTRE, Hamilton ON
 photograph by Reg Beaudry

I stood in line in a roomful of fans and VIPs to have my

photo taken with her. After introducing myself and

explaining I was the one who would be interviewing                            

her, she told me she was glad we were doing it this

way instead of a long, boring speech. (As if, for her

adoring fans, watching Olivia Newton-John do or say

anything could be boring!)

How do you prepare for an interview with an icon?

She is arguably one of the most storied recording

artists/actors/activists in the world; star of the most

successful movie musical in history, whose journey

with breast cancer almost 20 years ago spawned a

new direction in music and life, dedicated to helping

people everywhere facing adversity in their lives. It

was this journey that brought Olivia Newton-John to

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

So I read a biography on her, scoured websites,

articles, watched her movies and listened to her

albums...well not quite all...there are now

41...counting her latest Christmas album with John

Travolta.

Olivia had sent her Grease co-star and long-time

friend, a text that their 1978 smash hit , “You're the

One That I Want,” had just become the best-selling

duet in pop music history.

Travolta suggested they do an album together in

honour of the occasion. The pair reunited after 30

years to record "This Christmas", with proceeds

benefiting a foundation in aid of children with

disabilities named after John's late son, Jett; the other

to support the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and

Wellness Centre that opened this past summer in

Melbourne, Australia, where the Cambridge,

England-born star grew up.

I was ready and I also had a gift for Olivia; one that

has travelled around the world with me. It is a framed

photo of her father, Brin Newton-John, a wellrespected

professor who appeared on a TV show in

Newcastle, New South Wales back in the 60's. One

of the young cameramen in the photo was my

husband Dave, when he was breaking into the

industry. Dave Wilson became an award-wining

producer and director at CHCH-TV in Hamilton.

When I saw this photo, I knew I had a mission.

Last February, NBN celebrated its 50th anniversary

on the air and alumni from around the world returned

for the celebration.

Quick digression: ONJ's brush with breast cancer

also inspired a new holistic approach to life. She coowns

an award-winning retreat and spa in Byron Bay,

Australia called "Gaia" which means Spirit of Mother

Earth.

Byron Bay was a bit of a trek up the famous Gold

Coast from Newcastle but a perfect chance to visit

Gaia and its famous proprietor. Alas, as it turned out,

a planned meeting and interview was not to be. The

very day and a half set aside for Byron Bay conflicted

with a last minute publicity trip to Europe for Olivia.

Months later, upon word that Olivia was coming to

Carmen's as the special guest at a fundraiser for the

new CIBC Breast Assessment Centre, I reconnected

with Olivia's publicist. Carmen's, host of the

fundraiser, ”Singing a New Tune”, asked me to

conduct a Q & A … and I would finally get to present

that gift!

So I began with thanking Olivia for coming to see

me! (Haha). She loved the photo and our enchanted

chat began.

She learned of her diagnosis with breast cancer the

same weekend her father died. She never asked

“Why me?” “Why not me?” was her response when I

asked how she dealt with the news.

Sitting three down from her at the head table, I

glanced at her as she sipped wine and enjoyed her

meal. Does she watch what she eats, I later asked.

“I believe in moderation”, she replied, “and living well”.

And living well she does these days in Jupiter, Florida

with her second husband John Easterling, owner and

founder of Amazon Herb Company.

There were questions from the audience:

“How hot was John Travolta?” Olivia graciously

referred to the fun they have working together.

I ask, “Is it true you were sewn into those tight black

pants everyday?” “Yes they were before spandex.”

In a tribute to the Pink Ladies of Grease, a Hamilton

Pink Ladies Club donned their satin jackets they

proudly wear for the BrightRun, an annual event in

support of Breast Cancer Research in Greater

Hamilton Today.

Was it also true that early in her career as a young

teen in London, she inadvertently ended up

performing in a strip club? Yup. She sang with a

friend Pat CarrolI and somehow got booked into this

strip club to perform. She laughs, “We weren`t asked

back!”

She talked about the thrill of dancing with Gene Kelly

in “Xanadu” and singing before a TV audience in the

billions during the Sydney Olympics.

As for her other greatest thrill? Olivia's 26 year-old

daughter Chloe is fine... “sorting things out” as she

attempts to follow in her famous mother's singing and

acting footsteps and yes, at a still glamorous 64, she

is looking forward to becoming a grandmother one

day.

Olivia heads back on the road in December to

complete a U.S. tour followed by a U.K. Tour in the

New Year, her first in 30 years to celebrate 40 years in

music. And before every concert she and her crew

will form a spirit circle to express their Grace and

Gratitude, one of the songs she sang that night and

words she now lives by: her “motto”. The other song

she chose to sing was “Magic”.

A fan asks what's her advice to women fighting

breast cancer or any serious challenge today.

Women must empower themselves and put

themselves first, she says and not feel they have to do

it all…please everyone all the time.

A woman Olivia once encountered in a ladies room

after her battle with breast cancer became public, told

her how she had breast cancer 20 years ago and is

fine now. Olivia says that was the moment she knew

she would be fine too. Nearly 20 years later Olivia

Newton-John is very fine indeed.

She refers to the innocent schoolgirl role in the movie

that made her so famous as “Sandy 1” who

transforms into the not-so-innocent ready-to-take-onthe-

world “Sandy 2”. Today “Olivia 2”, stands as a

beacon of hope and wisdom to women travelling that

same path everywhere.

The Carmen's event raised $60,000 for Hamilton's

new CIBC Breast Assessment Centre. Olivia we

love you. We honestly love you.

CONNIE SMITH

is a Hamilton freelance journalist

and part-time media instructor at Mohawk College.

She can be reached on FB, LinkedIn, and

Twitter@TVConnie. conniesmithtoday.blogspot.com.

Find out more about Olivia at olivianewton-john.com.

  

The World's A Kinder Place Tonight

It's been a while since I've been inspired to write.  But something happened today, two things actually, that have raised my spirits and renewed my faith in the next generation.  Most importantly, they made my dad, Maj. Robert P. Smith (ret.), RHLI , a World War II veteran now fighting some significant health battles, smile.

My niece (his granddaughter) invited my dad, along with my mom Audrey, to be the special guests at Burlington's Maplehurst Public School's Remembrance Day Ceremony.   The well-prepared M.C.'s introduced the most poignant Remembrance day video, "A Pittance of Time" by Nova Scotia's Terry Kelly, a wonderful singer-songwriter I had interviewed in the past.  The school choir, immaculately dressed for the occasion, including our nine-year-old Sierra, sang the chorus.  Sierra never took her eyes off the choir leader, concentrating on every word, every note.  She knew this was an important day.  She had just had her ears pierced and wore her "high heels".  When the song ended, with my sister Barbi, her mom, willing back tears, she ran over to my parents and thanked them for coming.

For these children, who knew no more about war than a chapter in their history books or one of those video games, they saw before their very eyes, a real life superhero, a little different from the Hollywood variety.  They thanked my dad, and walked by in awe, mesmerized by his medals, his actual presence.

It was what happened next that broadened his smile even more.  They went for a coffee and something to eat.  It was lunchtime and students from nearby Nelson High School were flooding the coffee shop.  My sister turned toward the door in search of a less crowded venue when someone behind the counter said, "Wait, don't go.  We'll clear you a table." Then two young girls at the front of the line said, "Please take our place."  So with cane in hand, medals shining and legion cap perched atop his head, my dad led my mom and my sister to a table of honour at their neighbourhood Tim Horton's.  By the way his coffee and apple fritter were on the house.

Please take a moment to watch this video and think of my dad and all the super heros who have laid their lives on the line for our freedom...for our country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2kX_3y3u5Uo

Tilly's Gift

My precious pup Tilly died in my arms today. We took her up to our cottage where she loved the lake and to visit with the neighbours, never thinking we would come home without her. Yes she was 12 and yes she had slowed down in the past year or so and yes we had her on some medication to kickstart a waning appetite of late.
But she left us too soon.
I watched her laboured breathing slow and her heartbeat stop as I stroked her beautiful head on my lap.
She loved the back seat of the car. We took her everywhere with us. She knew we were going somewhere and she knew she was with us. Tilly had been with us and part of us since a few months after we married in 1999. A gift to my son Calvin, then 10, Tilly was his best little buddy during an important chapter of his growth and maturity into adulthood. It broke my heart but I was filled with pride as he lifted her lifeless body out of the back seat of the Santa Fe and insisted on carrying her into the Lynden Animal Clinic.
I will cherish every moment of her short life from the time Pam Jamieson of the Hamilton SPCA brought a tiny puppy with one blue eye and one brown eye, into the CHCH News at Noon set, to the moment my wonderful Dave brought her home inside his leather jacket, to Calvin's first moments meeting her...to our last good-bye...so many wonderful memories of a loving and gentle soul in between with wisdom beyond most people's understanding of "man's best friends".
I am so glad I played with her, ran with her, cuddled her, kissed her head, buried my face in her fur and told her over and over that she was the best dog in the whole wide world.
Everyone who met her loved her. Tilly touched many hearts with her gentle nature and engaging personality. She has left a giant paw print on this corner of the world.
We stroked her and told her how much we loved her then pulled ourselves away knowing her spirit had left us in that back seat...the back seat where she felt comfortable, where she was with us and where she chose to spare us the difficult decision of how and when to end her pain down the road.
Tilly, I know you are running with the wind again. I will always love you, my precious puppy...

Imagine…a truly United Way!


John Lennon would be proud. As the Hamilton Spectator reported, the community of Burlington and Greater Hamilton United Way 2011 Campaign celebrated raising more than $6.9 million dollars, revealed at the Bulldogs Game (which they won over the St. John’s Ice Caps!) Friday night at Copps Coliseum. Through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and thanks to the generosity and compassion of our citizens, this United Way has raised $248 million since its beginning 84 years ago. No other charitable organization anywhere consistently raises millions of dollars every year.
One comment I’ve heard over and over during my term as Hamilton Campaign Chair is, “I had no idea that was a United Way funded agency”. That has been “Big Brothers and Big Sisters”, “Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs”, the “V.O.N.”, “Meals on Wheels”, and the list is 133 names long. By sharing the stories of just who the United Way is and the people it touches, we rely on media organizations like the Hamilton Spectator to open eyes and hearts to the good work…the essential work… its 73 agencies do everyday, year after year.
These are, to use an expression we hear all too often theses days, tough economic times. As our tax dollars fall short of meeting demand for essential services, the United Way Campaign must compete with multiple fund raising efforts…all with needs just as pressing.
But what if we could work in partnership, to keep people out of food banks, out of shelters, out of hospital emergency rooms, out of acute care beds, out of the correctional system, and happy, healthy and productive in their own homes. That figure works out to one in 3 of us. Think of the dollars we could save and re-channel collectively, preventively.
No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man… imagine all the people sharing all the world. Like John Lennon said, you may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. My deepest gratitude is to everyone, every individual donor, every corporate and community leader who joined our cause. My dream is to open the eyes and hearts of those who have yet to see the incredible difference they can make. I hope someday you'll join us and our community can live as one.
Connie Smith,
Hamilton Chair,
2011 United Way Campaign
Burlington and Greater Hamilton