"GONGED!!!"

     📀 🎯 'THE GONG SHOW!' 🥁🎈🎉 Do you remember this "1970'ish" t.v., talent show? 😗 There were performances/acts of "talent," judges, and a huge gold cymbal (gong), that, Chuck Barris, the host of the show, would "gong" (hit with a big drum stick) during an act, which signified the disqualification of that particular act - preventing it from advancing in the competition (meaning it was out of the running - it lost)! 😅 I enjoyed watching that show!!  To me, it was funny, which is what made it fun for me to watch! 😃 🎶 MUSIC has always been a passion of mine! 🎶 I wish that I would have devoted more time and effort toward - pursuing and developing it - in my life! 🎼 As an amateur musician, I sing some in church (it's been a while), play the piano 🎹 (I used to be the pianist for a couple different churches - at different times), and, whenever I was younger, I played the saxophone. 🎷 I enjoy listening to a myriad of musical genres. For the last several years, as a hobby, I've written lyrics for some songs, most for which I haven't composed a musical arrangement/accompaniment, yet.  My point is...I 💙 music, and, since I can remember...always have (like most of my father's (Hill) family)!  Anyway, back when I was attending 'McKinley Middle School,' it came to my attention that there was going to be a 'M.M. School Gong Show!!' 😃🎈🎉 So, being the, music and 'Gong Show' lov'n, "ham" that I was (back then), I knew at once, that I was going to be involved in it!! 😘☺️ So, I started out by being part of the "little pep band" - playing the saxophone 🎷in it.  We played the actual "Gong Show" theme song - in between the acts, and at other times - throughout the production.🎷🎺🥁Other members of our "pep band," were:  Tom U., Flip P., Mo F., Bill M., Jim T. (?) (I apologize for anyone I've forgotten)!  We practiced during 'band class,' and, at other times.  Besides being in the "lil" band, somehow (I forget who initiated it 🤔), two of my girlfriends - Karen, Jenny, and myself, formed a singing trio/group, 'The Kapremes,' with intentions of singing in it! 😳  With the movie, 'A Star Is Born,' being, out and popular - then, we decided to sing a song from it, entitled, 'Evergreen.'  Therefore, we ordered the musical soundtrack - musical accompaniment (cassette-style back then), with which to sing it, trusting that it would arrive "in time" for us to practice some with it - before the show!   We proceeded to practice it - without the "music" - here and there (at parties, sometimes at school), BUT - NOT AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD HAVE!! 😩 🗣 I don't believe that we even sang different voice - parts, but rather, all three of us sang the 'lead' part! Hehehe! 😂 Oh, but, we did a marvelous job preparing our - dance moves, and, matching outfits (coordinating - sweaters, boots, with our white 'Painters Pants' tucked down inside them)!  I am - smiling and laughing - as I write this post, because - it is such a "dear to my heart" memory! 😉💖 We have had many laughs about it since it happened - all those many years ago! 😂 The day prior to the set date of the show, we found out that the soundtrack to our song was not going to arrive in time for the show, so, we decided to sing a different song from another - movie/soundtrack, that Barbara Streisand sings, entitled, 'Memories,' from the movie, 'The Way We Were.'  However, we could only order the piano-sheet music with which to sing it!  Then, the only piano player (one of our other friends, Jennifer) that we could get to play for us - was still (at that time) in the process of learning how to play the piano!  We had to briefly practice the new (for us) song - without any kind of music to go by (acapella)! 😳 We didn't get the sheet music until right before it was time for us to perform!  My boyfriend - then - Ric, and three of his buddies (Jay, Larry, and ??) were doing a 'KISS' (the Rock group) act, and, they were really good!  So, besides "going together," we were also 'Gong Show' competitors/frenemies! 😏 Well, we started our performance with our backs to the audience, as planned, and walked forward and inward - toward each other - while singing. 🙈Something went terribly WRONG! 🙀 A gust of wind blew the piano - sheet music off of the piano, as Jennifer was already struggling to play the - new to her - music, and, needing someone to flip the papers for her (someone finally did assist her)! 🎤 We haphazardly made it through the singing of the song, but, right before our piano music ended, Mr. Little (one of the three (?#) judges - teachers), who must have been playing Chuck's part, "GONGED" us!!! 🤣 Getting "GONGED" immediately - embarrassed and humiliated - us, but, Karen and I, got tickled, and, were laughing (partly at Jenny - who was crying), as the three of us, ran off of the stage! 😜 Gracious sakes - it was hilarious! 🤣 After that, I had to go back out on the stage, through the back drop/stage curtain, and, play in our little band, despite the "pie on my face!!" 😎🎷🎶  Well, of course, 'KISS' WON!! ☺️ I was pretty happy for them, although, "our" 'Kapremes' got "Gonged," and, humbled! 🙃 NOW - our 'Memories' debut is a great memory! 💚 Oh, another funny part of this whole "gong show scene," was that of our friend, Joe, and his "jumping jelly beans" (I forget who else was part of this, and, its actual name) "performing" their entertainment!  To this day, I do not know exactly what their act actually was!?  Ha! 😗 I remember seeing them jumping all over the stage, and, throwing stuff (I'm not sure what) out into the audience (student body/assembly)!!  😹 The entire 'M.M. School Gong Show' was an awesome experience, and is NOW - an awesome memory - to me, and - I hope - to everyone else who lived it with me! 😻 Another comical aspect of this story, is that, I knew my sister, Tina, was in the audience, and that, I was, once again, embarrassing her, as I loved to do!  I am now - SO SORRY, Tina (kind of)! 💗 you! 😘☺️ After school that day, Karen and I, did "the walk of "shame" to my grandparents house, dreading having to tell everyone that we got "GONGED!" Hehe! Whenever we walked inside, we immediately heard my precious, ornery, papaw Dale, "true to form," teasing us, and chanting things like, "the gongers are here," etc. Tina must have paid me back by telling him as soon as she could, knowing that he'd give us a hard time (in good fun)! 🤣 I forgive you, Tina! 😘☺️ Ha! 💗 The moral in which I am trying to convey in this 'blog post,' I suppose, is that, the price that we pay to have wonderful memories, is sometimes getting "GONGED" (which can stand for many things in life, such as - being hurt, laughed at, losing, etc.), which can only occur - IF - we DO things that are (sometimes) out of our "comfort zone!"  Much to my surprise, I am presently at a "PLACE" in my life, that doing this (which came naturally to me - whenever I was younger) has become my biggest - challenge and/or obstacle (mainly because of the - bad back and anxiety - issues - with which I am battling)! 😩 But, I know that God is working - in me - and - on me, and, I'm trusting Scriptures like - Romans 8:28, etc.!! 🙌🏼🙏🏼 😘 Being a part of things like 'MMS Gong Show,' used to come very easily for me, but, "LIFE" has caused me to become apprehensive about being bold, daring, a "ham," and the such! 😔 However, because, I desire to make more great memories - like my 'Gong Show' one, I hope and pray that - God allows, and then - helps me - to get back TO the ME - who - was/is - determined to...just "ENJOY LIFE" (while - always seeking to do God's perfect will)!! 🙏🏼 I hope and pray that, you too, dear reader, are doing so, and if you aren't, that this post encourages you to "get on w/it" (JOHN 10:10)...to get out of your "comfort zone" - even IF - you MIGHT get..."GONGED!!!"  😘☺️ Until next time...😊😃🙏🏼✝️💜👋🏼