by Jesse Ford DL5, SR4 Club Growth Director
The lights dim and everyone goes quiet. The stage is empty, and suddenly a familiar tune blares from the speakers.
“Woah, we’re halfway there
Woah, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah, livin’ on a prayer”
This song was one of many that evening at the convention, and it was special. The world stopped and we were one community. I love Bon Jovi like any 80’s kid. I know this song forward and backward, but something was missing.
Like in a movie scene, everything was moving in slow motion. To my right was District Director Marcheta, and to my left were my newest 100 friends, all grooving together. But wait, what’s this? I felt there something coming up inside me. Was it vomit? No. Was it crazy? Absolutely. As I looked around my eyes landed on a Toastmaster behind me. He had just blown up an inflatable air guitar and I KNEW then what I had to do. I grabbed the guitar and made my move! Yes, I ran up on stage and played my little heart out.
“Oh, we’ve got to hold on, ready or not
You live for the fight when it’s all that you’ve got
Woah, we’re halfway there
Woah, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah, livin’ on a prayer”
I would like to think I made Bon Jovi proud. I ended my 30-second routine by tossing the guitar over my head. Did I just become a Toastmasters Jukebox hero? I think so…at least in my own mind. In the end, this experience was magic. It just goes to show that you never know what can happen until you try.
