Donny

Most 4 year-old girls I know love princesses, Olivia included. She has every doll, every movie, and she is starting quite the dress collection. For a while her favorite was Cinderella. Then it was Aurora. Then Ariel. Then Jasmine. Then Snow White. And now she favors Mulan. I'd like to think it has something to do with the fact that I have been to where Mulan is from. I have seen the Forbidden City where Mulan defeats the Huns. I told Olivia all about it. She thinks it's awesome.

Olivia knows all the words to the princess movies. Our favorite song to sing lately has been "I'll Make A Man Out of You" from Mulan. It is very catchy. (If you didn't know, it is sung by Shang a.k.a Donny Osmond.) For some reason I love Donny's voice. I don't go all gaga for Donny. I have never been to a concert (though I did see him perform with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and I did watch his talk show with Marie occasionally). But I have never been a Donny fanatic. I just like his voice. Moving on....

Doug has many opportunities to meet famous people. He did Cindy Crawford's hair in her hotel room (that's a story for a different time). He worked behind stage at the Billboard Music Awards and did the hair of Rihanna, Carmen Electra and Joe Elliot. And we know John Paul DeJoria - the face behind Paul Mitchell and one of the founders. Here we are meeting him when he visited our school....

Because Doug has so many opportunities to mingle with celebrities, it was bound to happen. DOUG MET DONNY! Recently we went to California to a conference for all Paul Mitchell School owners. Paul Mitchell is committed to "Giving Back" - whether that is by being environmentally responsible, aiding local programs, or collaborating with recognized charities (like Children's Miracle Network which Donny and Marie represent). At this owner's conference Donny Osmond performed. Unfortunately, I was watching the kids and did not go. But the kids and I could hear him from our hotel room. It was amazing.

I was so excited that I said to Olivia, "Do you hear that? That is the same guy that sings on Mulan!"

Olivia nearly jumped out of her skin and exclaimed, "Shang!" After a couple moments of thought she questioned, "What is Shang doing in California? And where is Mulan?" Then, still further she asked, "Why would he sing here? How did he even get here? When is he going back? And why didn't he sing our favorite song?"

I couldn't bear to tell her the truth. I think she couldn't conceptualize it anyway. So I played along.

"Mulan is back in China. She had to stay with the Emperor. So Shang came on an airplane just to sing to the owners because they are so nice. He will probably leave right after the performance because Mulan misses him so much, and because China needs him."

"Holy crap! Daddy is so lucky he gets to meet Shang!" she said.

Here is Doug (and Grandma) with Shang...

Funny. I thought Shang would be taller....