It’s been very hard. Very hard. First of all, I want to thank everyone for entering. You all had such wonderful essays. So many reasons for choosing YOU. But it had to come down to the BEST and we have a tie.
Between Jennifer Lyn Hrycyk and Nicole Ann Saenz.
Here are their entries:
JEN’S ENTRY
Taylor Swift: Dreaming of an evening with her, and Shannon.
When I was a young girl, I adored singing. I’d watch The Sound of Music every day when I came home from school. I’d sing as loudly as my vocal chords could belt “Cliiiiiiimmmmmbbb e-vvvvvvvrrrey mountain…..”
Once my VHS tape broke from watching Sound of Music too much, I moved on to Annie. My vocal chords had gotten stronger by now, so I was able to harmonize with myself, “Thhhhhhhee suuuuuuuunn will come out, toooooo-morow….”
I was a glorious singer. Unfortunately, no one else thought so. As I grew to realize that maybe my angelic voice wasn’t as good as Debbie Gibson and Joey McIntyre, I couldn’t bare the thought to give up my dream of being a famous country pop star.
Finally the day came when I realized: I’d have to move on from being the next Tiffany, and would have to live vicariously through someone else’s career.
I waited for years and years to decide who I would live through. I searched high and low, but I never found anyone. So I had no choice but to repress my lifelong heart’s dream. Being a singer and/or living vicariously through one, it was no longer an option.
Days passed. Months passed. And eventually years had passed. Then, something unexpected happened.
It was the summer before college. It had been years since I’d reminisced about my dreams. Suddenly, they all came flooding back to me when I heard the most magnificently angelic voice I’d ever heard in my entire life. Better than NKOTB, better than Tiffany and even better than Tina Turner! I couldn’t believe my ears, I’d found my very own American Idol!!
She had silky, shiny, thick, luxurious hair. She had big beautiful eyes that showed off eye shadow like no make up job I’d ever witnessed. She had a radiant smile that could make everyone, in any room she walked into, fill up inside with joy.
As if being such a beauty wasn’t good enough, she undeniably resembled one of the hottest, most popular singers on the planet at the time, Brittney Spears, BUT PRETTIER (obviously).
Already in awe of her bedazzling beauty, I was taken back as I felt my heart flutter when I heard the most incredible tune come out of her mouth. “Big wheels keep on turnin’, turnin’, proud mary keep on burnin’, burnin’. Rollin’, rollin’ rollin’, rollin’ rollin’ on a riiiiiiivaaaaaa.”
Suddenly, my dreams of living vicariously through the most amazing singer EVER, flooded back from my soul. I’D FOUND HER!!!! This is who I can only dream of being, this is who I want to live vicariously through. Is she a country pop star? I’m not sure. Is she famous? She has to be!
I was soon introduced to the apple of my eye for many years to come, Cannon. Yes, her name was Cannon. I’ll admit, I was a little intimidated by her charm. But her warm, cozy hugs quickly made me feel right at home in her arms.
Okay, so what was my point? Oh right, why me (sorry I got sidetracked by such happy memories)?
Why me? I’ll be honest, there’s nothing too special about little ol’ me. However what I can genuinely say from the bottom of my heart: Taylor Swift and Shannon Henderson have something in common; I adore both of them with every itty bitty ounce of my heart and soul.
When I hear Shannon’s voice and Taylor’s voice, they both of the same effect on me. They make me smile. When I see them, I always giggle because it makes me realize how fitting the song, “The Best Day” is. I know Taylor wrote that song for her mom, but it’s like I could have written it for Shannon. Or Taylor. Either one because whenever I’m with Shannon, I have the best day. Whenever I see Taylor or PerezHilton.com or TMZ, I have the best day. Go figure?
Most importantly, why me? Simple. Because Shannon and Taylor could give someone (me) the opportunity, for one small moment in time, in the midst of so many negative things in the world, to shine with true happiness.
It’s my dream to spend an evening being able to sing along, as loud as my vocal chords will go (just like we did at Kelly Clarkson, but maybe more), to all of the Taylor Swift songs I know (including some of my faves…You Belong With Me, Love Story, You’re Not Sorry, The Best Day, to name a few….). I’ll admit, there’s a few songs I don’t yet know, but what better possible way to experience them for the first time, than in person, with tears of joy falling from my humbled eyes.
Oh, a random thought I just had…I know it might be hard to believe, but I love, love, love screaming kids. Screaming kids, screaming adults, screaming babies….it’s like Taylor Swift music to my ears. I have a feeling that if I were the lucky winner (and I never win anything, but that’s okay, what’s one more loss in my life) I might get to be surrounded by screaming kiddies all night. I mean this could be like the best day of my whole life all of this, even better than my wedding day probably.
But do you know the only thing that could make this whole experience better than the true bliss I’ve already described? Only one thing: if I could wear an outfit matching Shannon’s. She always looks so exquisite, if I could wear a piece of her for just one night, I think I could sleep peacefully forever more.
I can only imagine the difficulty of this decision. Shannon has so many people that love her and adore her, and I’m sure they’ll all do anything to win a night with Shannon. Oh and TS too. If I don’t win, it’s okay, life will go on. I’m used to coming out behind, so nothing new.
But if I do win, I don’t know if the smile on my face will ever fade. Ever…
NIKKI’S ENTRY
Why you?
It’s almost silly for me to answer a question like, “Why you?” The true question here is “Why not me?” As sisters, which is what we are, we have always included each other in the most awesome and fun activities we’ve been privileged to. If we have nothing set up to entertain us, we simply vow to “stay up for the rest of our lives” and entertain ourselves with 80’s movies, board games, or idol. So again, I pose, “Why not me?” I am your blood (and blood is thicker than water). We are birds of a feather. We are, quite simply, the most fun people we know.
Finally, I must argue that not only would picking me be your best and most fun choice, picking me inevitably strengthens the roots of our band. While you are out for injury (blast you jagged glass!), it would be wise for our little duet to really find its roots and learn “what we are all about.” Seeing as how Taylor Swift songs seem take up the majority of our group’s library, taking me to the concert is not only the right choice for you personally, but also professionally. Warming you up for the kill.
How many songs do I know?
I do have both Fearless and Taylor Swift, the self-titled album (it takes courage and confidence to have a self-titled album, so great job Swifty). I feel very strong with Taylor’s more popular songs, but still have more to learn when it comes to her lesser-known tunes. This concert would be the boost I need to help me memorize and perfect all of Taylor Swift’s songs.
Again, I must point out that my refining of Taylor’s material will definitely help our band. At the concert I will be exposed to more direct teaching in the way of Taylor, and will no longer frustrate you, my partner, when I do not know the lyrics to a song. Is your decision becoming clearer? I sure hope so.
How loud will you sing?
I will sing loud and proud, but never, NEVER will I overpower the singing of the great Shannon Marcee Henderson. As discussed previously, by the concert I will have perfected each of Taylor’s songs, however, the true benefit will be to you, ShaSha. I will play back-up to your lead, chorus to your solo. I will never sing so loudly that you cannot hear your two favorite singers at the concert, Taylor and you. This is YOUR day, I’ll just be there to make it better for you.
How do you feel about screaming kids?
I am truly a professional when it comes to kids and their audible habits. As you know, I’ve been nanny and teacher to many children, of all age groups. I can easily deal with children and their natural, excitement at the concert. I love children and think that love for children makes the world go ‘round. HOWEVER, if those little brats cross any lines (e.g. blocking our view, heckling, singing louder than us), I’m not afraid to smack one upside their head. Those little nuisances will get what they deserve if they even try to ruin your experience. So there!
If you could be any artist in the world, who would you be?
Why I’d be Shannon Marcee Henderson, of course. Her ease of being in the spotlight and spontaneous, audience-pleasing performances leaves no one before her in my eyes. I’ve seen her turn the darkest of bars (Tumbleweeds) into an upbeat, happy place (which just happens to have had some HB white-trash in it). Also, ShaSha is not only an artist of song, but also an artist of humor. She has always carried her Improv groups and been the “ham” of any musical she has been in. She is a well-rounded star and I would be lucky to have an ounce of her gallons of talent. Tell me this is solidifying my spot!
How do you feel about wearing matching outfits?
Of course matching outfits are a necessity when attending a much to-do concert. Rather than completely matching I prefer “coordinating” outfits, meaning we each wear our own color, or alternate hairpieces, bracelets, cowboy hats, sparkly bras etc. By coordinating outfits we are telling other concerteers, “Hey look at us; we are fun enough to match, but are still our own person.”
So whether we have Matching Outfits like this or Coordinating Outfits like this, we are sure to wow others and have a blast while doing so. Pick me! Pick me!
How will I decide??????? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here we go. I’m going to start at the beginning and when I come to the end, I’ll stop. See?
That’s ok. As long as we get there eventually. We buy our tickets and wait. This is when Dougie starts staring into space along with the rest of them. (Ok. Not space but the HUGE train scheduler thingy, that I cannot make any sense out of.) So I decide to meander around. I buy an iced coffee which is nothing like Starbucks. And I go to the “toilet”. Now getting my coffee was easy but getting in the bathroom was not. They had one of those bars that stick out and won’t let you pass without paying. It was like 30p to use the bathroom. We just got there. I had no change. And I really had to goooo. So now I’m running around (with my luggage, carry-on, and coffee) to all the vendors asking for change. Seriously the Brits were not amused. And Dougie was still staring into space. FINALLY I get the EXACT change and make my way into the bathroom. Now I’m not going to go into detail, but, juggling my beautiful new luggage, my HEAVY carry-on, and my iced coffee into the bathroom is not an easy task. When I make my way back to Dougie, he says we had to go to the train right away. There was only one train going to Ely in the next hour. The next train to Ely was another 3 hours away! So we book it to the train. When we get there it is already completely full! Oh well. We have to stand. Not a big deal, right? WRONG! People keep coming and coming. Everyone is trying to squeeze onto this train. I am pushed so far up against the wall that I left a Shannon-sized imprint. It really could not get any worse, right? WRONG AGAIN! When the train takes off, I realize there is no air on the train! Wahhhhh! THEN at the first stop, MORE PEOPLE GET ON. I am like really? REALLY? I was so close to the man standing in front of me, I could smell what he ate for breakfast!!! It was the longest 45 minutes of my life.
