Yesterday was such a blast.  It started out early as I got up to do the radio interview with Paul W. Smith on WJR at 6:20am.  I sat at my little desk in front of my laptop drinking coffee with nothing more than my little desk lamp on in my bedroom.  I had to close the door so the kids wouldn't wake up.   As I was standing by, I could hear his show live in my phone, then, click....I was on.  The interview went well...short and sweet.  We discussed the WINK after each anthem and how exciting Opening Day is every year.   Paul W. invited me back to the show once my Fresh Paint book is done.   I'll look forward to that.

We left for the ball park at 10:30am.  It usually takes about 35 minutes to get there, but it was absolutely NUTS yesterday on I75...finally at 11:45am, I jumped out of the car when we got to the stadium and walked in.  I needed to blow off some steam...I hate traffic!    Jared had called and said "there's a really good chance that you are singing the Star Spangled Banner today".........whao... I was so excited to hear that.  Once I met him, it was confirmed....the Four Tops were NOT coming and I WAS IT.   (Finally, after years and years of singing for the 2nd game of the season, I finally got the first game...)  I tried not to shake as I put on more mascara in the ladies room. 

Being on the field was so neat, as it always is.   Beforehand, Pat needed me in front of the Tiger dugout for a minute to check the monitors so Jared and I made our way thru the press people.   As I did a quick sound check, I said a silent thank you that I would get monitors today.  One thing that is always un-nerving to me is that there is a very slight delay on the microphones at Comerica Park.  When I sing "Oh-oh say"  and I get to "say"....I hear "Oh".  I try to listen to what is coming out of my head, and not so much to the echo in the stadium.  If I listen too intently, the phrasing will be too long and the song doesn't sound right.  There is an art to it that I have learned over the years.  The monitors really helped me to keep the song continuously flowing.

Jared had asked me beforehand how long my version of the song was.  They needed to know for the fly-over so it had to be timed exactly.  I told him one minute, ten seconds.   I had timed myself, and that's what it was...so this was also on my mind as I was singing....don't mess up the fly-over.

It was awesome to be able to walk up to the pitcher's mound to sing.  I had to cut thru the Toronto players to get there....."excuse me, so sorry...have a great game"  I said to them as I passed thru their lineup.  They were very polite and let me thru.  Once I got there, the wind almost blew me over.  People don't realize how windy it is down on the field sometimes.  I could feel my dress poof in the back as the wind picked up.  As I looked behind me, I could see Mr. Leyland, Curtis, Placido, Pudge, and the rest of the team lined up in white.   I did the Canadian Anthem first, and then waited until they announced the US anthem...I couldn't help but look behind me again to just take it all in.  Then, I casually saluted Mr. Leyland...and waved at the team.....they waved back, and he gave me a nod.  That picture will be etched in my brain...I did the Star Spangled Banner...did my wink at the end (of course) and waited for the fly-over.    Jared told me that my performance was one minute, 11 seconds....almost exactly correct.  It was such a neat feeling to see those planes.  Everyone in that place looked up at the same time, we were all in awe.  

Later, I did the 7th inning stretch, this time in different clothes.  It felt great to get into different shoes.   Now, they are doing God Bless America from the field instead of on top of the dug out.   Jeff snapped a picture, and to me it looks like my version of "Where's Waldo".....I can hardly find myself in it.  (I posted it on the anthems page of  loriadams.net)  

I ran into my songwriter friend Robert Dempster with his group and I talked with lots of friends and family during the game.  It was such a great day.  It was a huge crowd....over 44,000 people...this was probably the biggest crowd yet for me.   People were yelling constantly.  I think I missed a couple of people, because I was wisked off here and there.  It was an unbelievable experience for me.  I feel so blessed.

That leads me to today's paper.....I have told everyone I know, especially my kids....."check it out....I'm on the front page of the Detroit Free Press!     I am that tiny little DOT in the front of the pitcher's mound in the photo.  I am LITERALLY a DOT in the photo...but it's ME!!!!  I made it to the front page!   

This Opening Day was one I will never forget....

 

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