The Big Apple Ate Us Up - Day 3

This is the BIG day!!!!  We were all walked to NBC's headquarters and led through very tight security into the "Green Room", where a hired baby sitter took over with the kids.  I felt sorry for them because they had wanted to be in the audience watching the show, not with a Polish baby sitter who seemed determined to give them a geography lesson as well as the history of Poland.

Mary and I were taken to make-up and hair rooms, then to ward robe.  We looked so nice.  We then proceeded on to an area behind the set and were seated in order of appearance.  We could watch the show in progress from here.  There were three other women brought here to represent "older women dating younger men". 

Two of them were in their mid-30s (harldy considered "older women")!  The third one looked like 74 but insisted her age was only 54.  She announced on the show that her best friends were Ivana Trump & Joan Collins and bragged that they all date very young men. These three women, for some reason, were all brought in for the first segment of the show while Mary & I sat awaiting our debut until they'd delivered some fluff.

We sat in front of a friendly-looking audience of maybe 100 folks. Dr. Keith immediately asked me to tell my story of mid-life "transformation".  I described having been miserably married to two men for my entire adult life and how, approaching 60, I'd made a huge decision not to live out the rest of my life this way.  I shared having discovered dancing and, without dieting, lost 40 pounds having fun. The audience went crazy, clapping without the applause signs.

Next, a video clip of Mary came on. She was expressing a concern that her mom didn't use high enough standards in the men she dated. Dr. Keith then asked me if this was "true"; I said (with full conviction), "ABSOLUTELY TRUE!". I explained that I'm not looking for a long term relationship, only some fun. More spontaneous applause. Mary was asked what's been hard for her with my transformation. She said that she & the kids were used to a plump, sedentary grandma and a devoted grandpa who spent lots of time with her kids. Here's a quote; "Suddenly, there was no more grandpa and all we were left with was a "DANCING GRANDMA"! Laughter.

I turned to her on national TV and said, "Honey, I'm just on a sabbatical - I'll be back again!" Dr. Keith pressed me for more, so I talked about how most middle-aged people "feel ageless" no matter what shape their bodies are in or how many wrinkles they may have. I then said, "There's nothing like having a handsome, charming young 24-year old in hot pursuit of you for months to enhance feeling ageless". I'd long since admitted that I did indeed have a brief fling with a 24-year old two years back.

Next, a video clip named "Social Experiment" was shown. This would be me dancing & chatting with several young men in the fake night club scene the day before. I was surprised when all of these young men appeared on stage to be "polled" as to their experience with an older woman (me). Each one said very wonderful things like, "She's so hot; full of energy; I'd date her any time; etc". Bless them:)

During the final short break, a producer asked me if I'd be willing to repeat something I'd said during my initial interview as a "parting thought" for this show. I agreed. Dr. Keith then prompted me, saying, "Nancy, I heard you have a final thought for this show - would you share it?". In full grin, I said "Sure" and proceeded to describe my vision of being 105, sitting in a rocking chair in some nursing home with a smile across my face. The nurses aids would be thinking I was just senile, but in fact, I'd be replaying the mental video tape of me with the 24-year old! More applause & laughter.

Finally, funky music filled the airwaves and Dr. Keith asked if anyone would like to dance. The young men & I immediately jumped into action for a delighted audience. At this point, Mary was in the front row of the audience, hanging her head to avoid exactly what happened next: I jumped off the stage and started dancing with Dr. Keith (who was in the audience at this point)! He seemed willing to tolerate this antic. The show wound up with me, back to his front, doing some questionable dance moves.

Fade to black. It was over, and it was a real hit. Dr. Keith hugged me after the show, saying, "After this show is aired, you will be back in NYC many times!". Who knows? What I did discover was that I'm just as comfortable being myself on national TV as I am in my own living room.

Comments

[Kevin Dillenburg]

I thought you were amazing even before I read this Nancy. I meant what I said in my other email to you.
Kevin

[AJ Anable]

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