A Visit with Santa Brings Fleeting Fame

Have noticed Santa is out and about again this year, listening intently to the wishes of kiddies young and old.

I recall a particular visit with Santa that taught me fame is such a fleeting thing.

So here's the scoop. My mother took us to a mall (a "maul" -- appropriate name) in Narbeth, PA, way back in 1959, to a large department store to have our picture taken with Santa. A Philly TV producer, strolling by, sees us, asks my mother if older brother Kev and I (we look nothing alike) could appear in a commercial for sweet potatoes on a "live" afternoon talk show in Philadelphia.

My mother is all a' flutter.  Her "beautiful" children will be famous.

The day approaches. Kev is sick with the flu, so oldest brother Fran must take his place. Meanwhile, my mother, in her best efforts to put my best foot forward, has all my red/blonde long hair baby curls cut off, "for TV."  Scalped, I was.  ("I was robbed, I tell ya. I coulda been a contend-ah.")

On fame day, my mother remains home with Kev, my father takes the day off from work and schlepps Fran and I to Philly, to the studio. All I remember is the Road Runner cartoon running on the monitors. I was so enthralled with the antics of Wile. E. Coyote and Mr. R. Runner that I stand there on live TV, the entire time, with my mouth hanging open in awe.

Here's the proof:

Dig the dress. Paratroopers could wear that dress and land safely from 10,000 feet. And there's Fran, lookin' rather dapper in the bow tie.

Meanwhile, my mother is watching from home, screaming at the screen, "Mary, close your mouth." My father also tried to convince me from the studio sidelines that looking like I was catching flies was certainly not a fetching way for a young lady to act.

So Santa, that was my 15-minutes-of-fame. Mr. Warhol, I blew it right outta the wat-ah.

I have that photo on the wall of my office. If I ever get feeling way too big for my britches, I give it a glance and life is centered again.

* Santa Paint by Number Kit photo from http://www.craft-stop.com

Comments

[Beth Uston]

Hi Mary,
I found it. I googled and got it.
I really LOVE what you wrote??? Awesome!
You are so talented....