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By Susan Dromey Heeter, Joyful Musings
Let’s face it, when you’ve been mentioned in Joyful Musings, your celebrity status increases tenfold.
You’re a star; people constantly request selfies with you, your Twitter followers number in the six digits, paparazzi besiege you at Market Basket, Stop & Shop. Friendly’s.
Yes, making an appearance in Joyful Musings creates celebrity status big time. After an interview with me, you’ve arrived, people, you’ve arrived.
Susan Dromey Heeter
And as I continue to write about big families, I think of those whose careers might need a boost from an appearance in Joyful Musings and invite them to visit, to join me in a sit down with their stories, their memoires of growing up one of many.
And who might those celebrities be?
Madonna has been keeping a pretty low profile as of late, so perhaps it’s time I speak with her about her five siblings and two half siblings. I’m sure Christopher, Melanie, Martin, Jennifer, Anthony, Mario and Paula have some insight into Madge, into life with a plethora of sisters and brothers. I wonder if they still share clothes. I’ll be sure to ask.
The opening scene of Caddyshack, the one where the character, Danny, attempts to get into the bathroom while his mother is flocked by children was based on Bill Murray’s childhood home. Bill has eight siblings including Joel, John, Edward III, Laura, Peggy, Nancy, Andy and Brian. I would ask about the laundry and the length of time a juice lasted in the fridge. My guess? Apple juice: ten minutes. Prune juice: ten years.
Dolly Parton is one of eleven children and her siblings do not have quite the same saintly name references as those siblings referenced above. Her grandfather was a Pentacostal preacher and her siblings include Stella, Randy, Rachel, Willadeene, Floyd, Coy Denver, Cassie Nan, Freida, Robert, David and Larry. I wonder, when I do talk with Dolly if I will pretend I have a Southern accent; I tend to mimic the accent of those with whom I speak. I’ll be sure to ask, “Did ya’ll have only one bathroom?”
Michael Jackson’s family
Michael Jackson, the late great King of Pop, had three sisters and five brothers. Marlon, one of his oldest brothers was a twin; Brandon died only days after his birth. While it’s impossible to interview Jocko, I would like it put out there that I am entirely open to having Janet, Jermaine, LaToya, Rebbie, Randy, Tito, Marlon or Jackie in for a visit.
I do think LaToya could use the press and I am entirely sure she has some great stories of growing up in the Jackson house; I’m going to ask her if she was ever resentful of not being in the “Jackson 5”. Why didn’t they just have the “Jackson 8?”
Oh, so many questions upon which to muse. And I think those of you who have already made guest appearances in Joyful Musings and I do apologize for the challenge celebrity creates.
Ideally you are getting the best tables in restaurants, enjoying your VIP perks and interviewing potential body guards.
And if all else fails and you get into a tussle with paparazzi? Just blame it on one of your brothers; that always worked in my house.
Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, debuts her new column “Joyful Musings” at InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.