With the American Idol finale tonight, it brings me thoughts of fate and how life is weaved together like an intricate piece of embroidery. Taylor took one of the last cabs out of New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to audtion for American Idol. He won American Idol, and has had a whirlwind year. Not only that, but other people's lives have also changed. Fans are helping others. Charities have been born in Taylor's name and people all over the world are benefitting in different ways. Lifelong friendships have been made. People who yearned for real music to be brought back are enjoying Taylor's music and performances.
I didn't follow American Idol before season 5. My daughter pestered me to watch it with her. She said it was a good show that the family could enjoy. The other two children wanted to make it family night with me. So I cooked and baked goodies every week, the children and I gathered around the tv for our family night, and I watched American Idol to pacify the kids. And then Taylor auditioned. I was no longer watching American Idol to pacify the kids. It wasn't long before my daughter saw another side of her mother. No one was allowed near the phone on voting night. The woman who didn't care for tv and didn't watch it much stopped everything on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and was determined to do her part to vote like a mad woman to help Taylor win. He won. Not only did Taylor's life change, but so did a lot of other lives.
After Taylor's first CD came out, the Proud Of Our Troops drive was born. The drive celebrates it's one year anniversary on June 26. Thousands of our men and woman who are fighting for our country have been blessed by Taylor's music. The troop drive has been an exciting adventure, and one year later, I am more determined than ever to make the drive grow even bigger. Other projects and causes were started to help others. The less fortunate have been helped.
Fans joined message boards and got to know each other. They made plans to meet at Taylor's concerts. Friendships were born and some fans bonded to the point where they love each other like family. Lots of fans have their own story of how their lives changed when Taylor won American Idol.
Many lives were changed because a man got one of the last cabs out of New Orleans during a disaster that took lives and property. Some good came from devestation. God made lemonade out of lemons. Nothing is coincidence. Circumstances are weaved into each other until a purpose is achieved. The result is a greater good. It's all part of fate.
Written By Jean (PurpleButterflies)
Tags: Taylor Hicks, American Idol, Soul Patrol, Taylor's Angels
Seven Mile Breakdown
9 comments:
Wow !! This is so true... we have all been woven into each other's lives because of Fate.... Most amazing when you think about it.
Thank you for sharing your story!!
Teri
I, too, believe events occur in our lives that cause us to stand up and take notice. Taylor was one of them. And I have enjoyed the ride right along with him! As the Season 6 winner is crowned, it's not the end for Taylor, but another beginning, a chance to do what he does best. Entertain. Thanks for reminding us that events can change us for the better or worse. Thank goodness, Taylor changed things for the better!
Your story hits home. I too put very little time into watching TV. I coach everything my daughters are involved in and have very little time for TV. My TV time is usually from 11pm - 12pm and most nights I opt for sleep instead. I happened to catch Taylor's audition as I was walking through the living room with a stack of towels to put away. I loved him right from the start and did not miss one performance. Not only did I not miss it but I warned everyone I knew not to call me during the time when idol was on and if they did, I wouldn't pick up the phone. I voted for 2 straight hours every Tuesday night. I can remember laying in bed the night of the finale when you could vote for 4 hours and willing myself to stay awake. Since he won, I have followed his career online and have "met" some of the nicest people I know. I could have been just about anywhere during the time when Taylor auditioned, but I wasn't I was walking 2 feet from my television. Fate you say? Indeed!!
Taylor's journey is my own journey. You go along for a ride, and then it totally has a purpose. You probably don't know where it takes you, but with blind faith, you take the journey, with all it's ups and downs and it takes you to the most amazing places. This is what life is....
I loved what you wrote and allot of the same things happened to me that caused me to watch this TV show because I am not a TV person. I believe that this happened for a reason that I needed something more in my life and that' what i got all of you and It has been so wonderful. yes I believe in Fate and thank God that Taylor was part of my fate because he has changed my life for the better. I have meet such good people and they have brightened my life because of Taylor. Thanks you for your great words and I feel the same way as you.God Bless Taylor Hicks!
I believe nothing happens by chance. Taylor was destined to audition in Las Vegas. WE all were destined to watch Idol that year. (I planned to give up watching the show I had watched faithfully since the first year, but I watched the auditions, and I was hooked for life! When you think about it, if Taylor had gotten a recording contract during those 10 years, would we have even FOUND him. Perhaps not, all that struggling was predetermined to make the success even sweeter,and to multiply the impact that success is having worldwide. We are all part of a GREATER PLAN. Jean, I'm glad you found us, you're hard work with the troop drive continues to make us and Taylor proud! Was it fate -- or desperation -- that made me Google Taylor's name last summer in the hopes of learning more about the man I missed seeing. That search led me to TOSP, and the happiest few months of my life!
Thank you all for being a part of my karma -- Flowerpot (Barbra)
Fate is an appropriate Title for this weeks Blog...It was fate that brought Taylor to us..The day after he won AI...he was on Jay Leno and relayed the story of the cab drive out of New Orleans. Jay asked Taylor if it was coincedence or Fate...Taylor said "Fate". Fate and God brought Taylor to us and because of him so many strangers have been brought together and so many wonderful friendships and charities have been supported....It was "Fate" that has changed so many lives and brought this dear, sweet man to us.
God Bless you Taylor....
The odds of a blue eyed soul singer from Alabama winning the most visible "singing" contest in the nation are astronomical. Call it fate, call it luck, call it anything you want. But America wanted a change and a change indeed came in many forms. Music, friendships and charitable giving are just a few of the lasting impressions that Taylor has made on us all. America took notice of a man who first sang "a change is gonna come"!
WEAVED TOGETHER? Do you mean WOVEN?
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