Seattlesunset Jul 12, 2022

I want to tell you a story of how taking a chance to speak up can avoid regret. In March 2019 I went to this concert at the Triple Door to see Herb Alpert and his wife Lani Hall. Back in the 60s, Lani was the lead singer with Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 and her voice in their hit songs made me fall in love with her, 10 years old that I was. Back then, I had only the radio and did not even know her name. But that voice. To me, it was the beautiful sound of how a woman should sing.

Periodically, during the concert, Alpert would solicit chat from a random audience member for a minute or two before the next song. Each time he did this, I thought about saying to her what I've always wanted to say. But, stage fright. Saying something real in front of a room full of strangers. Yet I knew I would kick myself forever if I didn’t speak up. Still, I stayed put in my seat each time, heart beating fast.

The concert was coming to a close. At what looked to me to be Alpert's last time to take comments from the audience, I shot up from my seat like bread from a toaster. I was seated near the front. All eyes on me, including his. I spoke.

I told Alpert that when I was a 10-year-old boy, I had had a crush on her, sight unseen. The audience laughed. Alpert told me that she was spoken for. More laughter. It was fun. When the laughter died down, I signaled that I had more to say. Here was my moment.

Turning to face Lani, I told her that I've always thought she had the most beautiful voice IN ALL THE WORLD. I stretched out my arms wide on saying that last part and I even let it come out like I was 10 again.

Then a wonderful thing happened. No sooner did that last word leave my lips than a chorus of male voices said YEAH! The entire male audience had blurted out their agreement. As if I had paved the way for all of us to express the same feeling to her. The applause was sustained as she nodded to each section of the audience with her appreciation. And then last, she looked straight at me and said "Thank you". I have to believe she really took this to heart. My boyhood crush had looked at me!

I was high for the next week, I swear. I am so glad I screwed up the courage to speak up and say my feelings. In public yet. No regrets. No regrets.