Ellen!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a joy blog about one of the people who makes me smile on the most regular basis -- Ellen DeGeneres. I can remember being a kid, sitting on my Nana and Papa's thick golden brown rug with the raised shapes (were they diamonds?) watching the giant television encased in shining wood, and somehow, Ellen was on -- I can't imagine I was alowed to stay up late enough to see her on the Tonight show, but since it was Central time and an hour earlier, maybe Mom and Dad let me. Anyway, I remember laughing harder than I'd ever laughed and I was astonished because I never knew there was such thing as girl comics -- and from then on, I was hooked. I watched her sitcom after that and always laughed at her killer delivery and perfect timing. Then when she got her talk show, well, it seemed like just the perfect fit for her and her good-hearted and kind sense of humor, mixed with her humanity and joy at being able to make people happy every day, by dancing or telling jokes or playing silly games, or by changing viewers' lives with much needed gifts. I appreciate her humility and genuine spirit and I think she has the greates theme song of all time -- have a little fun today...give a little love away! I also have a wonderful memory of getting to go to her show for my birthday a few years ago, and the joy in the audience was palpable as we all danced and laughed and had more than a little fun. Oprah gets a lion's share of the press, and has done many good things in the world, and given away alot of great stuff over the years -- but Ellen, Ellen always makes me smile, and that is priceless.