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| Power Style Wellness Connections |
A journey to a star…A dream come true
By Cheryl Stuck
Lucy Stuck, 83, felt like a teenager and could hardly
sleep the night before the Jerry Lee Lewis concert.
Wanting to look her best “just in case,” she recruited
family members to help her get ready. One daughter
applied her makeup and fixed her hair, and a son made
a trip to the drugstore to purchase a disposable camera.
During the snowy drive to French Lick, Lucy was filled
with excitement, anticipating which songs Jerry Lee would
sing and every move he would make.
Lucy suffers from macular degeneration, which blocks her central vision, so she took
binoculars, hoping they would help. She was led into the lobby of the French Lick
Resort Casino, and on to the newly remodeled Windsor Ballroom, where she stood in
front of the stage where her idol would soon appear. “He could be in this building right
now,” she said. “I’m in the same building with Jerry Lee!”
There wasn’t a lot of planning involved, just a lifetime of dreams that brought Lucy to
the concert. She first fell for singer and rock-and-roll legend, Jerry Lee Lewis, when
she saw him on the Steve Allen Show in 1957, singing Great Balls of Fire. She was
immediately smitten by his good looks, strong voice, lively piano playing, and irreverent
personality. But seeing him in person was out of the question for the mother of eight
children, which included a set of twins. Instead, she followed his career ups and downs
through the years, playing her favorite record, Another Place, Another Time, over and
over again. She daydreamed about someday seeing him in person.
Lucy made plans to go to a concert a couple of years ago, but was hospitalized with
pneumonia a few days before the date. So on February 17, when Lucy took her seat in
the sixth row in the Windsor Ballroom anticipating the great Jerry Lee Lewis, she couldn’
t believe her dream was finally coming true. She chatted to those around her, filling
them in on Jerry Lee trivia. When he finally took the stage, she tried her binoculars, but
the macular degeneration blocked most of her sight. Strangers in the audience found
an empty seat with a better view and guided Lucy to it. She listened intently, mouthing
the words to the songs and wiping tears from her eyes as he sang with a strong voice
and played with nimble fingers flying over the piano keys to a packed house of about
2,000. When the crowd sprang to their feet to rock with the song, Great Balls of Fire,
Lucy was up there with them, dancing and singing along. With help, she made her way
to the front of the stage, where Jerry stood singing and pounding the piano keys just a
few feet away, but security hustled everyone back to their seats.
After the show, Lucy relived every minute. “My favorite part was from the beginning to
the end,” she said. “It was the best night of my life.”
If you know a woman who has had a life-changing experience, please email:
cherylstuck@iamtodayswoman.com.
By Cheryl Stuck
Lucy Stuck, 83, felt like a teenager and could hardly
sleep the night before the Jerry Lee Lewis concert.
Wanting to look her best “just in case,” she recruited
family members to help her get ready. One daughter
applied her makeup and fixed her hair, and a son made
a trip to the drugstore to purchase a disposable camera.
During the snowy drive to French Lick, Lucy was filled
with excitement, anticipating which songs Jerry Lee would
sing and every move he would make.
Lucy suffers from macular degeneration, which blocks her central vision, so she took
binoculars, hoping they would help. She was led into the lobby of the French Lick
Resort Casino, and on to the newly remodeled Windsor Ballroom, where she stood in
front of the stage where her idol would soon appear. “He could be in this building right
now,” she said. “I’m in the same building with Jerry Lee!”
There wasn’t a lot of planning involved, just a lifetime of dreams that brought Lucy to
the concert. She first fell for singer and rock-and-roll legend, Jerry Lee Lewis, when
she saw him on the Steve Allen Show in 1957, singing Great Balls of Fire. She was
immediately smitten by his good looks, strong voice, lively piano playing, and irreverent
personality. But seeing him in person was out of the question for the mother of eight
children, which included a set of twins. Instead, she followed his career ups and downs
through the years, playing her favorite record, Another Place, Another Time, over and
over again. She daydreamed about someday seeing him in person.
Lucy made plans to go to a concert a couple of years ago, but was hospitalized with
pneumonia a few days before the date. So on February 17, when Lucy took her seat in
the sixth row in the Windsor Ballroom anticipating the great Jerry Lee Lewis, she couldn’
t believe her dream was finally coming true. She chatted to those around her, filling
them in on Jerry Lee trivia. When he finally took the stage, she tried her binoculars, but
the macular degeneration blocked most of her sight. Strangers in the audience found
an empty seat with a better view and guided Lucy to it. She listened intently, mouthing
the words to the songs and wiping tears from her eyes as he sang with a strong voice
and played with nimble fingers flying over the piano keys to a packed house of about
2,000. When the crowd sprang to their feet to rock with the song, Great Balls of Fire,
Lucy was up there with them, dancing and singing along. With help, she made her way
to the front of the stage, where Jerry stood singing and pounding the piano keys just a
few feet away, but security hustled everyone back to their seats.
After the show, Lucy relived every minute. “My favorite part was from the beginning to
the end,” she said. “It was the best night of my life.”
If you know a woman who has had a life-changing experience, please email:
cherylstuck@iamtodayswoman.com.