It’s staggering to ponder how the mind works. Scientists don’t really understand it you know. Oh, they talk about nerve cells and chemicals and lobes and connections. But I heard a doctor say recently that all of their knowledge doesn’t tell them why one person can remember the state capitals and another person can’t. So I’m sure they can’t explain to you how I watched Barbara Padilla last night on America’s Got Talent and thought about Barbie cakes.
In case you aren’t following the show, Barbara is a Mexican immigrant who was raised in Houston and graduated from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music with a master’s degree in vocal performance. She spent five years battling cancer, survived, and has returned to the stage to wow audiences with the voice of an angel. Yes, she sings opera. Yes, she sings in Spanish sometimes. Who cares! I don’t care if opera isn’t my favorite, or that I can’t understand a word she says. Did you hear me say she has the voice of an angel? I could listen to her all night. And it doesn’t hurt that she is absolutely gorgeous.
I digress. See how the mind works?
Last night she sang Ava Maria and she was dressed in an orange sherbet dress with a train that most brides would envy. She was on top of a rounded, multi-tiered platform and the dress train hung behind and around her over the layers of the platform. Mid-way through the song I remembered my grandmother making me a Barbie cake!
Grandmother was always making cakes- birthday cakes, holiday cakes, “you passed your test” cakes, “sorry you didn’t pass your test” cakes. She made an elaborate pirate ship cake- complete with treasure chest and gold coins (wrapped chocolate) for David’s birthday. For one of mine she made a Barbie cake . And yes, I Googled and people still do that!
My Barbie cake was beautiful, but my story has a sad, sad ending. I took my precious Barbie to school to show my friends. On the way home one of the local bullies took it away from me and threw it under a nearby house. I was brave enough to report him to the principal the next day, and he got paddled, and thankfully he never “got even” with me. However, I never saw my Barbie again.
So, thanks to AGT I got the thrill of hearing Barbara’s voice…and a little trip down memory lane.
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