A Star is Born!

She's always had a spark about her. But her confidence on a recent trip here to visit me in Ireland, surprised even me.

As we made our way down Grafton Street in Dublin, she noticed a busker with a keyboard, not making much money. Without any hesitation she walked over to him and said, “Hey, you’re not making much money but I can help you. Do you mind?” He moved over, she sat down, and after playing through Beethoven's Fur Elise, the tips were overflowing. She winked at him and walked away.

"That’s our Mandy," I thought.

That same day, as we checked into a Galway Hotel, she noticed no one was playing the grand piano in the lobby and took it over as her own.

“You’re daughter plays beautifully!” a family said as they passed by. 

“Thank you,” her father said smiling with pride.

No, Mandy has never been a shy one. She is one of the twins from my ex-husband’s second marriage. (Yeah, take a minute to think that through. ) And after he left me and my three young children for someone new, believe me I had no intention of even getting to know their offspring. But time changes everything. My own children convinced me that while things were not ideal, none of it was the twins’ fault. So, over time, they became a part of the Breen Clan in Reno. And eventually they have become family.

Of course we have been proud of their accomplishments.  Mandy took hold of the mic recently in Las Vegas (where her mother lives) and belted out the National Anthem and made the cutfor singing at home games for the Vegas Golden Knights, the new professional hockey team in Las Vegas. We were all proud. Proud, but not completely surprised. Of the 600 who tried out, she made it into the top 50 and is on the schedule to sing in front of 20,000 people. She’s not even a teenager…and she’s not even nervous.  She was one of the youngest contenders, but I have no doubt that what she lacked in experience, she made up for in heart.

Go Mandy go! And move over Celine Dion and Wayne Newton, there’s a new star in town!