Picture on the back of book, Jean marie Rusin, lives with her mon and brother in New Britain, CT, member of CONNECTICUT AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION, Jean Rusin graduation from CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF BROADCASTING ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2007. Jean marie Rusin, donate her book to March of DIMES, AND MS. Jean Marie Rusin, is on facebook, and has a JEAN MARIE RUSIN FAN CT AND JEAN MARIE RUSIN FAN CLUB ( MICHIGAN) ON TWITTER, MYSPACE.COM AND MY WEBSITE www.jeanmarierusin.com, also have talkradio on blogtalkradio.com

Through These Eyes

A window to my worldBy JADA PATRICE HOWARD

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Jada Patrice Howard
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4697-8775-6

Contents

Introduction................................viiA Dream Come True...........................1The Worst Place.............................29Trying To Help Somebody.....................41Coming Together.............................55Believe Them................................63My Inner Strengths..........................65Acknowledgments.............................67

Chapter One

A Dream Come True

Are you serious? This has got to be a mistake. I confirmed it, and it was true. After trying for so long to visit the Oprah Winfrey Show, I was randomly picked. Every month, I would go to the reservation window, only to find out that I was not fortunate enough to go. February 2010, I went back to the reservation window. Two day after that, I checked my email. this particular time, the email congratulated me on being picked as an audience guest. I could not believe my eyes. I had to make sure that this wasn't some kind of hoax, so I called Harpo studios, to confirm it. They said that it was not a mistake, and gave me the information that I needed to know. I was so excited until I did not know what to do. I could not wait until my cousin got home from work, to tell him the news. When he arrived, I was jumping up and down, acting crazy. He told me that he knew how much this meant to me, and that he would watch my son for me.

I never been to Chicago, and I did not know what to expect. On top of that, I was going alone. At that point, I did not even care. I immediately started preparing myself. I started out by purchasing my hotel Room, and airline ticket. I then, went to the store to buy an outfit. I tried my best to find something with Oprah's favorite color. I knew that it would stand out. Weeks later, it was time for me to go to Chicago. The night before the trip, I hardly slept a wink. So, you can imagine how tired I must have been. The morning of the trip, the shuttle arrived, to take me to the airport. While flying on the plane, the passenger next to me wanted to know my destination. I said to her that I was on my way to the Oprah Winfrey Show. She seemed very happy for me. After landing in Chicago, the passenger wished me well. I got off the plane with my luggage, and started following the ground transportation signs, and got lost. I kept walking until I ran in to someone that pointed me in the right direction. I finally boarded the shuttle, to my hotel. On the way to my hotel, the shuttle driver took me around the area. In this way, I would not get lost. Thank God that my hotel was around the corner from Harpo Studios.

After checking in the hotel, I walked to the Oprah Store. In this store, they had some of everything. I noticed that they had Oprahs personal closet. In the closet, were the clothes that Oprah have worn. I just had to purchase one of her personal items. I did not see anything I could fit at first, then I came across a pair of pants that I knew would fit. I left her closet, and walked over to a brand new blouse, with the Oprah Logo. Both items I took to the dressing room. The sales clerk informed me that I could only try on the blouse, and that no one was allowed to try on Oprahs personal garments. This was to insure that Oprah was the last to have worn the item. I understood very well, so I took chances buying the pants. I felt I could fit them. So I purchased, Oprahs pants, the new blouse, and a key chain.

After leaving the store, I walk across the street to the Harpo Studios. There I saw two ladies walking down the sidewalk. I asked them to snap my picture in front of the Oprah sign. I just had to have this picture taken for memories. Continuing on my journey, I found a nice restaurant, two blocks away from the studios. I stopped in to grab a bite to eat. I ordered some mac & cheese, corn bread, and chicken. The food was very good, but pricey.

After dining at the restaurant, I walked back to my hotel room. I could not wait to try on Oprahs pants. I put on the pants and new shirt, and everything fit me. I felt that it would, and I was very pleased with what I saw in the mirror. Immediately after trying on the clothes, I started ironing the outfit that I bought with me, for the show. I prepared everything the night before, to insure I would arrive to the studio on time, the next morning.

With the help of a wakeup call from the front desk, I got up at 5 a.m., showered, then started getting dressed. I left the hotel in the dark, and started walking toward the Harpo Studios. On the way, I stopped at a Dunkin Donut, and purchased, hot chocolate, with a bagel and cream cheese. I knew that if I had to wait a while for the studios to open, the food should hold me until it was over. After stopping at Dunkin Donut, I continued walking to the studios. Upon arrival, I realized that I was the first one there. I stood at the door, hoping that someone else would arrive. I then started eating my food, and about thirty minutes later, a group of three showed up. They got in line, and we became associates for the entire time. I could recall one of the ladies asking me, did I think that Oprah would notice me, because I had on a lot of green. I told her, it was depending on where I am seated.

While we were standing in line chatting, more and more people started coming, and Harpo began opening its doors at around seven o'clock. Harpo's security came out to greet the audience in line, then started taking us through security. After going through security, I started getting nervous, because I did not know what to expect. I started thinking to myself, "what if Oprah comes through the same door, I just came through." Well it did not happen because after checking in, we were placed in a holding room, for about an hour.

The crowd control person started calling people by sections, in order to move closer to the studio doors. While sitting there waiting, a lady started calling people by group names. These were the groups chosen to sit up front. Everyone else had to sit in the bleachers. At first I became a little upset, especially after being the first one in line. However, I got over it quick, when Oprah stepped out on stage. I couldn't do anything but stand there and cry. I just could not believe that my favorite celebrity was actually standing in my presence. I was really feeling this woman, deep down within. It just felt like I've known her personally for years.

The audience just kept cheering for her. After Oprah told everyone to take their seats, I found my self Just staring at her. I was in total disbelief that I was really there. During the show, I found it very Interesting, how the show was being taped. For the first time in my life, I actually saw the Camera men do the, Five, four, three, two, one, action thing. I'm like, WOW!

During the commercial break, the audience had breathing time. It gave the audience the opportunity to yell out there feelings toward Oprah. I personally could not see myself yelling out anything, because I probably would have been too shy to do so. If the opportunity would have presented itself, I just would have wanted my own personal time with her. I would have let her know how much I admire, an appreciate her.

When the commercial was over, the audience started clapping, and the show started back up. The audience was very obedient. They remained quiet until the show was over. Oprah thanked everyone for coming after the show. When she stood up and walked out of the studio, I started crying again. Once again, I was in total disbelief that my dreams came true, before my eyes. WOW!

After leaving the studio, I walked over to the Oprah store, and purchased another key chain. I just knew that this would be the last time that I, would have the opportunity to visit the store. I left the store, and stopped by the same restaurant for a bite to eat. After that, I headed back to the hotel. when I arrived at the hotel, I went straight to my room, and layed across the bed. I was thinking about all that I have seen and heard at the show. I also thought about the inspirational person that Oprah is to me and others. I was thinking so hard, until I nodded off to sleep.

After taking a short nap, I went to the hotel lobby, and called a cab. Upon arrival, the cab driver asked me where I wanted to go. I ask him to take me on a tour around Chicago. I told him that I did not care about the price at the time. The places that the cab driver drove me, it seemed as if he was more excited than I was. He cover a lot of ground. I did express to him that I did not want to go to the south side of Chicago, because of all the horror stories I've heard about.

When my cab tour was over, the cabbie took me back to my hotel. He did not charge me no more than thirty bucks. He was young, and wanted to show me a good time. I gave him the money, and he wished me well. I then walked across the street to another restaurant, and ordered some food to go. I walked back to my hotel room, ate my food, took a shower, and went to bed.

The next morning, I got up, got dressed, and walked over to the restaurant close to Harpo Studios. This time, I ordered breakfast. Sitting there eating my breakfast, a thought ran across my mind, that this wasn't the last time, I would see Oprah. I guess it was my inner voice speaking to me. After breakfast, I went back to the hotel, and checked out. Even though, I checked out, it was not time for the shuttle to take me back to the airport. So, I spent a couple of hours in the hotels business center, on the computer.

Lunch time came around, and I went to the hotels restaurant. I ordered some crab cakes with some kind of lemon butter sauce. These crab cakes were very small, and very expensive. I truly believe that, the smaller, serving, is the best serving. However, this is how resturants make their money. If they prepare something delicious, they always give you a smaller portion, to keep you coming back for more. Overall, those crab cakes were very tasty.

I left the restaurant, to catch the shuttle back to the airport, and flew back to Washington DC. When I arrived home, I had a wagon full to share with my family, and associates. After sharing my wonderful Experience, I turned on the computer, and discovered that Oprah was celebrating her tenth anniversary for the O Magazine. The information that I discovered, stated that the tickets would go on sale March 15 2010. Even though, I wasn't sure whether I could afford this event, it gave me plenty of time to prepare for it.

Once again, I asked my cousin to keep my son and my niece, while I attend this event. I was very shocked by his response. He said that he knew what it meant to me to see Oprah again. When he said Yes, I became overly excited. The first thing that came to mind was, "I knew that it wasn't the last time I was going to see Oprah. I was so excited until my family and friend, were tired of me talking about it. Even though, this weekend event was two months later, I started preparing for it immediately. I went online, and ordered my dress from the Romans Clothing Store. I went to the dress barn to purchased an outfit for the convention. A few weeks later, I purchased my train ticket, and booked my hotel room. May seventh finally arrived. I woke up around three a. m., got my son and niece ready to go over to my cousins house. On the way there, I called the cab to meet me there. This was to insure, I would not miss my train. I arrived over my cousins house, parked my car, took my luggage and the kids inside of the house. Two minutes later, the cab arrived. The cab took me to the train station, where I boarded the train. The train took depart at approximately four, forty five a.m., arriving in New York, about eight o'clock. From the train station, I caught the subway a block away from my hotel. I departed the subway, and walked to the hotel.

When I arrived at the check in counter, the receptionist said to me that if I wanted to check in earlier, I work have to accept one of their handicap rooms. She also stated that all of the rooms were the same, except for the bathroom. I told her that I did not care, as long as the room was clean. When I got to my room on the sixteenth floor, I opened the door, and liked what I saw. Even though I was not disabled, I loved the room even more. The room had different buttons that I could push if I did not feel like getting up. I even had a push button to close the curtains.

While I was scoping out the room, I realized that I had an hour before it was time to attend the LYBL weekend reception. I started by ironing my clothes, then jumping in the shower, and getting ready for the reception. I left the room, went down to the lobby, and had the bell hop to flag down a taxi. This time of morning, in New York City, the traffic was bumper to bumper. I just knew that I was going to miss the reception.

Somehow, I made it ten minutes before my reception time. Upon arrival, I saw that the line was wrapped around the building. I got in line, and while waiting, I stood there talking to different people. I seemed as if, the more I talked, the faster the line moved. Once I finally got into the reception, the host checked my ID, and said for me to follow the sign that had the letter of my last name. I arrived at the check in desk, and the counter person gave me my welcome pass, and kit for the weekend. I immediately put my pass around my neck, and started walking around. All of a sudden, the white glove waiters started bringing out different types of o'rderves, and alcoholic, and non alcoholic daiquiris. This was right up my alley. I thought to myself, "wow, what a way to greet guest!"

After drinking two daiquiris, I started feeling good. I started sampling the different orderves, and continued socializing with the guest. I then left the reception, flagged down a cabbie, and headed back to my hotel. I went to my room, and started ironing the rest of my clothes, for the weekend events. When I was finished, I caught the subway train to the Stanton Island Ferry, to see the Statue of Liberty. I then headed back to Manhattan to explore Time Square. Once night fall hit, I knew that I had to get up extremely early, in order to get a good seat at the convention. I went back to the hotel, and requested an early morning wake up call. I woke up the next morning, showered, and got dressed. I went down stairs and met three women that were going the same place. They invited me to ride in the taxi with them, but before we left the lobby, we all stopped by the hotel café, and grabbed something light to eat.

We finally left the hotel, and headed toward the convention. When we arrived, the line was kind of Long. However, after getting inside the building, we were fortunate to be in the front section. This gave us the opportunity to be up close, and personal, with the celebrities. The ladies that I was with, decided that they wanted to sit on the side area. I totally disagreed with them. I had a great seat, and I just refused to move. So we were separated. They understood why I had no desire to move. I ran up to the celebrities, snapping their picture. I then would go over to the ladies and present the pictures to them. They were very disappointed in themselves, because they chose to move. I got their email addresses to forward the pictures to them.

About an hour later, it was time for Oprah to come out on stage. When she ran out on stage, I started crying, then I ran up to the stage and started taking pictures of her. After taking so many pictures of her, I just stood there looking at her, in total disbelief. I could not believe that I was fortunate enough to see her up close again.

Oprah started saying something to the man that was standing next to me, then she looked at me twice. I was in total shock. At this point, I just wish I had the opportunity to get on stage, and give her a big hug. Moreover, let her know what an inspiration she is to me. Other than God, I've never known anyone as powerful!

After the kick off, we were instructed to go to our classes, which lasted about forty-five minutes long. Each speaker was amazing. At twelve noon, we were given lunch. We had a choice of sandwiches or salads, and other top of the line foods. Everything was delicious. After lunch, we were instructed to attend our last two classes. Following the last two classes, we were given, a purse full of items. The goodies consisted of, make up, food, hats etc., and our shirt that we were walking in the following day.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Through These Eyesby JADA PATRICE HOWARD Copyright © 2012 by Jada Patrice Howard. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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