Bill and I arrived to a packed waiting aria. Found Fran, Paulette, Karen, Jackie and Glenise. Had cocktails, moved into the ballroom and found our table was next to Connie's. She and Neil Sedaka were 8 feet away! Finally the time came, Connie was announced and in she walked with the producer like a queen, to thunderous applause, flashes, kisses, whistles, etc. She looked radiant, dressed in a brown dress and heels, gorgeous hair and makeup in earth tone, no Red this time (and yes, Jairo flitted around her primping constantly, lol). She was happy, overwhelmed and at the end of the day in the green room with a much smaller crowd around, I realized she was out of any pain from the hip surgery. She was up and down, walking around at  times, just great.

 

Lots of picture taking, to the point that Tony announced that she would do that later, and no more now, so she can eat her lunch!!  Funny, but he was SERIOUS.

 

Connie sang Stupid Cupid and WTBA with Neil, and at the end of the day, a color guard came out as she did her Viet Nam speech from the show that led to her God Bless America, then final words and thanks from her and the day was done. She was in tremendous voice and sang so beautifully. All the entertainment was first class and funny and the singers great.

 

I gotta go to work now. More later.