Susan Magdalene Boyle, my favorite Scot...

Unless you've been living in an ice cave in Siberia, you've heard of Susan Boyle! More than likely, you've been one of the millions of "hits" on youtube, listening to her Britain's Got Talent debut. I'd venture to guess if you've heard her once, you've listened several times. I know I have.

The last time I was a true "fan", I was fifteen years old and standing in line outside Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee, on a bitter cold February day in 1961. This was my chance to see a young Elvis Presley in concert at the Special Matinee Memphis Charity Show, and I could hardly wait. A few years have passed since then and to be honest, I really haven't been a "fan" in all the years since. Oh, sure, there have been performers whose music I've enjoyed, but I couldn't tell you anything about them...other than maybe the name of a song I liked.

One day, not too long ago, a friend of mine emailed me a link to a performance by a Britain's Got Talent contestant. I had never heard of BGT or watched it for that matter, but I was curious and clicked on the link. There was Susan. She was eating a sandwich and, obviously, waiting for her turn to perform. It was hard not to see the shock of curly hair, those eyebrows and the dress that was the wrong color for her lovely "Winter" complexion. Oh, but there was something about her. When she said she was going to "make that audience rock"...somehow I knew she would do just that. Although she did not appear nervous when it was her turn, I was nervous for her. I wanted to slap the members of the audience and the panel of judges who rolled their eyes and made faces. I really did.

Oh, but then Susan opened her mouth and sang...with crystal clear notes and perfect pitch. I loved it. I loved the fact that jaws visibly dropped all over the audience, including the three too-quick-to-form-an-opinion judges! I loved it when the audience rose to their feet at the first crescendo and when they gave Susan a standing ovation! I was already reeled in as a dyed-in-the-wool fan, but her spunky answers and enthusiasm after her performance sealed it...