By Ashlie Harper
One of the top five days — so far — of my life, happened yesterday.
It all started with my — and my best friend Danielle’s —obsession with Oprah’s new network, OWN. Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes soon become our favorite show to watch together. Both of us were fascinated by not only how the show was run, but with how Oprah ran her life. It opened up our eyes to the inspiration she brings to viewers every day.
Since this is Oprah’s last season doing the show, Danielle had a great idea: try to win tickets to see her show. Obviously, it isn’t easy winning tickets considering the high demand of very dedicated viewers, and we soon realized our dream of going might never come true. So far we had received constant rejection when trying to get tickets. One day, Danielle, while searching Oprah’s website, came across an essay contest for viewers who felt they had an “Oprah and Gayle kind of friendship.” (Gayle King has been Oprah’s best friend for the past 35 years.)
Immediately, we started thinking of a great, heartfelt essay to write so we could be selected to see her show. And you know what? A few days after submitting the essay, we got an email saying we WON! Not only were Danielle and I going to see Oprah in person, but everyone in the audience would be people who were best friends who had written winning essays as well.
On the three hour drive to Chicago, we started dreaming about all of the things that could happen on the show. Would the camera catch us in the audience and we would actually be on TV? Might we possibly be chosen to sit in the front row? Dare we ask…could we win something? It all seemed very unlikely in our heads, but we knew that when we were sitting in that audience, even in the back row, we would be on cloud nine.
After long waits in line and a room filled with very loud and excited best friends, Danielle and I heard our names being called over the intercom. We had no idea what that meant, but we were excited to learn why our names had been called. We had been chosen to be seated directly BEHIND Oprah and Gayle, meaning we would be on television the majority of the time! Wish number one, granted.
Then the show started. It truly was magical. A room filled with excited ladies screamed, clapped, cried and danced as Oprah made her way into the studio. Gayle then quickly followed, and the stories of their friendship began to flow out of their mouths. It was so much fun to experience their times together on the Oprah show throughout the years and hear what they had to say about each other.
Miraval Hotel & Spa
Then a video started to play of Gayle on a high ropes course at a hotel and spa in Arizona. As some of you may know, Gayle is deathly afraid of heights but conquered her fear for the sake of a great TV moment. As both Oprah and Gayle started to reminisce on that ropes course moment, I began reading the teleprompter—it was right in front of me. My stomach started churning. The words “…but you know what I’m REALLY excited to share with you…” started to scroll by in front of my eyes. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a dream. “You are all going to MIRAVAL!” The entire audience screamed and jumped up and down; but the funny part was that no one knew what Miraval was. Turns out, it was the hotel and spa Gayle and Oprah had stayed at in Tucson, Arizona and where the high ropes course had been held. Every best friend couple in the audience had won a two-night, three-day trip to Arizona. Wish number two, granted.
The show ended, but the fun didn’t stop there. Both Oprah and Gayle stayed after to answer questions and talk to the audience. They both seem like such real, honest, smart, and sweet people. It was incredible to share a room with two women who have made a very big mark in the world. After they were done, Oprah began to walk away, but not before she shook our hands and spoke to us personally. Wish number three, granted.
The day was more than I could possibly imagine. Danielle and I had barely dreamed of meeting Oprah, let alone sitting behind her and shaking her hand. And the trip we won still doesn’t seem real.
Yes, it was one of the best days of my entire life. And I think I can speak for Danielle and say the same. As Oprah said after the show, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. “
And all the class work Danielle and I had done and are continuing to do in college to learn how to write has now paid off in this surprising way. To paraphrase Oprah, for this we are very thankful.
