I have a dream. Like the great leader Martin Luther King Jr., my dream also features people of all races together in harmony. The people are beaming from ear to ear, some laughing, some singing, others even dancing. My dream may not be civil rights related, but it is a dream nonetheless. Allow me to elaborate.
I was watching that show on MTV where someone picks a goal that has nothing to do with his or her personality and tries to achieve it. MTV gives the dreamer a camera crew, a coach, some motivation and material goods to help out. The kids change from scrawny nerds into football players, or popular mall mavens into BMX bikers. While watching them, I realized: I have to be a part of this phenomenon.
Here is where my dream comes in. Ever since I saw those ultra hip kids, lying around, singing Donovan's whispery hit, \Mello Yellow,"" I have wanted to be in a Gap commercial.
Yes, you just read that correctly. I want to be on a soundstage, dancing and singing my heart out. Gap commercials are not just advertisements-they are like watching 30 seconds of a house party that you weren't invited to. Everyone is happy while they shake it to loud music, and show off their hot bodies in new scarves and jeans. I am mesmerized when I watch them, and then 30 seconds later it's over. Everything in those spots seems so whimsical and carefree, and I want to experience it for myself.
Even superstars the likes of Madonna and Lenny Kravitz have stopped by to revel in the excitement. The kids on the commercial get to dance and sing with them too, like it's not a big deal. Sarah Jessica Parker has never been to any of my parties. I don't think I could play it cool if she showed up at my doorstep. I would have to work on that with my coach.
Now that I think of it, I will need a lot of work with the coach. I consider myself socially and physically inept when it comes to this dancing. When I tried to do that ""Lean Back"" move, I aggravated my old back injury and couldn't sit up straight for a few hours. I have only mastered one dance, and that is the side step, finger snap combo like they always did on ""Saved By The Bell."" I would have been a hit at the fall harvest dance, but this is 2004, and I just don't cut it.
Also, if the ad calls for the participants to sing, I'm out of luck. I sound like a tortured cat whose claws are being dragged across a chalkboard. Yeah, the visual and auditory images are excruciating, but they are about three times better than watching me sing. It's painful for all the senses.
It seems like I have a lot to work on. Hopefully all of this hard work won't make me break down and cry like some of the people on that show. But I guess if embarrassing myself a little bit puts me one step closer to partying in a cardigan, then I'm all for it. Because I'll fall on my face 10,000 times if it means I can fall into the Gap.
erincanty8285@hotmail.com.
