If you will it.

Growing up I listened to music but wasn't a huge music fan. Unlike my younger sister who's whole life was music and performing arts, I knew when I heard something I liked and stuck with it.

In the 90's Boyz || Men we're a hot group. We all had that awkward moment at a school dance when "I'll make love to you" would be played and the great debate of whether or not to ask your crush at the time to arm length slow dance with you made your stomach queasy.

Fast forward to the late 90's and their hit song "A song for Mama" was released.

The words were everything to me. They say when you're happy, you hear the music and when you're sad, you hear the lyrics.

I always heard the lyrics.

When my mom passed, my sister chose her faves Elton John and Backstreet Boys to play at moms visitation. I chose "A song for mama" because mama I just want you to know... we're the best lyrics to describe what I was feeling at that time.

Twenty years later, I teased my dad when he asked me what I wanted for my 40th birthday.

I said I want Boyz || Men to play my party.

At the time, I also had a dear friend that worked the live music at a local well known winery and tried to convince her to bring the Boyz to town.

Since it became a joke, I figured if I wanted it to happen, I had to do it myself.

So, in my 41st year and with over 20 years of throwing fundraisers for charities, I presented a business proposal to my dad. I could sell tickets to the concert, cover all costs and then any proceeds would benefit the charity of choice.

He agreed to advance me the booking fee and I contacted their agent.

Little thing I didn't prepare for in my proposal was a global pandemic.

As the tickets went on sale, the world was slowly shutting down.

Trying to flatten a curve.

COVID-19 shut down the world.

With the original event on my birthday weekend, which was February, we had no choice but to postpone the concert.

We rescheduled to June and waited patiently.

When the weekend arrived, I was full of emotions.

The night before they took the stage, I learned that one of the 3 Boyz was denied entry into Canada because of our Country's vaccination policy for COVID. I was sick to my stomach.

I had promised ticket holders Boyz || Men not 2 of the 3 Boyz.

The show must go on they said.

And it did.

As I stepped off the stage after introducing them and thanking everyone for being there a release of everything I had inside came out. I was crying uncontrollably!

Amber, Wanya's wife was off stage. She hugged me and said, you got this, you did it!

I did. I really did.

The guys were amazing! Humble, down to earth and understood the assignment.

After all was said and done, planning, production, marketing and execution, financially I fell short. But, at the end of the day, this one woman show made it all happen.

I learned through the process that the Boyz do not perform "A song for mama" anymore for personal reasons.

Total respect for that.

What they did perform was an amazing show and an unforgettable experience that I got to share with my family, friends and most importantly my daughter. I also learned that if you will yourself enough, you can do anything.

This one was for you, mama.