We had enrolled him in an acting class near our home and this was his head shot. On the back was a resume. He had gone to acting camp one summer and played the part of Conrad Birdie in "Bye Bye Birdie" complete with a sequin-covered denim jacket. He was in three plays in high school, Andre in "Phantom of the Opera", Dallas in the "Outsiders" and Harry Monday in "Three Murders and It's Only Monday" where he was the star. He wore his grandfather's trench coat and a fedora. He was a big hit. Of course, I was his biggest fan.
He was an extra in a couple of industrial films and with the Joffrey ballet at the Performing Arts Center in Tampa where he wore a helmet that covered his face and held a big axe.
It wasn't on his resume, but I should also include his dance class at preschool where he and several other little boys dressed as cowboys and stole the show from all the frilly little ballerinas at the recital. (At least that is what all of the boys' mothers thought.)
It was a complete surprise when Nickelodeon called. He drove to Orlando for the audition. I believe Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Brittany Spears were still there with the Mickey Mouse Club. They were casting for a TV show. I think it was something like "Welcome, Freshmen." He went to the interview but it didn't work out. He didn't look like his head shot anymore. He had cut his hair in a short military style and decided to "muscle up". The man he talked to encouraged him to send in another head shot, but that was the end of his acting career. Some of his acting classmates did very well in the business.
He has a good singing voice and taught himself to play guitar. He has written many country songs. My favorite is "Little Girl Fly" about a divorced father sending his daughter back to her mother after a visit.
On his 30th birthday, I had a bonfire party and played Tim McGraw's CD "My Next 30 Years." He and I danced to that song 9 years later at his wedding. Today he is turning 40.
He is smart and talented and funny with a wicked sense of humor. His motto is "Don't Worry, Be Happy." He knows how to push all my buttons. But he has a generous heart and has forgiven me for all the mistakes I made as he was growing up.
He has a father, a step-father, uncles, brothers and friends but I like to think it is 5 women who know him best and love him most. His mother (me), his late grandmother, his sister, his wife, and his little girl. He is an awesome father.
Happy Birthday, Cory. We all love you even when you try our patience.
Here is a link to the story of the day he was born. http://grandmasunday.blogspot.com/2011/06/moving-day-corys-birthday.html
