What a Night!

There are many benefits to ending your marriage peacefully. One big benefit for the entire family is a productive co-parenting relationship. Another, if you happen to have been married to someone who was Berry Gordy's childhood friend, is that you get to attend cool events like the Gala for Motown's 50th Anniversary on November 21st, as Berry's guest.

Technically, I was the guest of a guest because it's my former husband, Bud, whom Berry invites. Either way, it was a lucky day for me as I got to sit and talk with luminairies who were either Motown recording artists (like Stevie Wonder) or friends and supporters (such as Judge Greg Mathis, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and the Honorable Damon Keith).

The setting was sumptuous, of course, and filled with beautiful dresses and beautiful people at the Detroit Marriott in the RenCen. When we were escorted to the dining hall, 750 people were treated to a lovely dinner amidst the dynamic entertainment of the "new" Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Kid Rock. (Even the warm up band was good!) There was also a short film honoring former members of the Motown family who have recently passed away (like Levy Stubbs of the Four Tops and of course, the biggest entertainer of them all, Michael Jackson). Sinbad as Master of Cermonies was a riot.

Bud and I were accompanied by our son, Alex, and his daughter Toi. Much to Alex's consternation (he thinks mothers should be wearing a shawl and knitting) I got up and danced to the old tunes I loved and grew up to. When I hear good music, I can't sit down! No one else seemed to mind, as they were having just as much fun as I was.

The Detroit Marriott is pretty amazing. I had never been in this part of it before, and was thrilled to see old posters of all my early favorites (the Supremes, Temptations, and of course the Jackson 5) flawlessly superimposed over the elevator doors so that you are entertained with the history of Motown as you walk to the large halls. I never realized what a beautiful job had been done at the downtown Marriott, or how much Motown is a major theme. It's well worth a visit, just to see it.

Berry Gordy comes from a large and very close-knit family, and any time I am around him I can feel the magic of this web of love that surrounds him. I saw his long-time photographer, Mario, who has accompanied him throughout the years to every event I've ever attended. The Gala was handled with the superb attention to detail I've always seen at any event Berry or his family organized. Everyone was there to have a good time, and when the evening was officially ended we got up and joined Berry and his family at Seldom Blues.

This was a big deal for me, and I am so thankful to Bud, whom I will always love, for allowing me to share it. Just because a marriage ends does not mean there is a villain and a victim. Many times, as with Bud and me, people find that they are able to rediscover what it was they liked about each other in the first place. And to me, that is the kind of love that lasts.

(By the way, the photos above seemed to post in no particular order. They are, me with Stevie Wonder, my son Alex with Sinbad, me with Kid Rock, Kid Rock and Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, and me with Judge Greg Mathis.)