The Back Story:
We always had a lot going on. Our schedules often conflicted. While I was working my job which included many evening, weekends and holidays, Lori kept her schedule full with any number of jobs and projects. Add in the wedding planning and our usual busy calendar was even more jam packed that year.
When Lori had a free weekend, it usually meant a trip to Williamsburg to continue the wedding planning. On the rare weekend I had off, I would drive separately and meet her there. Week after week and weekend after weekend, we were busy. And that is not surprising with two people who planned events for a living.
Like most couples, many of the responsibilities were split up and like most couples, the list leaned heavily on her side. I had very few things on my list, but one of those items was the honeymoon. And we both looked at it as the rare opportunity for us to get away. To get away from work. From events. From planning. From our schedule. Nothing we needed to do. No deadlines.
The Plan:
The plan was for us to drive back from Williamsburg to Charlotte the day after the wedding. Then, on Monday, we would fly from Charlotte to San Francisco. Rent a car. Spend 2 days site seeing the bay area and then on Wednesday, drive to Lake Tahoe where we would spend 3 days at the Cal Neva Resort. Golf. A hike. Sight Seeing tour around the lake. Dinners, shopping, have a few drinks and some gambling at the casino. Then return to San Francisco to fly back to Charlotte.
It wasn’t an aggressive plan. It was actually pretty simple. The plan was designed to meet our goals to get away from work, from events, from planning. Nothing we needed to do. No deadlines.
The Trip, Part 1:
We arrived back in Charlotte with a little time for us to unload our suitcases, wash some clothes, re-pack our suitcases, and be ready to leave for San Francisco in the morning. On time. On schedule.
The flight was smooth and uneventful. I slept. And because I slept, I actually have no idea what Lori did to fill the hours. But I know she didn’t sleep. We also had no difficulties getting our rental car and enjoyed driving around the city. We checked into the hotel and walked around downtown San Francisco. We hit up most of the tourist attractions and found a nice place to have dinner.
The following day we drove the coast starting at the Golden Gate Bridge. We drove south for an hour or so, occasionally stopping along the way. Then we drove north back through San Francisco. We visited Alcatraz and found somewhere for dinner. The two days in San Francisco were full. Next, we were off to Lake Tahoe.
After a beautiful day driving, we arrived in Tahoe. After a short drive around the town, we checked into the resort. We had dinner at the resort and spent time in the casino. There was a band on the stage and we enjoyed a few drinks. We were meeting our goals to get away from work, from events, from planning. Nothing we needed to do. No deadline.
*** Side note. Up until I decided to tell this story, if anyone would have asked me about our honeymoon, they would have heard about everything I have shared up to this point. But for some reason, I completely forgot about what happened next. The moment when everything on the honeymoon changed.
The Trip, Part 2:
When I woke up the next morning, Lori was already up. She was drinking coffee and reading a magazine. Notepad from the hotel was in front of her. Pen in her hand. There was an excitement in the air. I just knew that something was… different.
Lori shared with me the ad she found in the magazine. “Live! with Regis” was looking for a new co-host and ANYONE could apply! I had never watched Regis. I knew Kathie Lee because she was married to Frank Gifford. Interested applicants only needed to submit 3 things. 1. A Headshot. 2. An essay in 250 words or less explaining why you would be a great co-host. 3. A video no more than 3 minutes long.
Sounds like a great idea I thought. You can do that when we get back to Charlotte. However, there was a catch. The application deadline was 3 days away. So even though we did not have any headshots (with us or in Charlotte), and we didn’t have a computer, and we didn’t have a video studio, Lori was not concerned. If we got right to work and carefully planned, we could get this event done and meet the deadline.
Within the hour, I was given the plan. I had a list of tasks that included everything from buying a specific coffee cup to finding a 24 hour photo store. Getting permission to use a patio that over looked the lake and confirm the location of a post office. Lori meanwhile was writing her script, outlining her essay and choosing her best outfit.
Before long, we were taking a series of headshot photos which I then immediately headed out to get printed. Upon returning, the stage was set for the video production. Lori had worked with the resort to secure a bar stool, a table. Setup on one of their many patios with the lake in the background. With notes in her hand, Lori was ready for the video production. With me as the cameraman, we began to “film”. With the lack of a computer or an editing studio, we needed to shoot the who segment in one take. So Lori practiced several times and then we shot the video.
Several tries later, Lori was almost getting through the whole segment. She was determined. And after a couple more takes, she nailed it. The video was complete and ready to be sent. What would make this story complete would be if I actually had the video I could share with you. I don’t. But as is often the case with Lori, she kept everything. And in this case, what I do have is a handwritten copy of her script and her essay.
The Script:
OPEN:
From the beautiful shore and mountains of Lake Tahoe…..It’s Live with Regis and Lori
INTRO:
Good morning. I am Lori, with the crystal clear waters of Lake Tahoe behind me, I am here today while Regis is still in New York! I am here without the benefit of a studio, microphone or headset. I am on my honeymoon. They have however found me a Live with Regis Coffee Mug! Thanks Regis!
BACKGROUND:
Before we get to today’s hot news topics, Let me give you a brief background. I am on the 4th day of my honeymoon! I thought I could escape the entertainment business, whether it’s my “Living for Today” radio show or the event planning business which I own and produce the Taste of Charlotte Festival. But who can escape from Regis every morning?
NEWS: Todays news, is right from the Lake Tahoe paper this week. Regis, I’m sure you saw this in the NY headlines… Two people found jogging on Tahoe Trail. What were they doing? They were jogging! Full story on page 3. Also, hitting the front page of the Squaw Valley Times, “Tahoe’s Autumn Food and Wine Festival to really wet your appetite”
BREAK: Well, we are going to have to take a break. We are here at the CalNeva Resort where Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe once vacationed. When we return, we will welcome Captain Bob who last week caught Tahoe’s largest trout! I’m Lori Murray….. DuBois. I’m still getting used to the being married thing.
CLOSE: Hey - Thanks for joining us here. Next time you see me, I’ll be right there with you Regis! See you in New York!
The end result may not have been exactly as she wrote down as I am sure there was plenty of ad-libs built into the final project. But what she wrote on letter head from the Cal-Neva Resort in Lake Tahoe was exactly what you just read. And below is the essay that went along with it.
THE ESSAY
They say to not always believe what you read,
But it’s true, I’m on my honeymoon, indeed!
Although my resources are few, this is what I must do,
To see if I might be the best match for you!
Raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, though I’ve since traveled some,
From Boston to Floriday, to the bright Charlotte sun.
My world tour continues, we married one week ago,
In Williamsburg Virginia, then San Fran to Tahoe
So I’ve taken a moment to put this together for you,
Being a long time fan, it’s the least I could do.
Walt Disney World is where it all began,
My career and the place, I met my husband.
Next I was hosting a radio show,
Called “Living for Today”, my life’s true motto.
Then television news and promotions I do,
and in my free time, a voice over or two.
So, straight to the point, on why your match might be me,
After 31 years I’ve been able to see,
That above all other reasons, the one that stands out the most,
My true love for people, is why I’ll make a great co-host.
I have a real spark for life,
One who will try something new,
I can laugh at myself,
And Regis will too!
The Trip, Part 3
With the headshots, the video and the essay in hand, we made our way to the post office and sent the package over-night delivery. We decided to cut our trip short and drove back to San Francisco. We were able to get an earlier flight back to Charlotte.
I slept on the plane, likely exhausted from our vacation. The kind of exhaustion that comes from a trip that was without work, without events, without planning, without a schedule. Nothing we needed to do. No deadlines.
Lori? She read a magazine. Probably planning our next vacation.
One last note…. On February 5, 2001, Kelly Ripa was named co-host for the newly named, “Live! with Regis and Kelly”. The announcement deprived the rest of the country from ever seeing “Live! with Regis and Lori”. Even though Lori was disappointed when she found out she was not selected, she never let it bother her, instead, she became even more motivated to continue to pursue her dreams and find whatever was meant to be next for her.
She remained a huge fan of Regis and quickly loved Kelly too. And she rarely missed the show.