It’s interesting how are dreams aren’t as sweet once we achieve them. The other day, I started thinking back to the “glory days” of Cornell, mainly a cappella. I thought about my idol, Chris Shepard.
Chris sang with the Binghamton Crosbies, and he was my vocal role model. He had a great voice, but women thought he was ONE HOT NEGRO!!! There aren’t many Black guys in a cappella. The quota’s about 1 per group, IF that, so he was a big deal to me. When he sang, there needed to be complimentary towels for all the women in the house ’cause there was more cream filling than a Twinkie abounding (graphic, yes, but also accurate). His signature song was “I’d Die Without You”, by PM Dawn.
Ask anyone in LC, I wanted to be Chris Shepard. I wanted his voice, his rep, everything. I also figured his girlfriend must’ve been really hot. Well, one after party, I met her, and well, she was actually pretty frumpy. Infact, I was a little disappointed. But hey, you can’t choose who ya love, right? I guess I was being shallow. Still, I’m sure he had to deal with a lot of “Why is he with her?” going on behind his back.
He was hot, could sing, and had a girl. He had it all, right? Well, I started thinking back to my latter days, and how it never quite dawned on me that I had, in effect, become Chris, without even realizing it. And it wasn’t as sweet. And I think I know what he went through. By no means, am I saying I was HOT and AMAZING (I don’t think like that), but I DO feel I can say I know how he probably felt, and it wasn’t such a superstar wonderland as I had thought it would be. Really wish I’d exploited it more…
