Dear Oprah,
My life has been an amazing roller coaster ride since
the day one of your producers, Amy Coleman, left me a
phone message saying, “Call me to discuss being
on the show.”
Of course I was thrilled, assuming that news of the
parenting book I was co-writing had reached you. As a
regular viewer of your show for the last 15 years, I’ve
incorporated many of your insights into my life, my work
as a child and family psychotherapist, and of course
my book.
Imagine my profound disappointment when halfway through
my conversation with Amy I suddenly realized that she
had been trying to reach a different A. Parnass in New
York City! My spirits sank, and all at once my "dream
come true" seemed much farther out of reach. Luckily,
Amy was extremely gracious, and offered me the opportunity
to submit my work for your consideration when it was
complete.
The infamous mistaken phone call was followed by two
more years of working on the book, “Listen To Me,
Please!” Time-In, Not Time-Out with Dr. Ron Taffel,
a 6-time published author of parenting books. Our new
technique encourages parents and children to identify
their feelings, talk about what truly matters and express
their authentic selves early on in life.
Simultaneously I was pursuing my decade-long songwriting
career. One day, discouraged by my long journey on the
road to success, I again turned to your show for strength.
At that moment I was moved to write a song lyric acknowledging
your contribution to my life. It seemed to flow effortlessly
out of my heart and onto the paper.
I brought the lyric, “You Are Water,” to
my songwriting coach, Alex Forbes, and we completed it
together. We then contacted producer/songwriter Eve Nelson
to collaborate on the music. Our first session was magical,
and by the time we went home that night, the song was
virtually complete.
The song required a very special vocal, and Eve and
her manager, Bernadette O'Reilly, came up with the idea
of sending it to Hayley Westenra, a 18-year-old pop/classical
superstar whose debut album went 10-times platinum in
her native New Zealand. Hayley's singing voice is breathtakingly
pure and beautiful, and in her role as UNICEF's youngest-ever
goodwill ambassador she's fully committed to a mission
of providing health, education, equality and protection
for every child. In April of this year she visited Ghana
for National Polio Inoculation Day and participated in
activities with a local tribe near Tamale. And like myself,
Hayley is a great admirer of your humanitarian work.
Eve sent the song to Hayley's manager, Steve Abbott,
and he and Hayley immediately became excited about the
possibility of recording it. She was busy completing
her U.K. debut album and choosing songs for her first
American release, and Steve was able to squeeze in some
recording time.
Recently we received Hayley's brilliant take on the
song, and you now hold the final result in your hands.
As you can see, this entire series of events was set
in motion by a fluke “coincidence.” But rather
than succumb to my disappointment over the mistaken phone
call, with the help of others I've been able to turn
it into an opportunity.
My “dream come true” is to present the song, “You
Are Water,” to you on the show, and have Hayley
perform it as a “thank you” for your contributions.
I think others will be empowered by Hayley's interpretation
of the song's message: that we are enriched by the supportive
people in our lives, like yourself, whose voices “give
us our own voice.”
Respectfully and with warm appreciation,
Ava Parnass
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