Coming Full Circle
Happy New Year 2008 to all!
Since I started this Website/Blog in 2006 many wonderful Doris Day moments have transpired. I met and corresponded with many wonderful fans of the divine Ms. Day and I also took a couple of memorable trips to LA and Carmel.
As I have stated in my previous posts, Doris Day inspires many of us to create, whether it be creating Websites like Bryan J. and Stephen M. ( Doris Day Web Forum and PILLOW TALK - The Doris Day Forum , respectively), writing books, magazines, calenders and even a quilt dedicated to Doris and her animal causes.
One person who has been inspired by Doris is Sue Gökgör. I had the pleasure of meeting this dear lady. She heads the F.O.D.D. club. I asked her to present her club:
The Friends of Doris Day (F.O.D.D.) is a not-for-profit club endorsed
by Doris Day, MOF, (Medal of Freedom, the highest honour given to
citizens of the USA in recognition of their work). Started in 1997, The Friends of Doris Day, (F.O.D.D.), is an International Doris Day appreciation club, based in Oxford, UK - and the only Doris Day fan club in the UK. The club publishes three magazines a year, packed full of articles and information you won’t find anywhere else, including memorabilia signed by Doris herself for auction or sale.
Miss Day herself is the President of F.O.D.D.
In addition to well-researched and presented articles, news, reviews of the latest releases and what’s in the pipeline, the magazine contains many sale items, fun quizzes with prizes, letters from members, and many photos. Also included is a special Christmas message by Doris herself. The magazine is printed on quality paper averaging 36 A4 sized pages. Two of the three issues each year have covers printed in colour
- front and back - and sometimes inside covers as well.
F.O.D.D. celebrates Doris’ birthday each year with a dinner party, an
annual get-together in Oxford in the summer and meet up for a film show
wherever/whenever possible. The club keep in regular touch with Doris,
and she with the club so becoming a member of this unique friendly club
will bring you closer to Doris.
I get a thrill everytime I receive Sue’s magazine. Thanks Sue for your dedication.
To become a memeber of F.O.D.D.you can write to Dr Sue Gökgör, 71 East Avenue, OXFORD OX4 1XR, UK. eMail: suegokgor@aol.com (Check Bryan’s website for more info http://www.dorisday.net/Friends-of-Doris-Day.htm)
I can’t cover the sheer creative activity of Doris’ fans but there are those that make really nice Doris videos on YouTube. Bryan, Tanja and Peter are some of those creative souls.
Other fans, like Roberta, from California, are the great collectors of Doris Day memorabillia. She has a whole room dedicated to Doris’ stuff, but not just any stuff, we’re talking about the creme de la creme stuff, things that could be a start of a Doris Day Museum. I can’t wait to one day visit and see her wonderful collection.
Then there are those people who do wonderful things for Doris , but ,like to remain behind the scenes.
If anybody has been inspired by Doris and her causes and would like to share your project, you’re welcome to present it.
This brings me to the initial purpose of this Website, hence the title of my post. If you read the Introduction , you will remember that my goal was to film a romantic comedy inspired by Doris Day.
Well, the filming which began in March of 2007 is now over and the exciting project of editing is in front of me and my editors. I was also inspired to write 5 songs. One song, which is called Modern Romance, is also the name of the film and references Doris. Another song , which is called the Animal Song, is dedicated to her. This evening we finished recording the songs. It’s a great feeling!
A brief synopsis:
Modern Romance is the story of a Doris Day loving florist who meets a wannabe gangsta rapper on the Internet. She wants to turn him into a romantic leading man. He just wants to bed her. Can these two disparate characters find true love? Find out in this funny, romantic and song-filled film. ( I hope, LOL)
January 17th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Velda,
Thanks for creating this site to honor Doris and for sharing your feelings and opinions about her. Since April 1997, Doris has inspired me and enhanced my life in so many ways. It was as that time that I watched a video of “Calamity Jane” for the first time and fell in love with her. I was new to the Internet at that time, but I found Sue and joined the FODD. I also met other DD fans, like Howard, Katie, Dan, Nancy, Ron, Ken, Norman, Linda, Pierre, Stephen, Alan, and Dareth. Ten years later, I met more DD fans when I attended Doris’ birthday party in Carmel in April 2007–wonderful people like you, Roberta, Denise, Antonette, Renny, Dave, Dan, and Mark. Then in October 2007 I met Kim and Annie. All of these people have become friends who I cherish very much. None of this would have happened had it not been for Doris (all good things seem to start with her!). Over the years I have worked on many different projects to honor her and to raise money for her animal charities. Primarily, I have put tribute CDs together and various publications. The CDs include one called “Moon Walk with Doris Day” which she herself said she liked very much; and an 8-CD set which I titled “On the Air with Doris Day”–a set that includes all her radio and big band performances, along with many other early recordings which were not part of the Bear Family sets. The publications include booklets that feature the following DD films: On Moonlight Bay, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Romance on the High Seas, and The Thrill of It All. Currently I’m working on two new projects: A combo-booklet featuring two DD films (Calamity Jane and The Ballad of Josie) for Doris’ next birthday celebration in Carmel in April 2008 and a special “DORIS-Happy Valentine’s-DAY” booklet, subtitled “The Lady in Pink.” In conjunction with the Valentine’s Day project, I’m hoping to put together 3 more CD sets–all of Doris’ songs which have love, heart, or kiss in the song title. I always send a copy of my CDs and my publications to Doris, as well as to many of my DD friends. I have also contributed to Sue’s magazine from time to time. I am totally amazed by Sue’s dedication and drive and her endless work on Doris’ behalf. I think what we all have in common is a deep love and respect and admiration for Doris. All the work that I do on my various projects is a labor of love. By way of her films, TV shows, and recordings, Doris has brought me so much joy. And she continually inspires me today with all the work she does on behalf of animals–she is the champion of the 4-leggers! Being a dog lover myself, I share that passion with her too. Thanks, Velda, for giving me this opportunity to share a little bit about myself and my Doris projects. I look forward to this year’s birthday celebration in Carmel where we will all gather together again, like the big happy family that we have become. Life doesn’t get any better than that!
~Lloyd
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January 18th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Thanks for sharing, Lloyd. Having received some of your Doris inspired creations, I can attest to the fact that you are very creative and talented. Keep on being inspired and doing good work.
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