Good morning Prairians! I slept nearly 9 hours last night! Boy was I tired. Up at 5:00 am yesterday (my only day off) to do Good Day NY followed by The View. Then last night I recorded an interview with the Heart to Hearties podcast. It was a fun day but an EARLY one. (I’ll include a link to my interview on The View, in my comments) I just want to tell you guys just how much I LOVE Whoopi Goldberg. Many years ago I did the 1st reboot of Hollywood Squares. I did the original too and I hear there’s a new version coming. Anyway, Whoopi was the center square on the reboot. That show was taped over a weekend. They’d shoot a whole week’s worth of shows. So, my son Michael, my youngest, was only about 2 years old and I didn’t want be away from him so I arranged to have him there with me. Now, I’m his mama, so I am partial but, Michael was the most beautiful baby . He had big grey eyes and blonde curls, milky skin with chubby pink cheeks. He was such a happy little guy too. Well, Whoopi took one look at him and I swear, I barely got to hold him that whole weekend. She tickled and kissed and squeezed that baby. She gave him treats and toys and he just loved her. He called her “Auntie Hoopie”. In fact , since then, she has always been referred to as “Auntie Hoopie” in our house. Let me be clear, we are not friends in our personal lives. We don’t hang out . We don’t exchange emails or call each other. I don’t even have a contact for Whoopi that said I first met her when I was a little girl and we’ve always just had an affinity for one another. We’re only 10 years apart so whenever we see each other, there’s lots of hugs and excitement because we really do adore each other. Yesterday Michael went with me to the view. He brought along his adorable girlfriend, Gia. We did not tell auntie Hoopie that Michael was coming and mind you. She has not seen him since he was two years old. They sat him and his girlfriend Gia down in the front row and, I was backstage so I missed this, apparently she saw him and ran over to him and grabbed him and hugged him and kissed him, and they talked and talked and talked during the commercial break. Michael was so happy. She has a very special place in his heart. One of his first memories ever is being tickled by her and hugged by her and loved up by her. Whoopi is just the best and I love her so much. I’m so grateful someone got this photo for me. They are truly are angels everywhere!

Posted by Melissa "Nana Pint" at 2025-02-12 12:38:35 UTC