As I promised last year, I made my plans early for the Soap Opera Digest Awards show. No more sitting in the balcony for me! Usually I dart in at the last minute, sit on a bench outside the bathroom, then cut out before dinner and the post-show brouhaha.
But this year was very different- I arrived on time, stayed for the dinner, and even had an escort. Stephen Nichols and I arrived at the Beverly Hilton before the ceremony began. Stephen, who looks smashing with his hair cut very short and sporting a goatee, is fit and trim and in great athletic shape. I wasn’t sure anyone would recognize him, but you can’t slip anything past those Patch and Kayla enthusiasts!
We stepped out of the limousine and faced a gauntlet of fans and paparazzi with their multitude of flashing cameras. We’d barely stepped onto the red carpet when the crowd realized our identity. They were totally shocked, and excited to see us.
They seated Stephen and me at the General Hospital table- which was next to the Days of our Lives table. And what a family reunion it was for us all! My two former brothers, Peter Reckell and Drake Hogestyn were on one side of me while three of my former husbands, Wally Kurth, Matt Ashford and Stephen Nichols, along with my current boyfriend, John York, were on the other side.
Since Days of our Lives and General Hospital won so many awards, we spent the entire evening standing and clapping. We laughed and talked right throughout the ceremony.
Most soap actors have worked in this genre for many years and have been on more than one show. We all know people from many different shows. One minute I bump into Sharon Farrell (who played my crazy mom on the soap Rituals and is now on the Young and the Restless), and she says, “Hi daughter!” The next minute I turn around and there’s Peggy Mckay (who played my mom on DOOL), and she gives me a big hug.
At one point during the awards, they showed a montage of supercouples getting engaged. One actor after another slipped a beautiful ring on an actress’ finger. Then there was Stephen slipping a cigar band on mine. The old clips were sentimental. It seems like so long ago, but it was such a big part of my life. It made me remember how happy I am with Stephen and how well we work together. I’d love to see Stephen on GH. We always have a blast when we’re together and he’s such a great actor. Just like I did with Matt, I’ve been chatting up the producers about Stephen’s stellar qualities. Then I call Stephen at home and describe how GH is hip and happening. If I just keep recruiting, maybe someday…
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