Is it possible that those years were truly our rainbow connection? Think about it a group of dreamers with love in their hearts and willing to share that love and their dreams through music and dance.
It didn't matter to us if it was just a rehearsal or a show the magnitude of the Wilshire Ebel show we were all a happy family.
I remember Don telling us "Make It Happen" and somehow we did.
Ellen's sweet innocent smile. Ladders slipping out from under people as we ran on stage for the first number. Kenny Herman calling us all to order. "NEW GENERATION Front and Center." I can hear it like it was yesterday.
How can you encapsule something that was such a dominating force in your life. It's as if the group had a identity of it's own. It was yours for the taking if you chose to take the ride. Hop on, Hold tight and you1ll have the ride of your life. I did and I did.
To try and recall any one incident would only would be an injustice. To try and recall them all would take a novel larger than "War & Peace". To thank anyone individual would be unthinkable to thank you all would be impossible. How could I possibly tell anyone how important NG was to my life. How could I have known that it would shape the way I think, act and accept people. The group taught me hard work does pay off. It taught me to be accepting of other people. It taught me how to share and it taught me how to care. It taught me discipline and most of all it taught me how to love and share that love with other people. A lesson the whole world could use. I am sure it taught each and every one of you the same life lessons. Whether you only came to rehearsals and performances, or whether you took part in each and every impromptu party, coffee clutch or late night rap sessions you can't escape (and who would want to) the positive effect the New Generation had on your life.
So did we have our day in the sun? Did we have our 15 minutes of fame? Did we have our "One Moment In Time?" You bet we did!
How lucky I was and how lucky we all were to be a part of this unbelievable experience we called the New Generation. Yes, you will all have to agree it truly was a RAINBOW CONNECTION.
Henry L. Heller
P.S. Special thanks to Rick (Rothstein) Rhodes. We spent our youth together. We did lots of stuff and when it's all said and done, I suppose the scales are even. However, I will never be able to repay you for introducing me to the New Generation.