On March 28, 1986 not far from Shea Stadium a baby girl was born in Yonkers, NY. Her name was Joanne Stefani Germanotte.
Across the Hudson River in North Jersey seven year old Tommy Riles was reading as he did every morning before school about his heroes the New York Mets. Spring training was underway & it was a great day in Tommy’s hometown of Pompton Plains.
Jeremy Jack Bieber was an eleven year old boy, living in Ontario Canada.
Twelve year old Ryan Seacrest had already reached his adult height in Atlanta, GA where priceless gems come in little packages.
Omar Poya celebrated his second birthday in the San Francisco bay area.
Katie Irene Kreider celebrated her eleventh birthday at the “Sweetest Place on Earth” Hershey Park in PA, & Julia Stiles turned five that day.
Seven months later,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tommy served as his baby sister Michelle’s Godfather at her Christening in October, one week before Michelle & the rest of the Riles family of six, were a part of sports history as we cheered for our World Champion AMAZIN’ Mets at the ticker tape parade in Manhattan on an un-forgettable sunny fall day.
Perhaps even more AMAZIN’ than our Mets winning the Series in 1986 is how the rest of this all connected…….
In addition to being one of the top audience warm-up comedians in Hollywood, Tommy Riles is now a writer, announcer, emcee, website creator, and Real Housedad of Orange County. He has “Riled-up,” audiences & gets them cheering for entertainment’s biggest stars on over fifty television shows including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show & The X-Factor.”
We all know Katie Irene Kreider now as Kate Gosselin who became well known for her reality shows, initially Jon & Kate Plus 8, and more recently Twist of Kate.
Julia Stiles has maintained an impressive acting career after shooting to fame for her work on films such as Save the Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You.
Tommy introduced Kate & Julia to audiences while his sister’s wonderful boyfriend Omar Poya was on his way to becoming a Licensed Civil Engineer in San Francisco.
In addition, Tommy became a friend of Ryan Seacrest. He has worked with Ryan in his thriving broadcasting career and multiple ventures. Internationally known & loved Ryan Seacrest is at the forefront of the media and entertainment industry today.
However, as Tommy’s Dad, the most AMAZIN’ part of all of this for me is………..
That onetime beautiful baby girl Joanne Stefani Germanotte grew up & God only knows how but she evolved into Lady Gaga.
Last Saturday night she was introduced by Ryan Seacrest when Gaga & Jeremy Jack Bieber’s boy Justin filled Times Square to ring in 2012.
As we step into this New Year Gaga & Jeremy’s boy Justin are according to Seacrest………the two greatest stars on the planet. They’re being faithfully followed by millions of “Beliebers and Little Monsters” in the changed & uncertain world we live in that concerns this sixty three year old Grandpa.
As a baby boomer who embraces & welcomes change, I can’t figure out for the life of me what the millions of those “Beliebers and Little Monsters” see in Bieber & Gaga & can’t help wonder what they “Beliebe” in.
As Dads, if we don’t stand for something………..we will fall for anything. It’s been said one change makes way for the next, giving us the opportunity to grow……but, what will idolizing Pitbull, Bieber, Gaga & the like set the stage for our families to grow into?
The question is, what can all of us Dads do TODAY to set a good example & foster in our children & grandchildren the God centered desire to grow up to be loving, forgiving, compassionate, productive members of society and not just a mindless bunch of adult Beliebers and Monsters?
Tom Riles, Sr.
Ladera Ranch, CA