|
The lights came up and there they were, smiling and singing their hearts out. But while the Cowsills were laughing on the outside - on the inside they were crying!
It was a sunny July day in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Music Hall Theater on the world-famous Steel Pier was jam-packed -- for the Cowsills were appearing there. As the curtain went up and the Cowsills burst into their opening song, thousands of their fans screamed and clapped for joy. Before the next couple of numbers were over, however, whispering was heard in the audience.
"Where's Barbara?" someone asked softly.
"I don't know," a girl friend replied.
"Gee, where's Mini-Mom?" came another voice.
Once again, the Cowsills' voices rose in song, drowning out the barely audible queries. There's something so spontaneous, so warm and lively about that gang that no matter what's going on - they jet-propel you into a super-jolly mood. There was Bob, smiling but serious; Paul, who is fast turning into the Cowsills' "sex symbol"; sweet and gentle Barry; adorable, mischievous John; and, of course, there was that lovable little live wire, Susan Cowsill. Watching a gang like this, how could anyone be anything but happy, happy, happy?!
But something strange seemed to happen between each number. Usually, the Cowsills exchange light banter on stage and Bob, Paul or Mini-Mom introduces their next number. Today, the pause between each song seemed heavy-laden -- and soon it became very clear why. Barbara Cowsill wasn't in the show! Susan tried to remember to smile, though it was hard for her to hide her worry. Barry and John kept looking at each other with sort of inquiring slightly lost expressions - and Paul and Bob carried on, looking straight ahead. Finally, they came to an instinctive decision: Someone had to say something!
Bob stepped forward and motioned the audience to silence. "I guess you're all noticed that our Mini-Mom Barbara isn't on the stage with us today," he said. "We feel very bad that Mom's not here to meet you all - but she isn't feeling well, so we made her take the day off. We feel doubly bad because she's our Mommy. We miss her very much and she told us to tell you that she's thinking of you."
When Bob stepped back, there were confused whispers in the audience.
"What's wrong?"
"Why isn't she here?"
Bob stepped forward again and lifted his hand. "Mom isn't here today because, well - uh, she checked into the Atlantic City Hospital. Don't get worried, she's O.K. - it's just that, well, she works too hard and the doctors decided that she ought to take a couple of days rest."
The feeling of apprehension still pervaded the packed hall so, as though to reassure everyone again, a gleaming smile came over Bob's face and he said, "She said - don't worry. She's all right!"
That did it! Everybody smiled again and Bob lifted his guitar and said, "O.K., let's dedicate this next number to our mom Barbara Cowsill" - and the Cowsill gang burst into We Can Fly.
BACK TO NEWPORT
As it turned out, Barbara Cowsill was in the hospital much longer than a couple of days. She actually stayed in the Atlantic City Hospital for five days, and then went to her "home town" of Newport, Rhode Island, and spent another week in the U.S. Naval Hospital there. What had happen was this: in addition to their usual hectic pace, Barbara and her brood had taken off early this past spring for a whirlwind 70-day tour of concerts all over the United States. After about a week, Barbara had begun to feel " ...not so well."
Along the way, she consulted three doctors. Each gave her a slightly different diagnosis and each gave her a different prescription. The only thing the three seemed to agree upon (and her husband Bud Cowsill felt exactly the same way) was that Mini-Mom should take a rest - and very soon. But Barbara felt that she could do that later - that she should stay on the road, working with her kids. And, after all, none of the Cowsills had ever been really sick!
Finally, when the Cowsills got to Atlantic City, Barbara had to face the fact that she really was tired and that she felt awful. When the hotel doctor visited Barbara (at Bud's request), he took her temperature and pulse, listened to her breathing through a stethoscope and said, "All right, young lady, get up - we're going straight to the hospital." This time, there were no ifs, ands or buts.
At the hospital, Barbara learned that she had had walking pneumonia for several weeks. Because of this, she was in a state of physical and nervous exhaustion - a state that required two weeks of bed rest, plenty of good food and lots of calm, serene atmosphere.
Although the Cowsill kids missed their wonderful mom very much, they were relieved and happy that she was taking the rest she needed - and they knew that since Barbara was in the hospital under a doctor's care, she was well taken care of. Most of all, they knew she would soon be well again!
Ultimately, Barbara and Bud decided that it was best for her to go to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Newport, for there she would not only have the necessary treatment, peace and quiet - she could also be visited by her closest personal friends, most of whom still live in Newport. So, for the first time in Cowsill history, the family was separated (not counting the times that Bud was at sea when he was in the Navy), and it was indeed a joyous day when Bud, Bob, Paul, John, and Susie went to the airport in Los Angeles to greet their "brand new," healthy, happy Mini-Mom and welcome her back to the warm, wonderful California sunshine.
Mini-Mom was very lonely during the time she was separated from her fun-loving family - but guess who came to her rescue? You did! That's right - all of you wonderful thoughtful Cowsill fans who took the time to send a card, a letter, flowers or a gift helped to make Barbara Cowsill's hospital stay a lot more cheerful. And you can bet that the rest of the Cowsill clan also appreciate your concern and thoughtfulness. In Mini-Mom's own words, from the bottom of her heart, she sends this message to each and every one of you:
"Thank you so much for being there when I needed you. Your friendship is the nicest get-well message I could have received - and needless to say, we all love you!"
|
