The answer to my Two Truths and a Lie mystery quiz is that I was on a reality show on MTV and Oprah really did call me. I didn’t dance on stage with Billy Joel, but I did shake his hand during one of his concerts back in the 80’s.

Here is a recap of my Oprah story…

It was noon on December 31, 2002. A slow day at the office and those that showed up to work decided to go out for a pre-New Years lunch. It was the only day that I ever left my cell phone at the office when I went out for lunch.

When I returned to the office there was a voicemail message on my phone.

Time: 12:12pm
Caller ID: Unknown

I innocently checked my voicemail and almost fell off of my chair. This is basically what I heard…

“Hi Stacey, This is Oprah Winfrey calling. I’m sitting here with Bob Green at my home in California and we wanted to wish you a Happy New Year.”

First I thought it was a joke.

When I realized it was really Oprah’s voice, I assumed it was just a recording.

Then she started getting personal.

“I received your postcard from O magazine and we hope you and your husband are staying committed to your healthy eating and exercise program down there in Baton Rouge. Sorry we missed you. I can’t believe I called you and you didn’t even pick up the phone. I’ll try again later. In the meantime keep up the good work, all the best to your family, and have a very happy new year.”

I could not believe that…

A. Oprah called me!
B. I missed her call.

I got fixated that she was going to call again. She said “I’ll try again later. In the meantime…”

IN THE MEANTIME IMPLIES SHE WILL CALL AGAIN!

She never called again.

Six months later I had front row seats at one of her Live Your Best Life workshops. I was able to talk to her, received some career advice from her, and told her about the call that I had missed. After talking to her I was finally able to let go of missing that call.

This is your moment!
If you participated in this community game, jump down to the comments section to reveal your two truths. If you are just joining, share two exciting truths about you!

Showing 21 comments
  • 1. I was born on the same day as Michael Jackson.
    2. My brother saved my life when I was in middle school.

    Simple Sapien.coms last blog post..Simple Serving: Link Love #2

  • Hi Stacey. How did you do that?! You are right, my 2 truths are doing belly dancing and when Shirley MacLaine had her assistant call me — both of these happened with both feet on the ground. My lie about parachuting is actually something I’ve considered “pushing” myself to do, but I’m too terrified to go any further 🙂

    Davinas last blog post..Creative Luny Landing In The Sand

  • SO COOL and you know what? *I* think after this post she will call again, Stacey!

    my truth (oops did only one) personal trainer to Matthew Broderick…

    MizFits last blog post..Im down with MBT (yeah you know me)

  • Hey Stacey – I guessed wrong…and so did you!

    My lie: that I broke my leg skiing in Colorado. I have skied in Colorado, but it was my wife who messed up her knee when skiing there (no breaks, though) – and she had to be carted off the mountain. Last year. We haven’t been skiing since!

    My truths: I did live in six different places over five years, shortly out of college. Six places, four states. After the first couple of moves, we never really unpacked..

    I did have a car accident before I had my drivers license. With my father in the car. I was probably 15. Icy roads. I was lucky to hit a telephone pole. Back roads of small-town Wisconsin. No one else around. Gravel road (many roads in that part still are). That ended my driving for the day (and for some time to come…). It’s funny now…it wasn’t on that particular day, though.

    Lances last blog post..A Helping Hand

  • Two exciting truths (both mommy related, can you tell I am such a mommy mom? :

    I carried my twins to full term despite a difficult pregnancy!!!! They weighed in at 7lbs 2 oz and 6lbs 10oz

    I almost died during one of my c-sections. I had a placental abruption and went under……..had the “light” expererience and my life was changed for the better in that moment.

    Annettes last blog post..Slow Down and Focus

  • Good story Stacey!

    (I got the black eye at a gay disco when my girlfiend and I were both doing the rock and roll at the same time with Bruce our gay friend who took us to a gay disco called Pokies – and I collected his elbow when I went under his arm)

    Robins last blog post..Ice And Global Warming

  • That is so cool. Thanks for sharing this!

    I just realized I played the game wrong on your other post. But to my credit I did preface with “I’m so not good at this game.” I’ll see if you can guess anyway!

  • I’m sorry that you went through the torture of having missed her call :-/ But at least it wasn’t too long before you got to see her face-to-face and have a chat (though 6 months must have seemed like an eternity). The good thing is though that it finally happened 🙂

  • Cool story about Oprah. 🙂

    You guessed right:
    1. I spent a month in Beijing ten years ago.
    2. I served for 3 years as a lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces.

    Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Beauty Standards Have Sure Changed

  • D’oh! I showed up too late to play! This was a great idea, Stacey. I won this game once because nobody believed that I still knew all the words to Milli Vanilli’s only album. Boy, I showed them, right? Right? Oh, well… Sigh. Nevermind. 🙂

    Sara at On Simplicitys last blog post..Three Ways You Relax and Unwind

  • Wooo ….how cool to have Oprah call you!

    You guessed right, I do not run a daycare in my home ….sometimes it just feels like it 😉

    The 3 months that I spent in London on a Theatre program were possibly the best days of my life … I did that right before I graduated with my Masters in Electrical Engineering!One of the best decisions I have ever made!

    Mayas last blog post..The key to happiness and balance is right with you, just learn to use it – Part 1 of the thinkmaya framework

  • @Simple Sapien – Thanks for sharing!

    @Davina – I don’t think I’ll ever go parachuting. Good luck with that!

    @MizFit – One day she will call again and we will laugh over tea about my 2002 obsession. Thanks for sharing your Matthew Broderick information. You are a personal trainer superstar!

    @Lance – Glad to hear you didn’t break your leg (sorry to hear your wife had to go through that).

    @Annette – Twins! Full term! Wow! My two boys were almost 10 pounds each. Thanks for sharing.

    @Robin – Your truths/lies were hilarious. Thanks for sharing more of the details.

    @Stacey Shipman – Be sure to mention this story to Oprah when you interview her one day.

    @Ricardo – Yes, it was torture but I have learned to never be obsessed with anyone again.

    @Vered – I spent 1 week in an Israeli army boot camp and 3 weeks in the Israel army via a college Volunteers for Israel program. Those experiences are a far cry from serving for 3 years as a lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces. I appreciate your service more than you know.

    @Sara – I’m still laughing.

    @Maya – I enjoyed revisiting my Oprah story. Thanks for sharing your exciting stories!

  • That was fun Stacey – to get to know you and your readers better – and in a light-hearted way! And I think it’s pretty cool that Oprah called you! So, what’s the deal with the reality MTV show?? You’ve piqued my curiosity…

  • Cool story! I would have died too if she called AND I missed it!

    My lie:
    I became a problogger in less than six months. I WISH!

    The truths:
    1. I sang for a major chorus as an adult without ever having a voice lesson.

    2. I have worked for over twelve companies in eleven years.

    Carlas last blog post..Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bill to Ban Cancer-Causing Teflon Chemicals in Food Packaging

  • I really am not excited about celebrities at all. Although if she did call me I’d think there would be some way to make a buck from it and something to do with my coaching and I’d be excited about that.

    I am happy for you though because I know that’s a big deal for many.

    If pressed my too most exciting happenings.
    1). Surviving two different near death experiences without a physical scratch on my body.
    2). Scoring three tries (goals for you non rugby literates) in a championship rugby tournament.

    Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..Why Don’t We Use What We Already Know?

  • @Lance – A friend of mine was the star of one of MTV’s True Life shows. MTV came to our city to film her while I was hanging out with her, so I was an “extra” on the show. The show wasn’t about me but you could see me in the background.

    @Carla – Thanks for feeling my pain. I wish I was a problogger within 6 months too.

    @Tom – I also do not get too excited about celebrities. I don’t really think of Oprah as a celebrity though. I think of her as someone who was able to build venue to help millions of people live their best lives. She is a true personal development mentor and inspiration to me.

  • Wow Stacey – you actually got a call from Oprah and you missed it. That’s kind of like your lottery numbers coming up on the week you forgot to buy a ticket. At least you got to meet her finally though – I bet that was amazing. She really is an inspiring woman.

  • Hi Stacey – Oooops, I missed the party. But, what an ingenious idea for a post. Since I know many who answered, the responses were revealing.

    Barbara Swaffords last blog post..A.S.K. Andy Bailey – What Was The Inspiration Behind The CommentLuv Plugin

  • Stacey, that is exciting whether you got to answer the call or not, I think. Although I can understand why you were bummed. But you got to speak with her at a workshop and that’s in person, so wow!

    So, it looks like I guessed your’s wrong and you guessed mine wrong. My two truths are:
    1. I had an Australian tv celebrity hit on me at a bar, and
    2. I was plucked off the street to be in a tv advertisement when I was a teen

    I have never been robbed or a victim of violent crime in Mexico City. I have been robbed at gunpoint in Central America, but I’ll save that story for my blog one day soon.

    Kelly

  • @Cath – I agree. Meeting her was an extremely inspiring experience.

    @Barbara – I am also enjoying reading the revealing responses.

    @Kelly – The workshop was amazing. Oprah radiates “live your best life” energy.

  • Oh wow…what a miss!! Still, you did have it made up eventually by talking to her at a subsequent show.

    But definitely, how exciting to know that she actually called you! I’d have been over the moon if she called me!

    Evelyn Lims last blog post..What Enneagram Profile Type Am I?