10 Years with FlyLady

I am writing this today in absolute humility and awe for what has been my life for the past 10 years.  I know many of you know my story, if not, read the full bio at www.ericdodge.com .

My grandfather, who I was closest to, passed away 10 years ago this past August.  It really shook me up.  I had a really hard time dealing with it. One day I put in for a drawing on a local radio station to win a free cruise. I had not traveled much and really didn’t enjoy traveling at the time.  I remember listening to the radio on the day that they were drawing for the winners.  They drew a name from a hat and then the caller had 9 minutes and 8 seconds to call in.  The station was star 98 so that is why the 9 minutes and 8 seconds.  The first name called was a cousin of mine.

I was shocked that out of the hundreds of names they called a relative.  That is as close to winning anything I had ever been.  Well,  she never called in.  I couldn’t believe it.  Everyone was trying to get a hold of her to get her to call.  Well the second name was pulled and I heard them say ERIC DODGE.  I was in shock.  I think I called in with in 9 seconds, haha.  I was so fast and didn’t want to miss out on this cruise.  I got in to the station and I won the trip.  It included airfare and everything.  I was able to take my brother Ashton with me.  They gave me a few dates to pick from and I picked the fist date of Sept 10th 2001 to depart.  We left for California and then got on the ship and headed to Mexico.  We got to Mexico early in the morning of Sept 11th, 2001.

When we woke up the ship was in panic mode. We could not see what was happening on the TV.  Finally someone told us we were attacked back home.  Rumors were flying that LA and New York were under attack and that cruise ships would be next.  The Mexican government made us sail out to sea and far away from the shore until the US coast guard could fly to our ship and search it.  They brought bomb sniffing dogs and coast guard police to search all of our rooms.  They made us go to the top deck why they searched all our rooms. They were doing Karaoke trying to calm us all down.

I was always so scared to face my biggest fear of singing in front of people.  Not even my family had heard me sing.  I was so scared of it.  I thought I would literally die from stage fright.  My brother egged me on and said you should sing.  This may be your last chance to ever do it.  We really didn’t know what to expect.  He picked a song for me and they called my name.  I got up and I sang that song the best I could.  A passenger who was on the ship came up to me crying and said, “You should really pursue this, you can really sing”.

Well the rest is history.  I went home and started voice lessons.  I Met some great songwriters and within a few years of working hard I had released an album in Nashville.  This led me to perform with so many of my idols including Carrie Underwood.

I met a wonderful person while doing live TV in SLC Utah.  I met Marla Cilley, aka The Flylady.  She believed in me and my talent and she introduced me to all of you.  I have made so many friends and have had so many amazing experiences with Flylady.  Marla even produced our CD “Why Not Today” and was the executive producer on “Home To Me” and our Christmas CD.  She and all of you have been instrumental in my last 10 years.

We have had some tough times but mostly great times.  I am so lucky to have you all.  Thanks for all your do and please have this free song as a gift from me.  This song was written by Amy Lacey and Alison Moulton and Myself for our families of our Military and our supporters of all that we have been through.  Here is a link to the song and a link to our youtube channel where you can view a video made up of pictures of flybabies loved ones.

 Free Song Home Of The Brave

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_7394313

Get any of our albums at http://www.flylady.net

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ericdodge

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ericdodgemusic

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