Guest Essay
Speaker: Jamie
How Jodi Benson Changed My Life
It’s amazing how people can come into your life one way or another and change for the better. Sometimes, they don’t even know it. This is the story of why I admire Jodi Benson and how in fact, she did indeed change my life.
I’ve always loved “The Little Mermaid”. At the age of eight, I finally learned the name of the woman who brought my favorite animated mermaid to life and learned everything I could about her. The more I learned about her, the more I respected her. I found other voice work she had done and started collecting them.
During the late ninties, I was going through a peculiarly difficult time. I was confined to a wheelchair by a dentist, went through a court battle and lost. My father was dialoged with Diabetes, My Great Grandmother died of cancer and I “lost” my mother. She changed…
Jodi Benson’s voice was a constant comfort. Late at night when the lights were turned out and the memories came back of that horrible day, I would turn on a TLM CD and just listen to Jodi’s calming voice. It would calm my fears and lull me to sleep. Jodi also became a sort of a womanly role model. My mother at that point no longer fulfilled that position. At night I would dream of Jodi marrying my Dad and us living happily ever.
Now of course, I realize how silly and naive those dreams were. But they were comforting at the time. Jodi’s influence will always be a part of me. I could only hope that one day I could meet her and tell her what an impact she made on my life…
Thank you Mrs. Benson!
Author’s Note: And in case you’re wondering if I’m still bitter about my circumstance, I’m not. This chair and the other circumstances have made me a better and stronger young woman. I’m on the path to living happily ever after – Jamie
Jamie and Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle). June 7th 2003
©Jamie: 4 June 2005