When I turn 50, I’m going to do exactly what George Schaeffer did. Although I don’t think I can get 400 people to fly in for the event, I am going to make them sit still while I grab the microphone and sing “My Way” to words I’ve rewritten, then I’m going to sing my heart our to the people I love…just like George. The now-legendary 50th Birthday Bash for George was a night that even Malcolm Forbes would have appreciated.
Look closely and you'll see that the man with the microphone is NOT Howard Stern, but someone who vaguely resembles the president of OPI Products.
Guests received invitations almost a year in advance, then we (I was one of the chosen) received a series of invitations for almost a year, each one more clever than the last. We were sent a custom T-shirt emblazoned with George’s image and trademark suspenders, and were instructed to wear it to the party. (I guess when George Schaeffer says wear a goofy T-shirt, you do it).
NAILS sales rep Michael Kirk and I didn't have to come from far away, but we did abide by the strict dress code.
At the party, we were treated to a very funny video tribute (think “America’s Most Wanted”) and then the guest of honor was carried in on a sedan while being fanned by showgirls carrying large pink feathers (at my 50th, I’ll use bare-chested men instead). The crowd of OPI employees, distributors, international guests, and industry guests sang a rousing “Happy Birthday” while George cut a birthday cake that was big enough to fit the Hollywood sign on it.
In the nail industry, George Schaeffer is Mr. Big, but this night he was just a 50-year-old man celebrating a milestone birthday with his wife of 25 years (Miriam), his two children, and 400 of his closest friends.
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