Finding the hidden camera tucked under my bathtub was terrifying, and realizing my son had put it there was even worse. But his tearful explanation made me realize he was on a mission to reawaken a part of me I thought was lost forever.
The jigsaw puzzle on our kitchen table had stayed the same for weeks, and I was getting worried. My son, Drake, and I used to love them, but things were much different now.
A puzzle on a table | Source: Pexels
These days, he would rush straight to his room after school and shut the door firmly behind him. That is… after coming home later than usual.
I stirred the pasta sauce and checked my phone again: 6:45 p.m. Two hours late, just like yesterday. Through the kitchen window, I watched our neighbors walking their dogs and laughing together.
Our house used to buzz with that kind of energy. Now it felt like Drake and I were living in separate worlds, connected only by quick hellos and leftover dinners. Did this happen to all pre-teens?
A woman concerned | Source: Pexels
A few minutes later, the front door creaked open.
“Hey, Mom.” Drake’s voice floated through the hallway, followed by the thud of his backpack hitting the floor.
“Kitchen,” I called out happily. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
He poked his head around the corner. I saw his messy hair covered by a backward baseball cap. Something about his eyes made me feel like my boy was back, even for just a second.
Boy with a backwards baseball cap | Source: Pexels
But they soon darted to the floor when I looked at him. I knew something was going on, but I had no idea how to address it. My boy almost seemed older than his few years.
“Sorry I’m late. Chess club ran long.”
“Chess club?” I raised my eyebrows. “Yesterday it was math tutoring. And Tuesday was yearbook committee.”
“Oh yeah, I do all those now.” He shuffled his feet. “Can I eat in my room? Got tons of homework.”
Math book and notebook | Source: Pexels
I gripped the wooden spoon tighter, accidentally dripping tomato sauce onto the stovetop, and decided enough was enough. “Drake, what’s really going on?” I asked, turning and putting one hand on my hip.
“Nothing! I told you, just busy with school stuff,” he shrugged and moved further into the kitchen. Without meeting my gaze, he grabbed a plate, scooped up some pasta, and disappeared before I could press further.
Pasta dish | Source: Pexels
I sighed and wondered to the heavens for the millionth time if I should intervene. Maybe I wouldn’t get an answer from up above, but I could try to find some of my own.
I checked the hallway, and his door was shut as usual, but he had left his backpack in the living room. It was my chance.
Inside, crumpled between textbooks, I found a piece of paper with an address scrawled in unfamiliar handwriting: “1247 Maple Street. Don’t be late. This is it.”
Backpack on the floor | Source: Unsplash
What was going on? I wondered, horrified.
***
That night, I found myself going through his old baby photos, spread across my bedroom floor like pieces of a life I barely recognized anymore.
There he was, two years old, grinning with spaghetti sauce all over his face. That happy little boy used to tell me everything. Now he barely looked at me.
Toddler covered in spaghetti sauce | Source: Midjourney
The parent-teacher conference from last week played in my head.
“Drake seems… distracted lately,” Mrs. Peterson had said, sliding his failed math test across her desk. “He’s been falling asleep in class. When he’s awake, he’s always scribbling in his notebook, but it’s not notes from the lesson.”
How could he be getting a grade like that with math tutoring? Was it time to pull the plug on all other clubs?
A math test | Source: Pexels
Either way, I knew sleep wouldn’t come, so I decided to take a shower.
The bathroom was my sanctuary, the one place I could relax and belt out old songs without anyone hearing. Tonight’s selection was “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
The steam rose around me as I hit the chorus, and I remembered how I used to dream of being on stage.
A woman washing her hair | Source: Pexels
“Where do we go now?” I sang, letting my voice soar like it used to at the coffee shop open mics when my future hopes were far grander than what reality allowed.
Sadly, those wishes were extinguished the moment, Tom, Drake’s father and my ex, left us for his new family in Seattle.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on the past again. The present was much more important. I finished cleaning myself up and exited my shower. As I dried my hair, I felt the pull on my ear and heard a clink on my tiled floor.
A woman drying up | Source: Pexels
My earring! I bent down to get it and saw the crystal’s shining light reflecting from just under the bathtub. Except… something else caught my eye.
There, hidden under the edge, was an old nanny cam I used when Drake was a baby. And it was ON. I immediately went pale. But I examined the angle. It would only be recording my feet. I didn’t get it.
Still, my hands shook as I took it and carefully wrapped myself in a towel to march straight to Drake’s room. The sound of his furious typing stopped when I pounded on the door.
A woman holding a small camera | Source: Pexels
“Just a minute!” he called out, and I heard drawers being opened and shut. What in the world?
“Drake, open this door right now!”
Finally, I heard footsteps and the door swung open.
He stood there in his oversized gaming headphones, and his own face turned white as soon as I held up the nanny cam.
A boy with headphones | Source: Pexels
“Drake, what is this? Why was this hidden in the bathroom?!” I asked, as my anger and bravado turned to extreme worry.
When he remained silent, I gulped and asked, “Have you been… recording me in the bathroom?”
His eyes widened at that. His expression was terrified. “Oh no… Mom, you weren’t supposed to find that. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK. I can explain!”
“Then start explaining.” I pushed past him into his room and looked at his computer. The screen showed some kind of video editing software. Oh, no! What is he doing?
A laptop on a desk | Source: Pexels
But before I could panic more, Drake spoke. “I…” He slumped onto his bed. “You weren’t supposed to find out yet.”
“Find out what? That my son is making videos of…” I couldn’t even say it.
“No! Mom, listen,” he pleaded as tears welled up in his eyes. “Remember when you used to sing at the coffee shop open mics? Before Dad left?”
The question caught me off guard. “What does that have to do with anything?”
A woman looking confused | Source: Pexels
“You were so happy then. Now you only sing in the shower, when you think no one can hear you.” He wiped his nose with his sleeve. “But you’re still amazing, Mom. I wanted to show you that.”
He reached for his laptop and turned it toward me. His fingers pressed play, and suddenly, the screen showed me… well, a music video.
I saw a sunset over the city and streets filled with people chasing their dreams. But the main part was the soundtrack with my voice, clear and strong. It was playing “My Way.”
A sunset over New York | Source: Pexels
“I met an old man, Mr. Arthur. I’ve been going to his studio after school,” Drake continued. “He’s been teaching me video editing. I wanted to surprise you for your birthday, show you that you shouldn’t give up on your dreams just because…”
“Because your father left?” The words stuck in my throat.
“He owns all these old instruments, and he lets me practice drums while he teaches me about making videos.” Drake’s words tumbled out faster now. “I’ve been doing extra chores for neighbors to pay for studio time. Mr. Arthur says I have a good eye for it.”
A drum set | Source: Pexels
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you worry about everything now.” His voice cracked. “Ever since Dad left, it’s like you stopped believing in good surprises. I thought if I could just finish the video, show you how amazing you still are…”
Tears welled and fell before I could stop them. All this time, I’d been so worried about what he was hiding. Never once did I consider he might be worried about me too.
A woman crying | Source: Pexels
“You could have just talked to me,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around him.
“Would you have listened?” He looked up at me, suddenly seeming older than 11. “You always say you’re fine, but I hear you crying sometimes. And you never sing anymore, except in the shower.”
I pulled him close, feeling his thin shoulders shake. “I’m sorry, baby. I guess we’ve both been keeping too many things inside.”
We stayed in silence for a few minutes before I remembered something. “Oh! Is Mr. Arthur’s studio on 1247 Maple Street?”
A music studio | Source: Midjourney
“Yes!” Drake said, but then frowned. “How did you know?”
“In the interest of honesty…” I began and confessed to rummaging through his backpack. Shockingly, we just laughed at each other.
***
The next day, we visited Mr. Arthur’s studio together. He turned out to be a gentle giant with calloused hands and kind eyes, surrounded by dusty guitars and vintage recording equipment.
Music equipment | Source: Pexels
“Your boy’s got talent,” he told me and showed me more of Drake’s videos. “And so do you.”
And now that the secrets were out, Drake and I finally finished the jigsaw puzzle together. I also sang outside the shower for the first time in years.
What’s more, next week, I’m singing at the coffee shop again. My son will be there, recording every moment. This time, I won’t be afraid of a little camera.
Dentro da casa de US$ 1,2 milhão de Celine Dion, onde ela vive com “dor” — seus três filhos estão ao seu lado
Celine Dion anunciou que foi diagnosticada com uma rara condição médica debilitante. Sua irmã Claudette Dion desde então forneceu uma atualização sobre sua saúde.
Em uma entrevista, Claudette, uma dos 14 irmãos Dion, revelou como a Rainha das Power Ballads está lidando com sua doença e contou mais abertamente sobre a condição.
Celine Dion fotografada em Lower Manhattan em 8 de março de 2020 na cidade de Nova York | Fonte: Getty Images
“Ela está fazendo de tudo para se recuperar. Ela é uma mulher forte”, disse Claudette, acrescentando que a família sabe pouco sobre a condição de Celine. O irmão da vencedora do Grammy Award declarou que não há muito que a família possa fazer pela estrela para aliviar sua “dor”.
Claudette, 74, destacou os sintomas da doença, dizendo : “Há espasmos – eles são impossíveis de controlar. Você sabe quando as pessoas costumam pular à noite por causa de uma cãibra na perna ou na panturrilha? É um pouco assim, mas em todos os músculos.”
Celine Dion retratada em seu documentário “I Am Celine Dion” | Fonte: YouTube/EntertainmentTonight
Em dezembro de 2022, Celine, de 55 anos, revelou em um vídeo emocionante nas redes sociais que havia sido diagnosticada com Síndrome da Pessoa Rígida.
A nativa canadense disse aos fãs que estava sofrendo de espasmos que estavam afetando sua rotina diária, tornando difícil para ela andar. A condição também afetou suas cordas vocais.
Celine Dion durante uma entrevista no “Good Morning America” em 12 de maio de 2016 | Fonte: Getty Images
Certa vez, durante uma turnê na Alemanha, a cantora teve espasmos musculares antes de subir no palco para se apresentar. Ela começou a entrar em pânico e disse à sua equipe que não conseguiria continuar com aquilo.
No entanto, ela reuniu coragem para se apresentar, mas soou nasal. Ela e sua equipe decidiram fazer alguns ajustes, abaixando as tonalidades da música para acomodá-la. A estrela, que disse que sua condição a ensinou a conversar com seus filhos, mais tarde disse aos fãs que estava sofrendo de infecções nos seios nasais e na garganta.
No entanto, ela nem sabia com o que estava lidando e sentiu o fardo de ser desonesta com seus fãs. Celine, que cresceu em uma grande família musical, cancelou planos para shows e decidiu pausar sua turnê mundial Courage até que ela finalmente se recupere e seja capaz o suficiente para agraciar o palco novamente.
Rene-Charles Angelil e Celine Dion no 66º Grammy Awards em 4 de fevereiro de 2024 em Los Angeles, Califórnia. | Fonte: Getty Images
A artista premiada se retirou dos olhos do público desde então. Ela teria sido cuidada por “uma ótima equipe de médicos” e um terapeuta de medicina esportiva para recuperar sua força.
Celine Dion retratada em seu documentário “I Am Celine Dion” | Fonte: YouTube/EntertainmentTonight
Celine mora com seus três filhos, René-Charles, Eddy e Nelson. Ela os recebeu com seu falecido marido, René Angelil, que infelizmente morreu em janeiro de 2016 aos 73 anos.
A mãe de três filhos era dona de um parque aquático na Flórida depois que ela e o marido compraram um terreno de cinco acres em 2008. Eles construíram a propriedade dos seus sonhos do zero dois anos depois.
A propriedade, inspirada nas Bahamas, tinha 13 quartos e 14 banheiros. Também tinha vários recursos aquáticos, incluindo duas piscinas, dois toboáguas e um rio lento.
Uma vista externa da casa de Celine Dion em Jupiter Island, Flórida | Fonte: YouTube/TODAY
No entanto, Celine, que começou a cantar profissionalmente aos 12 anos, decidiu vender a casa depois de fazer uma mudança de carreira para Las Vegas, onde assinou um contrato de residência em 2005. Isso tornou mais fácil para ela estar lá com seus entes queridos.
Rene-Charles Angelil e Celine Dion comparecem à exibição especial em Nova York do documentário “I Am: Celine Dion” em 17 de junho de 2024 na cidade de Nova York. | Fonte: Getty Images
Ainda assim, a morada em Jupiter Island, com um parque aquático, permaneceu no mercado por um bom tempo. Celine só conseguiu fazer uma venda quatro anos depois, vendendo-a por US$ 38,5 milhões na época.
Uma vista interna da casa de plano aberto de Celine Dion em Jupiter Island, Flórida | Fonte: YouTube/CNBCPrime
A cantora de “The Power of Love” vendeu sua antiga casa, que ela dividia com seu marido Angelil, um produtor musical e empresário de talentos, apenas um ano após sua morte.
Celine supostamente vendeu outra propriedade em Summerlin, Las Vegas, em abril de 2023 por incríveis US$ 30 milhões . Ela comprou a mansão recém-construída em 2017 por US$ 9,2 milhões.
Uma vista aérea da casa de Celine Dion em Summerlain, Las Vegas | Fonte: YouTube/FamousLuxury
A superestrela global passou vários anos reformando a casa antes de vendê-la com sucesso em 2024. Ainda não está claro se ela já morou lá ou se está apenas reformando casas.
Uma vista externa da casa de Celine Dion em Summerlain, Las Vegas | Fonte: YouTube/FamousLuxury
A casa tem 31.000 pés quadrados e fica em um acre de terra com vista para um campo de golfe. Ela possui uma garagem subterrânea e uma piscina enorme. Há quatro quartos e doze banheiros por toda a casa, incluindo um porão mobiliado e spa.
Uma vista da entrada da antiga casa de Celine Dion em Summerlin, Las Vegas | Fonte: YouTube/FamousEntertainment
Enquanto isso, a casa atual de 1,5 acre de Celine em Las Vegas está situada em Henderson, Nevada, que ela e seu marido Angelil compraram em 2003 por US$ 1,2 milhão . Ela a reformou logo após se mudar, tendo se mudado em 2003.
Hoda Kotb com Celine Dion em sua casa em Las Vegas, Nevada | Fonte: Today.com
A propriedade ocupa mais de um acre de terra, abrangendo mais de 740 metros quadrados e conta com quatro quartos, seis banheiros e três lareiras.
Em meio à pandemia, Celine filmou um vídeo de sua cozinha pedindo aos fãs que ficassem em casa. O vislumbre de dentro de sua cozinha a mostrou sentada em frente a uma grande prateleira.
Uma vista externa da casa de Celine Dion em Henderson, Nevada | Fonte: YouTube/ALLABOUT
O tema do espaço é armários com frente branca brilhante e acessórios de aço inoxidável. Celine mostrou outro cômodo em sua casa, que tinha um tema todo branco.
Havia cadeiras de couro branco, uma mesa branca de alto brilho e cortinas. Além disso, ela teria acrescentado uma coleção de velas ao espaço.
Hoda Kotb com Celine Dion em sua casa em Las Vegas, Nevada | Fonte: Today.com
A propriedade, estimada em US$ 4,5 milhões , também consiste em uma casa de hóspedes separada , que fica em 2.000 pés quadrados e tem um quarto e um banheiro. Os terrenos ao ar livre apresentam uma quadra de basquete e uma grande piscina.
Notavelmente, a cantora do sucesso “That’s the Way It Is” já foi dona de várias propriedades, incluindo sua casa em Montreal, sua terra natal, Québec, Canadá.
Antes de adquirir seu enorme portfólio imobiliário, Celine encontrou sucesso pela primeira vez na Las Vegas Strip, onde se apresentou por quase vinte anos no Coliseu e no Caesar’s Palace.
No início de sua residência, a cantora supostamente ganhava US$ 500.000 por show. Isso significa que se ela tivesse de 3 a 5 shows semanais, ela ganhava uma média de US$ 2 milhões mensais.
Celine Dion participando do Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala em 2 de maio de 2019 em Nova York | Fonte: Getty Images
A estrela de Hollywood se tornou uma das cantoras mais renomadas a começar uma residência. Celebridades como Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera e Mariah Carey seguiram o exemplo, tendo assinado acordos para suas residências nos últimos anos.
Uma vista interna da casa de Celine Dion em Henderson, Nevada | Fonte: YouTube/ALLABOUT
O Caesar’s Palace construiu uma arena de 4.000 lugares inspirada no Coliseu Romano, e a residência de Celine chamada “A New Day” se tornou um sucesso instantâneo e esgotou todos os shows.
Ela é considerada uma das artistas femininas mais vendidas, ao lado de nomes como Carey e Madonna. Celine conquistou sucesso mundial com canções de sucesso como “Because You Loved Me”, “My Heart Will Go On” e “I’m Alive”, e ganhou vários prêmios e elogios.
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