The glass is all about sharing personal experiences, which is why I’m sitting on a beautiful porch at the top of a mountain in Montecito, California watching Ron White and Margo Rey try Glass out for the first time. Margo, an admitted technophile, tries them first and lights up as the screen comes on. “Oh, cool!” She instantly begins navigating through the Timeline, intuitively swiping back and forth, and testing out the voice commands. After a minute or two, she hands them to Ron to try. The light comes on, and he cracks that million dollar smile. “Oh man, that’s cool.” I’m in heaven; I’ve just shown two of my favorite performing artists Glass, and they flat out love it.
As we snap some photos, Margo reaches for her head scarf. “Let’s do this right.” The peach fuzz of new hair growth following her final round of chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer only serves to accent her striking features. She’s a two-time survivor, but it doesn’t seem to slow her down; she’s energetic and engaging while discussing all the different ways they could use Glass. Of particular interest is recording first-person experiences to share; the couple is getting married later this year. They both are co-chairing the national Say “I Do” Campaign with Brides Against Breast Cancer, and giving a series of public performances benefiting The Center for Building Hope, which provides 100% free programs, information, and services for those impacted by cancer.
As they pass Glass back and forth, it strikes me how much this feels like Christmas morning. Their laughter and enthusiasm are infectious, and their playful interactions together are remarkably sweet. Ron records a few videos with Glass and asks about screencasting.
He passes it back to Margo, who appears to be an expert at this point. “I could see this becoming a habit”, she says. It’s a notable endorsement coming from someone to whom habits are so important:
We are our habits, our habits become our deeds, our deeds become who we are.
We have to wrap up, as they both have flights soon, and we close our conversation talking about specific applications of Glass: Ron wearing a pair during a show to record the audience, having members of the wedding party wear Glass during the ceremony, Margo wearing them for a behind the scenes look at love and life up close and personal while on a mission near and dear to her heart; her own Chemo-Glam video channel. We thanked them for being such gracious hosts and packed our things to go.
As we navigated the winding drive down the mountain, it struck me that no matter how famous or successful you are, the important things don’t change; health, love, hope, and dignity are of paramount importance from the mail clerk to the CEO. In sharing a moment through Glass with Ron and Margo, I was offered a brief glimpse of something personal, which reminded me how alike we all really are.
Looking to support Brides Against Breast Cancer?
- Support the “Say I Do” campaign by texting ‘BRIDES’ to 85944 to send a $10 donation
- Attend the Dia De La Muerto Benefit Show featuring Ron White and Margo Rey
- Support the Center for Building Hope
Special thanks to Drew Edwards of Ron White, Inc. and Michael Novilla of NOVA 535 for making this Glass experience possible.