The Divine Miss M

Bette Midler. The Divine Miss M. Loud, irreverent, sometimes bawdy, but always an original.

One day I confessed to my wife I had never seen Bette Midler in concert, despite loving her performances in "The Rose," "Beaches," and of course her take no prisoners persona in "The First Wives Club." Beth was aghast. She insisted we see Bette immediately but only if we could do it in Las Vegas. Nothing less would do. Ms. Midler was an original after all. It was Caesar's Palace or bust.

Bette Midler acts as a reminder of the importance of celebrating originality, even when it means being out of step with the conventions of the day. Viva la differénce.

"I didn't belong as a kid, and that always bothered me. If only I'd known that one day my differentness would be an asset, my early life would have been much easier." - Bette Midler