Sutter Creek resident Milo Popovich is jubilant that singer Olivia Newton-John is mulling over a song he wrote 18 years ago. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

What's the connection between life-long Sutter Creek resident and popular singer Olivia Newton-John? Well, he wrote a song about his life, she has it and he hopes she'll share some ideas about where to go with it. His fervent hope is publication of the song he wrote in 1984 with Warren Casey, co-writer of the top Broadway hit "Grease," which earned instant fame for Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.

"'Grease' was one of my favorite musicals at the time," Popovich said, proudly showing a program from the 1972 New York production. "When Warren and I met and talked about that show, I asked if we could write a song together. The song is about me and my life. I had the music and lyrics copyrighted in 1985, and put the whole thing away in a safety deposit box." (Casey died in 1988.)

But Popovich, who experienced some serious illnesses in 1999, realized he needed to take care of some business. An important element of that was getting on with the song. "I've thought Olivia Newton-John was a great person since I first heard her and I thought I could at least write her about my song," he said. Armed with a letter to the vocalist, on October 7 he went to the Crest Theatre in Sacramento where the singer was performing her "Heartstrings World Tour" to raise money for breast cancer research. Popovich gave his letter to a staff member, then sat back to enjoy the concert in which Newton-John devoted the last 15 minutes to several songs from "Grease."

"When I heard her sing 'You're The One That I Want' and 'Hopelessly Devoted to You,' they brought back good memories, and I really hoped she had my letter," Popovich continued. He joined fans heading to see the vocalist at the close of the show but they were stopped by security guards. When the guards were told to allow him by, he introduced himself as Milo and was told Newton-John would see him after the performance.

"I was one of the last people she saw in her downstairs dressing room," he recalled. "One man had won a concert ticket at an auction and another long-time fan gave her flowers. I was most unique because I had an association with 'Grease' through Warren Casey. On stage, she mentioned she had recovered from breast cancer and we talked about our illnesses." In less than a two-week period in 1999, Popovich had gone through a six-way bypass, a mitral valve replacement and two pancreas operations. At one point, he was given less than a 30 percent chance of survival. He credits his recovery to "strong spiritual beliefs," he said. During their 10-minute talk, he told the entertainer about his song, explaining, "It's my wish and Casey's wish that you get first choice to look at this and give me any suggestions." She promised to communicate with him following her tour.

"What a wonderful lady," he reminisced. "She's so down to earth, so real, so comforting. She's as beautiful in person as she is in pictures. Having talked about what we had been through, she told me 'you only have the moment to live and enjoy.' Olivia is so genuine and the audience took to her bubbly personality. And she's a very spiritual person. I got that feeling from our discussion."

Popovich, acknowledging that stage life can be consuming, said if Newton-John is not interested in his song, he will contact publishers in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. "It's not for monetary value that I'm interested," he stressed. "I just want it published before I pass on."

Popovich, who was born 62 years ago on his Sutter Creek property, taught elementary school for 31 years, 25 of them in Sutter Creek and six years in Pioneer. Although his illness intervened in his teaching career, he returned to the classroom, vowing, "I wanted to retire from teaching, not the hospital."

"I've been very fortunate to meet a lot of actors and producers in my life," he said. "I felt that even though everyone around me was excited to see and meet Olivia, my purpose was to let her know I have this song. I know her time is extremely valuable. But, if my song is published, I would be kind to her cause (of breast cancer research.) She knows that."

The next step is waiting for that call from the singer. In the meantime, Popovich will continue working on projects he has pursued since his retirement. Of prime importance are upgrades and expansion of his property. He also savors several personal hobbies, including tennis, for which he said he's had a life-long love. And he's a connoisseur of fine antiques, collecting furnishings, silver, crystal and gold gilt frames that are highlighted throughout his splendid, Williamsburg-style home.