The
punctual wake up call rang loudly in my room at the
Marriott. I opened my eyes and smiled while picking up.
It was Friday. It was the first day of the 14th Xena
Convention. It was a special day. By the time this day
ended I would have experienced a dream come true. This
was the day I had longed, wished and hoped for from the
first time I attended a Xena Con 8 years ago in
Pasadena. A Photo taken with Lucy.
From the moment I became aware of the ebay auction
(thanks to Mary D.'s posting on the Ausxip website) my
thoughts have been of nothing else. Starting at an
opening bid of $300. Then hovering at $450 for several
days until in the last few hours someone upped the ante
to $700, I was willing to sell all my wordly possessions
just to get a pix with the woman who
embodied my hero. And who as herself is a hero.
I told everyone I knew and met at the Con how excited I
was and it seemed everyone shared my enthusiasm. Each
one said, "We want to hear all about it. Remember every
word she said and tell us." It was funny no one said
"Oh-- am I jealous or why wasn't it me?" Xena fans are
incredibly supportive and joyous toward each others'
good fortunes. Several friends asked me to ask Lucy
questions on their behalf. I told them I hoped I could
remember to keep my knees from buckling let alone
prepare an interview.
In addition to constant countdown checks on my Xena
watch , I had to deal with some contingencies that were
a bit stressful. Before winning the ebay Meet and Greet
Photo Op, I had purchased bus tix to attend the Roxy
Concert. Upon winning we were informed by Creation we
would have to make our own way to the Roxy by 6 pm .
That was one whole hour before the rest of the audience
showed up. I had no idea who the other winners might
be and was a bit concerned about getting there in plenty
of time. As the fates would have it, Deb Abbott
introduced me to Kitty who was also seeking to
make contact with other winners. We decided to cab
over. But in so doing we had to leave early---
sadly giving up a good part of Jacqueline Kim's
appearance and missing the autograph sessions.
We arrived at the Roxy in plenty of time luckily missing
the rush hour traffic by minutes. We even managed to
have time for a bite to eat and I treated my self to a
glass of wine knowing I needed something to ease the
anxiety and excitement that had been building all day.
I could have used a whole bottle, but I would not want
to appear in a photo Op with Lucy totally zonked. As it
was I did not have time to refresh or apply makeup and
here I was about to have my photo taken with one of the
most gorgeous women on the planet.
The security guards opened the door at 6 . He asked us
where our tickets were suggesting we give up our
souvenir plastic cards. We told him all we had been
given were plastic cards. There was the usual upset
of how they were going to keep track of us. Finally
after counting and recounting and then resorting to a
hand stamp, we were let in. Believe me the security
check was worse than at LAX. We were told to sit in the
white chairs that were 3 rows from the left side of the
stage. Lucy was on stage going over some songs with the
band. Joe De Luca was behind her center stage with
guitar in hand. She was without make up. Her light
brown hair pulled into two unbraided pigtails. At times
she appeared to be mumbling quickly over some of the
words and was not dressed in the glamorous or
provocative costumes she had worn in past concerts. Her
rehearsal attire consisted of a comfortable spaghetti
strap spandex white tee shirt and flannel pajama bottoms
with the words Disney's Bedtime Stories monogrammed on
one side. On her feet she wore white open toe
sandals. As I watched them warm up, I honestly wondered
if they could pull this off in one hour with all the
"stop and go" and "go there" and "do this" that was
being directed by Lucy. I thought how unfortunate the
photo op will be of her without glamour. Now maybe I
wouldn't look so bad.LOL
During the warm up and sound check Lucy was very focused
and intent. She hardly acknowledged our presence and
seemed totally oblivious to us being there. But it was
fun to watch her and see how she coped with pressure.
She appeared poised and in control at all times. Taking
sips of bottled water, at no time did she appear
nervous. She was always
concerned about the other performers and their comfort
level. At one point she insisted on the dancer sitting
down and taking a rest.
After about an hour of fine tuning, the band, singers
and Lucy left the stage. Sharon came over to our group
and in a stage whisper said the photo op could not be
done before the show but instead would be done after.
Great! I thought-- there
would be less rushed time with Lucy and she would be in
costume and makeup.
Then more confusion ensued as the rest of the regular
audience who had been waiting patiently outside swarmed
in and scrambled for a seat or a place to stand.
And again our plastic cards were scrutinized and
rechecked to see that everyone was sitting in their
correct seats.
The concert featured songs that enhanced the arc tale of
an innocent Catholic school girl's transformation and
seduction into the hedonistic pleasures of the world
and her final self-realization and redemption. Of all
the renditions Lucy sang, my personal favorites were the
one about forgiveness that at times recalled the feel
and melody from "Bitter Suite" and
Leonard Cohen's magnificent "Hallelujah". I
thought David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and also "Tainted
Love" were well done. All through out the show I
couldn't help but think of Billy Joel's line from "Only
the Good Die Young"...."Catholic girls start much too
late..." . Being so close to the stage I was quite
bemused when right before Lucy's character bent over and
planted a kiss on the object of her affection, Lucy
whispered smiling at her, "Are you ready for this??"
In all honesty I was a bit distracted by the actual
concert. Focusing more on the passing seconds that were
now drawing me closer and closer to the moment of my
heart's dream. When the concert ended I was cheering,
partly for Lucy and the people on stage and partly for
myself about to be blessed with an opportunity of a
lifetime.
After the curtain finally fell it seemed forever for the
place to empty out. I sensed some folks were
deliberately trying to linger in the vain hope that Lucy
might appear. But the security guards at the Roxy were
diligent. Even my close friend, Sonja, who travelled all
the way from Austria and would have given anything to
see me have my photo with Lucy finally succumbed to
leaving.
And then it began. Check and recheck those plastic
cards. Everyone got a number assignment. I was 10. We
stood in single file line. I kept taking deep breaths.
Lucy appeared out of nowhere and went toward the front
of the stage. She had put her comfy pj bottoms back
on. The ones with Bedtime Stories on them. Her hair
still in straight pony tails. Chris
the photographer gently guided people to their place
next to Lucy. Sharon kept the line moving. I suddenly
felt the internal jitters as I did when I was 7 years
old getting my class picture taken or awaiting to talk
to Santa Claus . I heard Lucy say to the lady
preceding me, "So where are you from?" She replied,
"Australia".
Suddenly it was my turn. I thought a lot of things at
that moment. She's not as tall as all that. Her eyes
are crystal blue but her smile is even more dazzling. As
I approached, Lucy asked me where I was from. I said
not as far or as exotic as the last lady's answer. She
repeated, "So where are you from?" I said, "New
Jersey." She grinned and repeated, "New Joisey? We
love New Joisey." I felt redeemed. Then she put her
long lean arm around me and gave me a delicious warm
hug. Her body was soft and accepting. I could feel the
hug was given from the heart.
What an amazing person I thought. Even more than what I
expected. Like someone I have known for a long time. I
began to whell up with tears and hugged her back. My
embrace spoke for me and it said, "Thank you and I love
you for how you have made me feel". And she let me.
This human being whom I have known only from snippets of
concerts, conventions and hours of electronic
connections allowed me the privilege of expressing my
feeling of being overwhelmed by her presence. I told
her this was a dream come true. I thanked her and she
thanked me back. Walking away I can't recall my feet
feeling the steps as I must have floated down the
stairs.
I returned to the stage floor to watch as each person
got their time with Lucy. Some talked for a few
minutes. Some showed her a picture or an article they
wanted to share. A rare few even got her to autograph a
photo they had brought with them. Each one of us got
what we needed. Amazing to watch. After a gruelling,
high intensity show with enormous
energy expenditure, there she was calm as could be
looking into everyone's eyes and adjusting to
each personality..
I now know what Gabrielle must have felt.
