I had been walking on the boardwalk since the sun was high in the sky. Now a light shadow had cast down on the random assortment of shops, fortune tellers, and henna body artists. As I passed the same man for the third time I noticed his bright eyes watching me, a grin on his face.
"You look so determined when you walk." He said with a chuckle.
I looked him over. The temperature at the beach had to be around 95 degrees, here he was in a black tee shirt and dark blue jeans, cool and sweat free. The tattoo artist was young too, his late twenties maybe, and handsome.
"What are you listening to?" He asked, knowing I was deciphering his intentions when he talked to me.
After pulling my headphones off I looked at him. "The band HIM."
"Ooooh." He laughed again. "Care for some henna?"
I looked at the large sign beside me and spotted one I liked. "Sure."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"..are those your Cd's?" I peered over at the table with his henna supplies on it, noticing a pile of wrapped Cd's.
"Yeah. I was in two bands. Those are the only Cd's we have out."
After picking both Cd's up I smiled. "Can I buy them?" I looked at the sign that said they were each 10 dollars. As I reached for my wallet he laughed.
"Just give me a five and take them both."
It had been a few days since I had first come to the beach with my family. Since that first day I had been spending most of my time with the man Jim Grey. He was laid back and sweet with a great sense of humor. We kept each-other company as the hot days passed.
Right after buying the Cd's I went to the hotel and popped the longer one into my CD player. Jim had said the CopperTree CD was longer, but since I listened to metal, The Jade Farrows would probably suit my tastes better. The songs played and Jim's voice echoed out of the headphones and I closed my eyes. Harsh but angelic. Sweet but lewd. Being a girl who favored other girls I sort of fell in love with his voice. As I listened and walked out of the hotel a familiar song began to play. One they used to play on the radio that I really liked. As I walked to Jim with a smile he looked up and laughed at the speed of my strut.
The song finished and I pulled the headphones off. "I know number three. That The One song."
He laughed. "They played it on the radio a few times."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"JIM! I'M BACK!"
It had been one year since I had seen the singer but I was happy to be back at the beach I had grown so fond of. He still looked the same. Baggy pants and a dark tee shirt. I had grown into a proud Coppertree fan. Even now I wonder if he understands how much I really mean it when I say that.
That week passed quickly and soon it was the 4 of July in the year 2005. I kept by Jim's side. However once the afternoon came a friend of his showed up. Taller and a bit more muscular than Jim, he joined us.
"Oh Nikki! This is Randy, he was the drummer for Coppertree." Jim said proudly. Without hesitation I got his autograph and held onto it carefully. The three of us watched the fireworks till three in the morning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Its been one year since the fireworks. One year since I've seen Jim Grey. The band shirt he brought me is still by my side. Jim and Randy's autographs proudly on my wall. The Coppertree CD in my CD player. Jim's soothing voice and proud, true words in my head. The music that I had always dreamed of is something I met face to face.
((This ones for you Jim Grey! The man who changed my life and gave me hope! Thank you for looking out for me when I needed a guy to trust! ))
Author notes
Kinda long. About my meeting who is now my favorite singer.
Written July 20th, 2006
A contest entry
- Touched by Greatness by Danna Hobart.
300 points, ended July 22, 2006, 2 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
-
WOW! That was a beautiful meeting you had. Very lucky girl! It is so nice to connect with someone in person whom you have loved listening to and I can imagine how happy this meeting at the beach has made you and how blessed you must feel about it. This was really well penned with wonderful imagery and flow. Great capture of emotion! Thank you for sharing a precious memory. Congratulations on the GOLD.
Charishma
-
This was not what I expected. It completely surpassed all my expectations for this contest.
Thank you for so much for taking the time to enter this contest.
-
I love music of all varieties, but especially rock~n~roll, acoustic & metal, particularly from the 60's, 70's & 80's. While I have never met a famous band member, I have known people in some amazing local groups, some of which should be well~known, but aren't yet. I live in Oklahoma City, land of some seriously great music, especially contemporary country music, such as Garth Brooks, Reba MacIntyre, Toby Keith & Vince Gill, among others. It is also the home of Cross Canadian Ragweed, as well as the awe~inspiring The Flaming Lips. One of my greatest moments with music was being able to see the mighty & fearsome Led Zeppelin on their last tour. My first concert was Seals & Crofts; I only mention it because it was the beginnings of a life~long love of good music...besides, I was sitting in the 3rd row & when they asked for any requests, jokingly, I called out "Hummingbird!!!" & he smiled at me & they sang it...sighhh...I also saw Aerosmith before the Run/DMC incident. 
I got to watch Joni Mitchell do a sound check, then stayed for the concert, a 10 hour day that was amazing. I've seen Kiss (I want 'em to put their makeup back on & bring Ace Frehley back into the fold) 
I got to see The Moody Blues reunite after 14 years (along with the late Jimmy Spheeris), as well as Burt Bacharach & Dionne Warwick (after 20 years). I saw Cat Stevens on his last tour. I've seen Crosby, Stills & Nash twice; Young was never with them, though. I saw Rod Stewart with Ron Wood before he left to join The Rolling Stones. Bonnie Raitt. Leon Russell in a bar setting. Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" tour. Emmylou Harris. Jethro Tull. The Grateful Dead. Almost got to see Tina Turner on my birthday, but I was too ill to go, so I gave the ticket to another adoring fan. Many others, as well, besides these I've named. I haven't been to a concert in quite awhile, but there are those I'd wait in line overnight for. Music touches our lives in so many ways. It inspires, soothes, energizes & fulfills an unspoken need of our Souls. I found this to be an interesting tale of a "brush with stardom", even if it was delayed & neglected stardom (most great local groups never get the airplay they deserve, unfortunately). I'm just kinda puttin' in my 50~cents' worth here; obviously, Danna will have some words for ya, too, Rose Of The Night. As for myself, I thank you for sharing your memories, as well as reminding me of my own. Good times, they were. Thanks for entering. Be well, Poet. 
Wanda
Adding your comment:
1 old applause
