So
there I was...
Next
in line to meet and greet Geddy Lee!
Standing
in the doorway to the Virgin Megastore in Orange, California,
enjoying the atmosphere, surrounded by about a million excited Rush
fans, marveling at how the sound system in the bright new building
blasted Geddy Lee's music so clearly in my ears, catching a glimpse
of Geddy Lee moments before I would speak to him myself as he shook
the hand of a fellow fan in front of me...all was good in the world.
"Thanks
Geddy!" "It's my pleasure."
"Okay,
you're up next Dude."
Then
it was my turn! Within seconds a female facilitating attendee looked
over to me and said...
"Your
next!"
That's
when the whole world began spinning.
You
know the sound that a radio makes as you turn the knob to search
for a station you want to hear while catching hints of words and
bits of music as you skip along the dial? Well imagine that, then
speed it up about ten times and play it over and over in your head
and that is more or less the state of mind I found myself in as
I stepped up to the proverbial plate.
"IT'S
GEDDY LEE!" ………………"IT'S GEDDY LEE?"
…………….."IT'S GEDDY LEE!!!" ……………."I'M
NOT WORTHY!" ………. "Hey Moe!" …….…"Mommy?"
……...."Use the Force Luke." ………."How's
it goin' eh?" ………."I am the Nerd King!!!" ……….."Think,
think, think, think, think!!!" ………."Something clever?"
………."Arrrgggghhh!!!"
Man,
I was out there. As I came to a stop at Geddy Lee's table, Geddy
casually looked up to me and we locked eyes on each other as I handed
him my previously mentioned poster. He was wearing his trademark
glasses just under the bridge of his nose so I could see his whole
face. For a split second there he gave me this look of recognition
but turned out to be just his way of searching my face for a clue
for anything I might like to say to him as he signed the items I
handed him.
"DON'T
LOOK AT HIS EYES!!! YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!!!…"
Suddenly
I found myself avoiding his gaze and fixed my eyes on my poster.
"Mr.
Lee." I blurted out under my breath.
"SAY
SOMETHING!!" I
screamed in my head.
Still
looking up RIGHT
AT ME,
Geddy
asked calmly "Who should I sign
this to?"
"Hey
he's got a cool voice". I recall thinking. "It's as cool as it sounds
on the radio". Man! The stupid things that can run through my mind!
I
gave him my name and he signed it to me. Fumbling with the poster
I then handed him my recently purchased copy of his latest musical
masterpiece my favorite headache to which he also added his
autograph.
My
autographed copy of Geddy Lee's My Favorite Headache
He
was a bit smaller in person than I had previously always imagined.
I could see age in his face for the first time and maybe even a
bit of apprehension? He was signing about a million autographs that
night and from what I was able to gather from some of the folks
that were running the show at the Megastore, Geddy needed to leave
by seven o'clock which gave him less than two hours to get though
all the fans waiting in line behind me. He was so cool.
He
was Geddy Lee!
"I
really love your work". I found myself saying as he handed the signed
CD back to me. "Thank you". He replied. I was reeling.
At
that point I handed him a gift. The gift itself was a pencil drawing
of Geddy based on several pictures taken of him during a test
for echo concert I attended back in '97. The drawing was sandwiched
between two pieces of chipboard with a label marked GIFT FOR
GEDDY!. I managed a "this is a gift for you…." And my voice
trailed off to silence.
My
gift for Geddy.
Geddy
took the drawing very carefully with both hands and placed it next
to him on the table to which he added yet another "Thank you." Right
at that moment I heard a voice call my name from behind and I turned
to look. My buddy ahead of me was standing a few paces away aiming
his camera in our direction.
Click.
Flash. Whir.
I
had a big cheesy grin as I posed for the picture and then I walked
away from the table with my autographed treasures in hand. It felt
like I was walking ten feet in the air as my brain managed to move
my legs one step in front of the other out the door when I suddenly
realized I had forgotten to shake Geddy's hand! Now how do you like
that!?! ME! The biggest Rush fan in the world and I forget
to shake the man's hand.
I'll
get over it. Just hope he liked the drawing.
Wow!
I met Geddy Lee!
Richard
Carter
