[Tim]

Every time a Gordon concert ends, the memories start to settle in. The songs he sang, the remarks he made between tunes, the gorgeous sound of the acoustic guitars and a band that is always spot-on with their pleasing blend of guitar, keyboard, bass and percussion …. After the Aurora performance on Sept 16th, it’s another concert to file away for the ages.

This time I hoped for some more memories. One of my missions was to get my daughter to meet Gordon. Angela is 12 years old, is now playing the cello has developed a real appreciation for Gordon’s music. A few months ago in Kansas City, her older brother got to meet Gordon because of a fluke accident of forgetting his shirt at the concert hall. When we raced back to get the shirt we fell into an opportunity to meet Gord as he left the Uptown Theater. Angela missed out that I promised her that we’d give it our best shot at the next opportunity. The next concert within “Songbook Proximity” was in Aurora. A long drive, an overnight stay in a hotel, and a day out of school for the kids, but it would be well worth it. Our entire family would benefit from a truly fine performance, and we would give it our best shot to meet Gordon after the show.

After this concert, I noticed a line of about 20 people forming at the right side of the theater. I quickly gathered up our family and joined the line. A woman who was checking credentials & confirming names against a prepared list that she was holding. My heart sank. I knew that my family’s name was not on this special list that she was clutching. When she came to me, I simply told her that we drove all the way up from St. Louis and that my 12 year old daughter really wanted to meet Gordon. Although her demeanor was pleasant, she was also unyielding. “I’m sorry sir; you’ll have to leave the line.”

At about this time, I noticed Barry Harvey near the front of the line, standing at the door where the line was forming. That was my next shot. I went up to him, shook his hand and told him that my son and I met him and Gordon in Kansas City a couple months back. I then asked him if there was any chance I could get my 12 year old daughter back to meet Gord. Barry simply said “I’m sorry; there is nothing I can do.” Then he added that the “…guys were flying back to Toronto tonight.”

Reading between the lines, I knew that Barry was trying to minimize the delays and distractions that might interfere with Gordon getting on the plane and getting home.
I recognized the clash taking place: In my life, the happiness of my daughter rested significantly on the chance to meet Gord and Barry’s job was to minimize the speed bumps that would slow Gordon and his entourage’s journey back home to Toronto. I guess we were one of those speed bumps.

My family and I reluctantly walked away, as we were dealt another setback. You can imagine my sweet daughter’s look of disappointment. As we left the theater I told her that we were down to our last chance. Our only alternative was to find the back of the theater and hope that we could luck into meeting Gord the way my son and I did a few months ago. Fortunately, the elements were cooperating. It was a perfectly pleasant, calm, clear night. Plus I had the entire family that wanted to wait it out. And I also knew the best thing going for us was Gord’s kind nature.

Next post coming shortly........