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AnneOK · 03-05-2008, 09:54 PM

Okay folks, sorry that last message didn't get formatted very well. Every time I tried to preview my post, I got booted off . . . what gives?

If I may, I'd love to recount a few memories from my first trip to Massey Hall, in May of 1998. What an exciting time that was! I was a wide-eyed child of just 17 and absoutely thrilled to be seeing Gord playing his home gig, so to speak. Like so many who have posted here, before the internet became an everyday tool I had little information about when and where Gord would be playing. It also seemed like I was the only Lightfoot fan alive. Most of my friends just referred to him as "that old guy that you like."

The 1998 gathering was before the convention title took hold, and somewhere I still have my pussy-willows and cattails-themed t-shirt. At that time I had met a bunch of folks in the AOL Friday night chatroom -- Doug and Darin and Derek and Erica and Shirley and Jenney and whoever else has slipped my mind at this point in time. I had briefly said hello to Darin at a show he attended in Michigan, but other than that I was excited to meet some other folks who thought as highly of Gord's music as I did (and do).

That trip to Toronto was my high school graduation present from my parents, and I wanted to drink in every bit of experience that I could. Being so young and aware of the potential for danger with a group of strangers in a big city, I reasoned out that if there did happen to be any axe murderers in the group that they likely wouldn't strike in such a public place as Massey Hall or the lobby of a hotel.

As far as I know, no axe murderers have made their presence known. <smile>

Walking down to the venerable old hall for the first time, I was giddy with anticipation. I was going to Massey Hall! I could scarcely believe it. I had seen Gord and the guys numerous times before that, but it is such a special place to see them play that nothing really compares to it.

One of my favorite memories from that gathering was a jam session that took place in the lobby of the Sheraton after one of the shows. A lot of folks were staying there or nearby, but in planning the trip to Toronto my dad wanted to fulfill a life-long dream of staying at the Royal York Hotel. Walking back after the show with the group, the throng started turning in the direction of the Sheraton. My parents, tired out and ready to head back to the hotel, were certainly not interested in going out for more revelry. So there I was, standing on a corner in Toronto, with a decision to make. Do I go back to the hotel with my parents, which would obviously have been a "safer" choice, or do I wander off with these apparently kind folks and enjoy an evening of music?

Well, I chose to go to the Sheraton and to this day I still can't believe my parents let me. The music was fine, the company delightful, and I had so much fun that I have been at every Massey gathering since then. On that trip, I also met Donnie and Michele, and last summer in Austin Donnie and I were reminiscing about how crazy my parents were to let me go off like that.

In the end, I survived and lived to tell about it. In fact, I think it was Doug and his lovely wife who kindly and graciously saw to it that I made it back to my hotel that first night.

Other highlights that stick out in my mind from the Conventions since then . . . the Trivia Contest in 1999, the Char-B-Que in 2001, the Welcome Back shows in 2005 and the wonderful whistle-a-long (or was the whistle-along in 2006????). A surreal and exquisitely delightful memory from November, 2006 was the jam session in the hotel and a multitude of voices and guitars singing and playing "Seven Island Suite". There is nothing quite like hearing a favorite song played and sung by 20 or 30 or 40 people who just "get it".

Over the years I have met some wonderful folks and made some great memories. I have to echo Diane and say if you are trying to consider whether or not to make a "pilgrimage" to Toronto to see Gord at Massey, book now. Do it! It is an experience to relish.

I can't wait until May!

03-05-2008, 09:54 PM	#23
AnneOK Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 38	Re: Massey 1999 Okay folks, sorry that last message didn't get formatted very well. Every time I tried to preview my post, I got booted off . . . what gives? If I may, I'd love to recount a few memories from my first trip to Massey Hall, in May of 1998. What an exciting time that was! I was a wide-eyed child of just 17 and absoutely thrilled to be seeing Gord playing his home gig, so to speak. Like so many who have posted here, before the internet became an everyday tool I had little information about when and where Gord would be playing. It also seemed like I was the only Lightfoot fan alive. Most of my friends just referred to him as "that old guy that you like." The 1998 gathering was before the convention title took hold, and somewhere I still have my pussy-willows and cattails-themed t-shirt. At that time I had met a bunch of folks in the AOL Friday night chatroom -- Doug and Darin and Derek and Erica and Shirley and Jenney and whoever else has slipped my mind at this point in time. I had briefly said hello to Darin at a show he attended in Michigan, but other than that I was excited to meet some other folks who thought as highly of Gord's music as I did (and do). That trip to Toronto was my high school graduation present from my parents, and I wanted to drink in every bit of experience that I could. Being so young and aware of the potential for danger with a group of strangers in a big city, I reasoned out that if there did happen to be any axe murderers in the group that they likely wouldn't strike in such a public place as Massey Hall or the lobby of a hotel. As far as I know, no axe murderers have made their presence known. <smile> Walking down to the venerable old hall for the first time, I was giddy with anticipation. I was going to Massey Hall! I could scarcely believe it. I had seen Gord and the guys numerous times before that, but it is such a special place to see them play that nothing really compares to it. One of my favorite memories from that gathering was a jam session that took place in the lobby of the Sheraton after one of the shows. A lot of folks were staying there or nearby, but in planning the trip to Toronto my dad wanted to fulfill a life-long dream of staying at the Royal York Hotel. Walking back after the show with the group, the throng started turning in the direction of the Sheraton. My parents, tired out and ready to head back to the hotel, were certainly not interested in going out for more revelry. So there I was, standing on a corner in Toronto, with a decision to make. Do I go back to the hotel with my parents, which would obviously have been a "safer" choice, or do I wander off with these apparently kind folks and enjoy an evening of music? Well, I chose to go to the Sheraton and to this day I still can't believe my parents let me. The music was fine, the company delightful, and I had so much fun that I have been at every Massey gathering since then. On that trip, I also met Donnie and Michele, and last summer in Austin Donnie and I were reminiscing about how crazy my parents were to let me go off like that. In the end, I survived and lived to tell about it. In fact, I think it was Doug and his lovely wife who kindly and graciously saw to it that I made it back to my hotel that first night. Other highlights that stick out in my mind from the Conventions since then . . . the Trivia Contest in 1999, the Char-B-Que in 2001, the Welcome Back shows in 2005 and the wonderful whistle-a-long (or was the whistle-along in 2006????). A surreal and exquisitely delightful memory from November, 2006 was the jam session in the hotel and a multitude of voices and guitars singing and playing "Seven Island Suite". There is nothing quite like hearing a favorite song played and sung by 20 or 30 or 40 people who just "get it". Over the years I have met some wonderful folks and made some great memories. I have to echo Diane and say if you are trying to consider whether or not to make a "pilgrimage" to Toronto to see Gord at Massey, book now. Do it! It is an experience to relish. I can't wait until May!