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"How it All Began" One day, out of the clear blue sky, M said,...you really should go down to L.A., visit Jeff and your friends for a bit, escape the cold weather....and go to the S.T.A.G.E. Concerts and surprise David. After I picked myself up off the floor, I said, "You are telling me to go all the way to Los Angeles to see a concert?" And he just said "Why not? You really should go, and you have the money and time to
do it." So I called and made all the arrangements, concert tickets,
train tickets...called Lora and Heather and Linda to see if they wanted to
go...Called Jeff to see if he would also want to go and bring a few
friends, and also give me a place to hang out for a few days! I set up some elaborate plans with Ted Seifman to surprise David. Ted was one of the people from the Aid's Service Center who I talked to about tickets and we seemed to hit it off real well. I sent him a letter for David, explaining that Jeff would be coming to the concert on January 31st, and some photos from when "Joseph" was in Vancouver, and he promised to give them to David during one of the rehearsals. Ted planned to meet us before the Saturday night concert, and
would show Jeff and I where to go after the show, to be sure that David
would have to see us on his way out of the building.
He would tell David that Jeff had brought some friends to meet
him...and that way David would be looking for Jeff...and not suspecting
that I would be with him.
From my trip journal ~ Chapter One ~ Getting There: The
day started out less than perfectly. Philip,
our youngest, managed to oversleep somehow...brief panic...but after I
called Merrill at work to tell him he might need to come back home and
drive me to Seattle...Philip, by some miracle, arrived and we were quickly
on our way to catch the early ferry (5:30 AM) and we had fresh donuts and
milk on the way. He waited at
the Amtrak station with me until boarding time... took all my stuff up to
my room, and helped me to get it organized...then took off just in time to
not make the entire trip with me. My
room was on the "scenic" side and in the car just next to the
Parlor Car (open from 6 AM until midnight or so, serving coffee, tea,
juices, sodas, milk and snacks - all free, except for alcoholic beverages
which are for sale at reasonable prices, and with great comfortable lounge
chairs that swivel for a full panoramic view of the magnificent Washington,
Oregon and California scenery - which is quite breathtaking and
beautiful)...and the Dining Car - which serves 3 lovely meals each
day...also free to "sleeping car" passengers.
Great
location! The train trip
from Seattle to Los Angeles was absolutely lovely.
Gorgeous scenery which I never get tired of. Met lots of nice people, especially a young couple from
Adelaide, Australia. Both were
students, he a music major. His
dream - to write wonderful background music for films, ala John Williams.
Spent most of the trip with them...we exchanged email and real mail
addresses. We all three just
fell hopelessly in love with each other. The
meals were great, and each afternoon at three o'clock, there is fresh
fruit, cheese, crackers and wine tasting, plus there is live entertainment,
this trip we had a magician I had traveled with on two previous trips with
granddaughter Samantha, and he is quite nice and also quite talented.
There are also 2 movies each evening, daily newspapers, books and
games and just lots to do, and there are even fresh flowers in your rooms,
and chocolates on your pillow at bedtime...although, just the scenery, food
and companionship works great for me. The
two days passed amazingly quickly, considering the anticipation that I was
feeling. But then, in almost
no time...there we were...Union Station, Los Angeles...which is just so
typically LA...a grand and beautiful old Spanish/Early California style
station. You could almost
sense the countless glamorous stars of yesterday, sweeping through in their
furs and jewels...and entourage...amid popping flash bulbs...and eager
fans. I always love arriving
there, especially at night, with a million lights sparkling and welcoming
the traveler to this magical city...headquarters of our American movie
empire...home of dreams and countless hopefuls and of memories of that long
ago Golden Age of movies... Sorry,
I tend to get lost in memories sometimes... Anyway...I
got a motorized red cap who took me through the huge station to meet Jeff,
then insisted on taking us all the way to the car...Nice man! Friday
I just hung out, Jeff had to work. He
had tickets for the Philharmonic that evening...previous plans, which was
fine with me. I talked to some
friends by phone, unpacked....then spent far too much time worrying about
things and being almost completely irrational...imagined David would have
stayed in NY or missed his flight, or would not be glad to see me...or
other similar and disastrous scenarios. Then to keep from going nuts over
that, I started worrying about Merrill, and the weather and then about
world affairs, and almost anything else that came to mind.
Considering that I might have missed my train in the first place - a
much too close call - does this surprise anyone?
I tend to be a worrier obviously and I hate it when I do that...and
don't often, thank heaven...but on that Friday I did. Jeff's
college buddy (David Miller) rents the apartment on the ground level of Jeff
brought home Chinese take-out for dinner...we all ate, he and his guest The
next day was spent mostly just hanging out, cooking, (I helped Jeff with
dinner) and then making myself as absolutely, devastatingly, beautiful,
glamorous and as gorgeous as I possibly could... for the
"encounter." After
all a *date* with three handsome escorts is not something that happens to
me every day or so. The time
FINALLY came to get dressed...I chose a black pants suit with simple but
elegant crystal jewelry...and I thought we all looked rather nice!
I was still just a little bit worried about how things might
go...which, as it turned out, was a completely stupid waste of time. Thank
Heaven!!! Dinner at Jeff's house with Jeff and his friends was really lovely, Lasagne, Crunchy Lettuce Salad, homemade bread, Amish Brown Sugar Pie, even wine and candlelight! I think Jeff thought of everything! It was a perfect start to what promised to be a perfect evening. Then off we went. The Luckman Theatre on the campus at Cal State L. A. is absolutely gorgeous! It didn't even rain one drop that day...an omen perhaps! (No rain allowed on such a fabulous *parade!*
From my Trip Journal ~ Chapter Two ~ The Concert on Saturday: We
went to the will call window...someone pointed out Ted Seifman to me...I
said, "I'm Jackie" and he said...over the microphone
"Jackie!!!" so of course half the audience knows I am Jackie by
now. Great! I am hoping the sound system does not extend to the
dressing rooms! He said he would meet us at intermission to tell us the plan for after the show. I introduced him to everyone. Our
seats were great, 9th row - the lights dimmed - the magic began... The overture and opening song - Brigadoon - were awesome...all those beautiful voices. It was just so very lovely. The band was on stage, where they could be both seen and heard, rather than in an orchestra pit somewhere out of sight. Ron Abel, the pianist and musical director, whose credits are long, many and quite impressive, was here for his 11th year with S.T.A.G.E. A
friend in Pasadena had seen a short TV spot, which was filmed during rehearsals,
she had seen a young man with dark hair...SHORT dark hair, and mistakenly
took him to be David...and this thought had driven me absolutely wild for
two days...as I totally love David's hair...just the way it has been since
I first saw him. You cannot imagine how overjoyed I was when the overture
began and the entire cast assembled on stage...and David's hair was still
long and exactly as it has always been.
Every beautiful curl exactly in place and as I remembered it.
I had warned Jeff I would probably cry - either way.
Right...I had problems not crying just for sheer joy.
I was so proud of David...seeing him in such awesome
company...knowing he was part of such a magnificent and needed
undertaking...knowing how dedicated he really is to this cause...how much
of his time and self he has already given at only age 26.
Tears are just part of the David experience for me...as is awe, joy,
beauty, music and endless love. In
the audience were Barbara Rush, Linda Blair, Celeste Holm, Gretchen Wilder,
Marty Ingles, Dom Delouise, Ray Charles (the one who was Perry Como's
musical director) and several other celebrities whose names now escape
me...or that perhaps we may not have recognized.
It was quite a crowd! 1800 people who were totally entertained and
delighted I believe. There
was a brief opening address by Betty Garrett, one of the co-MC's of the
show...then, a few words from Naomi Caryl, the other Co-Chairperson.
And...one by one, each performer took his or her place and went
immediately into their particular song or dance or comedy routine.
There were no introductions, no announcements to slow things
down...the names appeared on a monitor above the stage...and each followed
the last...it was high drama...and sheer beauty.
It was laughs, smiles...it was a night to remember for always. David
was the fifth performer...he followed Charlotte Rae David
looked so beautiful, so gorgeous, so magnificent in his tux...and he
sounded so terrific! No
surprise, right? Actually, he
was totally awesome, and you know, of course, that I am not biased at all!
There was lots and lots of clapping and cheering and whistling!
Of course, as always, I was fighting tears, as it was just all so
overwhelming. He always
affects me that way when he sings! "Everything I Have is Yours" was his song...(I
have never, ever liked that song, at least not until he sang it!)
The words are absolutely beautiful...I am sure every woman there thought he
was singing to her personally. Or wished he was... The
first half was great, funny in parts, awesome in others...Patrick Cassidy
was a huge hit doing a hilarious version of "C'est Moi" from
Camelot, but truth is, the entire show was so fabulous that it defies
description We
met Ted, my friend and co-conspirator, after the first half...he gave me a
huge hug, thanked me for coming so far, and for bringing my
friends...said he had talked to David the night before and told him Jeff
would be coming, with friends. Certainly
a true statement. There is an indoor stage door, just off the lobby and we
were to wait there for David after the show. The rest of the concert was as wonderful and entertaining as the first half. Davis
Gaines brought the house down...no surprise!
Terrific singer...great personality.
He sang "If Ever I Would Leave You" which was a great choice!!! Tonight I could see how he
managed to be so successful in Phantom of the Opera...the man is sensual, totally.
(I didn't see him or Rex Smith after the show though.
Will try tomorrow.) The
finale was great...you could hear David's beautiful voice over everyone
else! And of course, at the
curtain calls, during the standing ovation...he was just glowing...100
mega-watt smile and all. He
was obviously having the time of his life... Just being a tiny part of that was truly wonderful for me...a most memorable occasion. I was so glad I had decided to make the trip - and to be there for him...for the sponsors...and for myself. How wonderful of my precious and wonderfully understanding husband to have suggested it...supported it and encouraged me to do it. I shall be grateful eternally.
From my Trip Journal ~ Chapter Three ~ Saturday after the Concert:
Anyway...various
singers came out...and knowing that David was on his way, I am sure I was
shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. The
guys held my coat and programs and everything...Jeff said he would take
photos (something I usually manage to forget,) so we waited. I planted myself pretty much in the path HE would have
to take, or at least it seemed so, although we were quite some distance
from that door, and there were many others there waiting for friends and
family. It was a well-dressed,
well-behaved group of well-wishers...not a bunch of screaming teeny-boppers
or groupies. I hoped he would
somehow spot me in the crowd...but wasn't really sure he would...so much
for planning to surprise HIM! No
sign of the mysterious "David fan" who bought tix for all three
shows.. He came bustling along...looked up and right at me...blinked...looked again...somehow he managed to cross the space between us and in an instant, his arms were holding me close, and said, well almost shouted "I didn't know you were going to be here" I said, "well, that was the plan, I wanted to surprise you cause I think you do surprise He flashed me that 100 mega-watt smile, and for the first time, HE was just close to not knowing what to say! "No one told me, how long have you been here, when did you get here?" I said "David, you must be the only one who didn't know and for the first time in our lives, I seem to have you at a disadvantage. I know what I want to say, and you are the one who is babbling." He said "I can't believe you are here...I had no idea you were coming"...and more of the same. I loved it.. He signed my program "With all my love, David" (Last time it was just "With Love, David Burnham...so I must have stepped up a notch!) Anyway, I told him I loved him...that he was the second greatest love of my life. He said he loved me too, and smiled, and grinned...and Jeff took several photos...David kissed my cheek, I kissed him...I told him that Joanne thought he had cut his hair...and that it was a good thing he had not...cause I would have broken his legs...he said he would never cut it short then. He introduced me to his manager (Josh) and someone else who I have now forgotten...he told them I had come down from Seattle. They said..."Oh you are the person from Seattle...we heard you were coming." Apparently everyone except David did know. I can't believe they all kept the secret, but they did. He WAS surprised!!! Josh seemed so impressed that I would come so far...I said tell me where he will be...and I will be there...guaranteed. I love this young man...and we had a great talk too...Everyone was so impressed that I had traveled so far...and you could see that David was really pleased...and proud too. That made me feel sooooooo wonderful. To continue, see: 1998 Continued |
