Book 3

Crazy stuff still happens once in a while to keep life interesting. Like the Labor Day weekend we went to see Belinda Carlisle in concert. Belinda was the former lead singer of the all-female 80s band, The Go-Go's. She carved out a very successful solo career since the mid-80s. Plus she remains one of the most gorgeous woman on the planet.

Her show was fun at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa. As we were getting back into the car we heard a commotion a little ways down the parking lot. Holly noticed there was a group of 20 or more people gathered near the side of the theater. Someone called out "Belinda!" Apparently Miss Carlisle had come out and was meeting the fans.

I  was literally halfway into the car on the transfer board when I said to Holly, "Let's go!", remembering my fearless camp-out to see Manilow days. So I scrambled back into the wheelchair. Holly needed to close the both car doors as I anxiously waited.

Suddenly, some big guy grabs the handles of my chair and declares, "Hang on, Buddy! Buckle yourself in!", as he starts to briskly push my chair over the gravel lot. I yell "Whoa! I don't have a seat belt!" hanging on for dear life, looking for Holly and getting closer to the pack of fans.

When we arrived, still in one piece, my heart sank. Belinda was signing autographs and taking pictures but she had just finished and was walking back to a white SUV which was parked inside a fenced-in section of the venue.

Holly caught up and I explained, my  heart racing like a rabbit. "Let's stay and at least wave to her when she leaves," I suggested.

As the crowd dispersed into the mild late evening we waited outside the chain-link fence, hoping to get a glimpse of the music icon. The SUV started backing out as we waved, not sure where Belinda was in the vehicle or if she could even see us with the tinted windows.

The right passenger side window rolls  down and a female voice calls out "Do you want a picture?"

I blurt out, "Yes, please!" not sure who I'm answering, thinking maybe someone would hand me a publicity photo from the open window. Instead, out emerges Belinda Carlisle herself.

I sat there, stunned. Holly shouted, "Our phones! They're in the car! Our cameras! Wait!"

As she raced back to the car for her phone, I continued to stare at the beautiful Belinda, totally awestruck.

She leans down and smiles. I say "Nice to meet you. My name is Greg." Not "great show" or "thanks for stopping."  Everything seemed to be going in slow motion.

Meanwhile, that same group of fans who were watching Belinda leave at a  distance, were now swarming back to the scene. So Belinda calls out "I'm only doing this one!"

A male fan nearby yells "I got you covered!" as he snaps two quick pictures before Holly could get back. Belinda is back in the car as I continue to talk and stare.

Off into the night goes lovely Belinda as the guy texts me the photos he took. One was blurry from the frantic pace of Belinda turning to go, while the other shot is of Belinda smiling sweetly at the camera and me still staring at her.

We laugh on the way home. It was sweet of Belinda to stop. I'm also thinking, I hope she didn't think I was a stalker.  Love is so fleeting.