book- belinda

(Place on page 327..Delete previous Belinda para.)

Meeting singer Belinda Carlisle had nothing to do with my OI, but it was another example of how nice people have been to me during  my life.

After a terrific concert by Belinda, Holly and I were in the parking lot, ready to leave. We tossed our phones in the car and I was halfway in the car when Holly noticed Belinda was signing autographs and taking pictures with 20 or so fans gathered near a chain-link fence.

We decided to go over and say hi, so I quickly transferred back into my chair. Holly still needed to shut her driver's door. As she ran to the other side of the car, suddenly some guy appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed the handles of my chair and shouted, "Hang on, Buddy! I got ya! Buckle up! I'll get you there!"

Startled, I yelled "I don't have a seat belt!" as he plowed me through the pebbly parking lot. We just missed Belinda by a split second. She was getting into a white SUV, waiting for the driver to back out of the fenced-in parking spot.

Holly caught up to us, panting "Did you see her?"

"No," I sighed, disappointed, as the fans dispersed. I suggested we stay to wave to Belinda as she was leaving.

Slowly the vehicle backed out. I waved, hoping Belinda would see us, despite the tinted windows. Without warning, the front window rolled down and I heard a voice from inside the SUV.

"Do you want a picture?"

"Yes, please!" I replied and the vehicle stopped. Sure enough, out bounds Belinda, smaller than I imagined. I was shocked and stared at her, face-to-face with the beautiful former lead singer of the iconic 80's band, the Go-Go's.

Oh, no! Our phones ( and cameras) were still in the car! As Holly ran back to the car, another fan  who had lingered with us, shouted "I gotcha!" and took several pictures as I continued to stare.

Just like that, Belinda was back in the SUV and  off into the chilly September night. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Holly returned. I sat there, still in a trance, finally snapping out of it."What just happened?" I muttered.

Belinda didn't have to stop but she did. People really are nice.