Being one to hate to disappoint, Doug, I'll try to add my 2 loonies.
Finally bringing the internet into my life in April of 1999, the first thing I did was search "Gordon Lightfoot". I have been a fan since 1970 when IYCRMM got its radio play in the States. Many of you, I am sure, can relate to how difficult it was to find a concert or anything about Gord before the internet. Concert going was a hit or miss event, even with persistant perusal of Sunday newspaper entertainment sections and calling venues for brochures with schedules.
So imagine my surprise when within minutes of hitting "search" I was in a Gordon Lightfoot website...the one belonging to one Ms Magee! And there was a schedule. Oh my! This internet thing was quite the gadget. With my husband looking over my shoulder, I pointed to the November Massey concerts and said "that would be the ultimate for me, seeing Gord at Massey".
My second internet miracle was finding Rik Stevens' Lightfoot website and his chatroom. With much trepidation, (being the quiet country gal that I am) I signed in to it. But it was empty as it was not Friday night at 9 pm. So I spent the better part of the week deciding whether to risk it. Curiousity got the better of me and that Friday at 9 pm I signed in. I was welcomed with open arms and made some lifelong friends (you know who you are). At the time, the Massey convention was being discussed. Dare I hope, dream that I could join them?
Fast forward to November...I am on my way to Toronto! My husband was with me and neither of us are good navigators outside of our comfort zone and among other things...not being able to make a left hand turn in Toronto was making the last leg of the trip almost unbearable. We could see the hotel, but couldn't get to it! So it was a very stressful trip. We finally made it to the garage only to have to drive down, down, down many levels to find a space to park. Did I mention I am claustrophobic? LOL and stressed to the max. The slow agonizing ride up an elevator the size of a phone booth just about did me in.
Now hubby and I are standing in the lobby of the Delta Chelsea. Our first foray out of the USA and we are in one of many lines of people waiting to check in. I am beginning to wonder if this really was a good idea. Until...I hear "Hi Diane" in this throng of strangers in a country where I didn't know a soul. It was Doug. Gord Bless him. Just those two words made all the stress of the past 13 hours fade away and the excitement start to build. It was a Gordsend to see a familiar face. Doug and I had already met in August when our Tour Director Julie aka Jenney, decided to throw a Northeast Lightfoot Gathering in her home in honor of Doug's trip east for business. Another Lighthead leap of faith as Doug was the only person Jenney knew personally. However of the people that were there, there wasn't an axe killer in the bunch...although one of us, Neil, did have a machete-like tool in his truck as he was a landscaper.
After a drop and run stop in our hotel room, hubby and I went to the gathering spot and I met up with Jenney and Susan (whom I had also already met in August) and before long I was in a bear hug and receiving a kiss on the cheek from our Sir John. It was a nice pre-concert gathering, meeting many people who I knew by name and now could put a face to them.
Soon it was time to don the Canary Yellow shirt and leave for the concert. I can echo many others' sentiments of the feeling you get the first time you see that red lettered sign all aglow. Walking in is another thrill. And as always, no matter where, seeing the familiar setup on stage and you know you are in for a great night. Being at Massey is the ultimate for any Gord fan. The history is palpable. And that is before Gord has even stepped on stage!
The concerts were awesome. Each special in its own way. I attended all three nights and wished there were more.
The second afternoon while I was sitting in the lounge with my hubby, two people came up and said "are you dj?" (In the chatroom I was know as dj or dj17). Again I am amazed that Lightheads can pick each other out of a crowd. When I said I was, I was introduced to Rik himself and Virago aka Lori, our motorcycle riding NASA librarian. How did they know it was me? DUH I had on my Canary Yellow Canoe shirt. And they just guessed who in particular from the blonde hair. Too funny.
There was a gathering one day where we played a Lightfoot Trivia game with teams. It was great fun. There was also a bus tour to Orillia, which I did not join so I could spend some "couple" time with my hubby. He likes Gord's music, just not obsessed enough to devote a trip to Toronto to all things Lightfoot 24/7. He was a good sport and gave me plenty of other time to be a Lighthead to the max, so I was happy to give him that one Lightfoot-less afternoon. We walked Younge St and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame, the seaport at the end of Younge St and Eaton Centre. I agree with you Doug, there were homeless people on the street, but they were some of the most quiet, respectful homeless people I have ever seen.
It was a once in a lifetime trip that I was to repeat in 2005 when Gord returned to the Massey stage. That experience almost defies words. Unfortunately I have not been able to plan any return trips, but those two will remain in my heart and mind forever.
To those of you planning to attend this year...have a blast. To those of you on the fence about it...get off and go! To those of you, like me, who will have to live through trip reports...I will be waiting along with you.
Yours in Gord,
Diane