Sweet memory...... It was the long-awaited and so hoped-for 'Steve Perry
Information Network (S.P.I.N.) Hometown Travel Package' - December 7-11, '94
in SF.
The first thing I want to say is that, as always, Lora Beard and Cyndy
Poon (Fan Asylum) worked devotedly and tirelessly to put it together and make
it work.......and in spite of the to-be-expected last minute glitches and
panic-causing last second schedule changes in the rock world, they did an
INCREDIBLE job! I'm forever grateful.
Just like all of you, I had waited and hoped for soooo long that Steve
would be back. So when he did return (even without Journey, and with the
Strange Medicine band) it was a dream-come-true for me. I was ecstatic and
emotional. I was crazy to see him and hear him whenever and wherever I
possibly could. That was my agenda - period, whatever it took.
You see, I had never seen Journey LIVE...something I will always
regret.....but at the time they were BIG and touring, I was all caught up and
happily absorbed in being a new mommy...and besides, I figured they'd always
be together. You know how that goes. So it was totally imperative for me to
see Steve, because I felt in my heart he might not stay around all that long,
and I was not going to miss him this time. To me, Steve Perry WAS
Journey...and I know most/many of us feel that way, right or wrong.
I wound up being blessed to see him 4 wonderful times during the short
FTLOSM tour...at a private tour rehearsal at an L.A studio.; in SF on our fan
club trip; in L.A. at the Pantages (which I paid a small fortune for, to be
able to stand at the edge of the stage! Worth every penny!); and in Santa
Barbara. I also went on the Tahoe S.P.I.N. trip; however...that was the
beginning of the end of the Strange Medicine band...and the tour. Steve got
sick :( and there was no show. Shortly thereafter, S.P.I.N. also ended. The
whole thing was sooo sad........but what an AWESOME several months it was
while it lasted.
Ok...about the SF trip. I called Lora at the fan club ALOT, and even
though I know I was making her crazy, she was always patient. She understood
my need to 'be there' and see Steve. Then one day when I called her, she
gave me the news I'd been hoping for......"yes Kay there's going to be a
trip!" I won't even try to express my excitement......words would fall
short! The fact that it was in SF made it that much sweeter...because of
the whole Journey thing, AND because of the fact that although I'm a CA
native, I had never been to the city by the baaaaaaaay. :)
I immediately made my flight arrangements......thinking 'pinch me, I
cannot believe it's really going to happen!!!!!!!!!!' :-)
....Prior to the trip, I had a bunch of shirts air-brushed....with Steve
'stuff'.... "PERRYlyzed!", "Have a Perry Christmas", "Somewhere There's
Hope"....and a few more, each of which had various Steve things/musical
notes, etc. airbrushed. The artist did an awesome job! They were all
beautiful.
My flight was short and happy. I listened to Steve all the way there,
and found myself thinking high school girl type thoughts about meeting him.
I could tell you about everything I did and saw while in SF......(I love
the city!!!!!); however, that's not what you want to hear about...so I'll get
to the point.
On the day of our bus trip around SF, with plenty of pit and pic
stops....it culminated at the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. The whole group was
in high spirits.....everyone just celebrating Steve's return to music. We
were checking out the Journey stuff on the walls and just having a great
time.
Suddenly....an ecstatic, excited murmur goes through the crowd..."Oh my
God!!!!! It's Steve!!!! Steve's here!!!!" was all you could hear. I turned
around.........and there he was. I could not believe my eyes. My heart was
pounding so loud, I swear you could hear it over the noise in there!!!
Steve had come to see us at the Hard Rock Cafe!!!!! No one expected it, and
I can't even begin to express what it felt like to see him.............but
just let your minds go there....and you'll know. (sigh.......)
Well, he went to every one of our tables, sat down, and just chatted like
an old and dear friend with every single one of us! For me, it was like I
was dreaming or watching it all on MTV or something. The table where I was
seated was one of the last ones he came to...and it's a good thing because I
truly needed the time to compose myself (and find my lipstick and
hairbrush!!!) :). Watching him listening, talking, smiling, hugging, and
laughing with others...and getting nearer and nearer to me was....was......I
cannot explain it, you guys. I really can't put it into words.
Then.......he was walking toward our table. There were...I believe, 4 of
us seated there. I cannot even remember for sure. Here we go.....
As he approached, he was looking at each one of us and had the sweetest,
most gentle smile on his face. I'll never forget it. He was wearing a long
coat....a black tweed, as I recall it. I remember more how it felt than the
details of what it looked like. He had his hair in a ponytail. He
looked........wonderful. He smelled.......oh my gawd....sooooo good - and I
told him that when he hugged me and said "Hello", and then he said "Thank
you!" very genuinely. He put out his hand as I introduced myself to him, and
he asked me where I was from. I told him. And he asked me where exactly
that was, and I told him. By this time, he has sat down in the chair next to
me. He is giving me his undivided attention in this crowded, noisy, very
excited room...And after 16 years of waiting for this moment, I was not going
to waste a second of it! I looked him straight in the eyes right back and
just started calmly (much to my own amazement) explaining to him how much it
meant to meet him, how long I had loved and enjoyed the gift of his perfect
voice, and how thankful I was that he was back. He was utterly
gracious.....responding with appreciation as though he had never been told
these things before. I'm thanking him, and he's thanking ME!
Frankly I cannot remember verbatim our conversation. I only remember
that at one time I apologized for taking too much of his time; and he
immediately responded that he was in no hurry, and that he had nothing but
time!!!!! We also joked back and forth about a cute comment he made about
his age ( I wish I could remember it!!!!!!!!!!) That just stands out because
the fact that Steve Perry and I once sat at a table in the SF Hard Rock Cafe
joking and laughing together.....still blows me away.
He has an incredible way of putting one at ease immediately. Once the
initial shock of him turning to me and me realizing THIS IS IT! passed, I
felt wonderfully comfortable with him.....and fortunately the feelings in my
heart flowed from my mouth without me stumbling over them.......which I had
worried about, in my nervousness. :-)
When Steve moved on to the table next to us, the back of the chair he sat
down in bumped the back of my chair........(this is GREAT!!!) and we both
turned around at the very same time in a way that his right and my left
shoulder touched! When our eyes met, we both just laughed some more. He was
so AWESOME, you guys!!!!!!!!!! :-)
One of the girls at my table made an unhappy remark about how I had taken
up all of Steve's time. I wanted to just laugh in all of my joy...but I
realized she was really upset. I just explained to her that I was the last
one at the table he had spoken to..........and that it just seemed we had
stuff to talk about! I hadn't planned it! (But I surely was beyond happy
and thankful about it!!!!) :-)
This once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Steve would have been more than
enough to hold me. But thanks to Lora and Cyndy, we would have one more
opportunity to speak with Steve on this magical trip. Prior to Steve's show
at the Warfield, we were told to come early to have pictures taken with
Steve, and spend a little time with him before the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At
this point, I'm thinking "Pinch me! This can't be real!" But it was.
Once we were all inside, Steve walked on over to us with a big old "HI
you guys!!!!!" We were all more comfortable and relaxed, having spent time
with him at the Hard Rock....and he was in light spirits, in spite of the
fact we ran late.....and they had to delay opening the doors of the Warfield
to let everyone else in! Steve saw to it that he signed autographs for every
one of us, and had a picture taken with each of us.
I was wearing my pink "Somewhere There's Hope" airbrushed shirt...and he
signed it for me..."To Kay Love Steve Perry". It was so funny because he was
trying to sign it without leaning his hand on my breast . He was too
cute!!!!! I was just standing there reveling in the fact that Steve Perry's
face was within inches of my own. (And yes, he smelled delicious again!) :-)
When it was time for pictures, I was standing there just watching him
pose with those before me in line...listening to the little comments and all
the love he was receiving and returning, enjoying seeing him smile and laugh
and joke. I was just so amazed and happy to be there. When the girl in
front of me was done, Steve looked over. I was standing there hesitantly,
waiting for the photographer to tell me to go ahead......and I heard the
words every single Steve Perry fan would love to hear.....(deep breath). He
opened his arms, smiled, and said to me....... "Come here, Girl."
On Thursday December 8th and Friday December 9th,1994.....my dreams of
finally meeting Steve Perry came true. 'Don't Stop Believin'