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I Admit It. I'm a Groupie. Oh This is Pathetic! And SO Doggoned COOL!
Posted by Annie
on
12:26 AM
(Here I am...with "HIM!" THE MAESTRO! William Henry Curry and "me." *A huge 'thank you' to Rob Maddrey for arranging for this wonderful meeting.)
(Here I am in the parking lot, along with Buddy. Kelly snapped the SHEER excitement exuding from every cell in my being! We'll call this "ANTICIPATION!")
What a day. What a great big beautiful day...to attend my favorite event of the Christmas Season...the North Carolina Symphony Holiday Pops series. Wayne and I make it a point to attend each year, so this year was no different. Here's the catch...as I mentioned in a previous post, we are huge fans of Resident Conductor William Henry Curry. So, we check the calendar and find out where HE will be and that's the performance we attend. Some folks follow rock groups, reminiscent of "The Grateful Dead and the "Deadheads." Wayne and I follow "The Maestro" William Henry Curry. I can't help it...he's just incredible to watch.
Now mind you, as I have pointed out before, I have no problem admitting that I am a hypocrite. If someone (for some bizarre reason, which I have never understood to this day) asks for a photo or an autograph from me, I am both puzzled and flattered. I'm also a little embarrassed, but I always agree to do it. After all, they buy CD's, they pay for tickets, etc. It's more of an honor than anything. I just always pray that I don't have some crazy, loopy look on my face on a photo for eternity! But, as I rule, I have never asked for anything from "anyone famous" I've ever been around...and I've been in the company of some pretty famous people. I just always felt it was better to just let things be "normal." Sometimes, the "big leaguers" don't like being hassled and interrupted...even if it's your money that makes them celebrities in the first place. (That's called a paradox to me.) Let me digress for a moment to say that in general, it was a stunning day outside. It was a gorgeous drive to Jacksonville. Buddy, Kelly, Jakob, Wayne and myself were happy and ready to roll early. I had fed all the animals and off we went. I am the "anti-musician" and detest being LATE for anything, so we left in plenty of time to allow for anything that could possibly hold us up.
When we arrived, EARLY, we got our tickets and waited outside politely at the car until the doors officially opened. I had met a couple wonderful arts council members when we went to pick up our tickets, so we were outside waiting until we could go in and get our seats. A vehicle pulled up beside us. It was driven by a lady with one of the most beautiful beaming smiles you'd ever see, with about 10 poinsettias that had to go inside! She jumps out and yells HEY!!! I even turned to Wayne and asked if we knew her. No, not at that point we didn't, but within minutes, we were carrying in the plants and talking as hard as we could go! I cannot express how welcomed we felt among these folks. In typical "Annie fashion," I went down front and watched as this charming lady I know now to be Gloria Goodwin moved the massive poinsettias from place to place, making sure they were in JUST the right spot. Another new pal, Lindsay Russell and I assisted by saying "A little to the left, a little to the right" and such. Lindsay and I chatted like old friends as she told me all about the arts council and "who was who" in the set up of everything. As we talked, I was scanning the auditorium and was completely shocked to see two of my favorite people AND neighbors Winston Barnes and Johanne Pryor!!! For a moment, I thought I was seeing things! But, no, there they were! What a treat! Winston said he had seen in a previous post on my blog about attending and they decided to come. I was so glad to see them. Everything felt like pure providence. It was all so nice.
The performance was wonderful, as it always is. North Carolina has a wonderful, incredibly talented symphony. I am always so proud and thrilled anytime I get be in their audience. They give so much back to this state.
I have to admit, Rob Maddrey was the man of the day for me, however. He is an incredibly busy man and I had the (you pick the adjective... nerve, audacity, total leave of my senses...or whatever else you want to call it...) to ask Rob if he could arrange for me to meet "THE MAESTRO!" I couldn't even believe I did it. It's like space aliens took over my brain and I asked him if there was a possibility that we could meet. Long and short....Rob Maddrey did make arrangements for me to meet William Henry Curry. I didn't cry. I didn't totally lose it and start speaking in unknown tongues, I didn't just stand there and stare at him with a blank look. We actually talked. He was SO kind, so warm and so tolerant of "this fan" and I was very grateful for that. I was totally smitten and in love. (Wayne knows it, so it's no big deal..he knows all about it and loves me anyway! hee hee hee!)
Anyway, it was a totally wonderful day and we all NEEDED it. It's been a long hard year. I needed a bit of normal. I needed a good dose of SYMPHONY! I needed to be in the midst of the HOLIDAY spirit! And to top it all off, I met some great folks that run a super tight ship with the Jacksonville Arts Council! KUDOS to all of you for all the behind the scenes work that goes into making things go like clock work.
And in case, by some crazy circumstance Maestro Curry, you ever see my little bitty blog, YOU ROCK! (Can you say that about a symphony? How about an incredible conductor? Well, I guess so. I sure did it anyway!) Heck, I even busted a move and hugged him!
Oh yeah. Annie made a spectacle of herself. She groveled. She mushed. She gushed. She told someone what a HUGE fan of his work she is...and you know what???
If I ever get to meet Conductor William Henry Curry again, I'd do it again too!
I'm having a blast typing this...just so you readers know. The whole OH MY GOD I MET HIM" thing is, well, just not like me so much...but I really cut loose on the Resident Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony today...and I don't feel one bit stupid! :) I'm kind of digging it and I'll still be walking on cloud nine for a few days to come too.
TIS THE SEASON!!! We all should get a little outrageous at Christmas time!
As an aside...MANY thanks to Rob Maddrey (without whom I would not have met...) William Henry Curry, Gloria Goodwin, Lindsay Russell, Mr. Taylor, my buddy John Currie and his wonderful wife Joan, Johanne Pryor and Winston Barnes, Buddy, Kelly, Jakob and Wayne...all of you made this day a truly memorable one, each in your own ways.
I even shocked myself on this one folks. But, OH BOY WAS IT GREAT!
Support the North Carolina Symphony! You won't regret it!
And while we are right in the middle of this wonderful Christmas Season, make sure you are doing wonderful things. Get a little crazy! Color outside the lines! Tell someone you admire just how much you admire them! You know what? "The Maestro" might have been having a bad day himself and he just might have been able to use a little lift. Now, wouldn't THAT be something? We never, ever know what's going on in someone else's life. So don't be chicken. REACH OUT during this Christmas Season, even if it feels silly. Christmas is over so very quickly it seems.
Till next time....
Annie
PS: By the way, then we hit Cracker Barrell, ate like piggies, then went to Marshall's shopping. This was one of those days that was just "RIGHT" all the way around. WOW!
Did we ever need one of those!!!
|
(Here I am in the parking lot, along with Buddy. Kelly snapped the SHEER excitement exuding from every cell in my being! We'll call this "ANTICIPATION!")
What a day. What a great big beautiful day...to attend my favorite event of the Christmas Season...the North Carolina Symphony Holiday Pops series. Wayne and I make it a point to attend each year, so this year was no different. Here's the catch...as I mentioned in a previous post, we are huge fans of Resident Conductor William Henry Curry. So, we check the calendar and find out where HE will be and that's the performance we attend. Some folks follow rock groups, reminiscent of "The Grateful Dead and the "Deadheads." Wayne and I follow "The Maestro" William Henry Curry. I can't help it...he's just incredible to watch.
Now mind you, as I have pointed out before, I have no problem admitting that I am a hypocrite. If someone (for some bizarre reason, which I have never understood to this day) asks for a photo or an autograph from me, I am both puzzled and flattered. I'm also a little embarrassed, but I always agree to do it. After all, they buy CD's, they pay for tickets, etc. It's more of an honor than anything. I just always pray that I don't have some crazy, loopy look on my face on a photo for eternity! But, as I rule, I have never asked for anything from "anyone famous" I've ever been around...and I've been in the company of some pretty famous people. I just always felt it was better to just let things be "normal." Sometimes, the "big leaguers" don't like being hassled and interrupted...even if it's your money that makes them celebrities in the first place. (That's called a paradox to me.) Let me digress for a moment to say that in general, it was a stunning day outside. It was a gorgeous drive to Jacksonville. Buddy, Kelly, Jakob, Wayne and myself were happy and ready to roll early. I had fed all the animals and off we went. I am the "anti-musician" and detest being LATE for anything, so we left in plenty of time to allow for anything that could possibly hold us up.
When we arrived, EARLY, we got our tickets and waited outside politely at the car until the doors officially opened. I had met a couple wonderful arts council members when we went to pick up our tickets, so we were outside waiting until we could go in and get our seats. A vehicle pulled up beside us. It was driven by a lady with one of the most beautiful beaming smiles you'd ever see, with about 10 poinsettias that had to go inside! She jumps out and yells HEY!!! I even turned to Wayne and asked if we knew her. No, not at that point we didn't, but within minutes, we were carrying in the plants and talking as hard as we could go! I cannot express how welcomed we felt among these folks. In typical "Annie fashion," I went down front and watched as this charming lady I know now to be Gloria Goodwin moved the massive poinsettias from place to place, making sure they were in JUST the right spot. Another new pal, Lindsay Russell and I assisted by saying "A little to the left, a little to the right" and such. Lindsay and I chatted like old friends as she told me all about the arts council and "who was who" in the set up of everything. As we talked, I was scanning the auditorium and was completely shocked to see two of my favorite people AND neighbors Winston Barnes and Johanne Pryor!!! For a moment, I thought I was seeing things! But, no, there they were! What a treat! Winston said he had seen in a previous post on my blog about attending and they decided to come. I was so glad to see them. Everything felt like pure providence. It was all so nice.
The performance was wonderful, as it always is. North Carolina has a wonderful, incredibly talented symphony. I am always so proud and thrilled anytime I get be in their audience. They give so much back to this state.
I have to admit, Rob Maddrey was the man of the day for me, however. He is an incredibly busy man and I had the (you pick the adjective... nerve, audacity, total leave of my senses...or whatever else you want to call it...) to ask Rob if he could arrange for me to meet "THE MAESTRO!" I couldn't even believe I did it. It's like space aliens took over my brain and I asked him if there was a possibility that we could meet. Long and short....Rob Maddrey did make arrangements for me to meet William Henry Curry. I didn't cry. I didn't totally lose it and start speaking in unknown tongues, I didn't just stand there and stare at him with a blank look. We actually talked. He was SO kind, so warm and so tolerant of "this fan" and I was very grateful for that. I was totally smitten and in love. (Wayne knows it, so it's no big deal..he knows all about it and loves me anyway! hee hee hee!)
Anyway, it was a totally wonderful day and we all NEEDED it. It's been a long hard year. I needed a bit of normal. I needed a good dose of SYMPHONY! I needed to be in the midst of the HOLIDAY spirit! And to top it all off, I met some great folks that run a super tight ship with the Jacksonville Arts Council! KUDOS to all of you for all the behind the scenes work that goes into making things go like clock work.
And in case, by some crazy circumstance Maestro Curry, you ever see my little bitty blog, YOU ROCK! (Can you say that about a symphony? How about an incredible conductor? Well, I guess so. I sure did it anyway!) Heck, I even busted a move and hugged him!
Oh yeah. Annie made a spectacle of herself. She groveled. She mushed. She gushed. She told someone what a HUGE fan of his work she is...and you know what???
If I ever get to meet Conductor William Henry Curry again, I'd do it again too!
I'm having a blast typing this...just so you readers know. The whole OH MY GOD I MET HIM" thing is, well, just not like me so much...but I really cut loose on the Resident Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony today...and I don't feel one bit stupid! :) I'm kind of digging it and I'll still be walking on cloud nine for a few days to come too.
TIS THE SEASON!!! We all should get a little outrageous at Christmas time!
As an aside...MANY thanks to Rob Maddrey (without whom I would not have met...) William Henry Curry, Gloria Goodwin, Lindsay Russell, Mr. Taylor, my buddy John Currie and his wonderful wife Joan, Johanne Pryor and Winston Barnes, Buddy, Kelly, Jakob and Wayne...all of you made this day a truly memorable one, each in your own ways.
I even shocked myself on this one folks. But, OH BOY WAS IT GREAT!
Support the North Carolina Symphony! You won't regret it!
And while we are right in the middle of this wonderful Christmas Season, make sure you are doing wonderful things. Get a little crazy! Color outside the lines! Tell someone you admire just how much you admire them! You know what? "The Maestro" might have been having a bad day himself and he just might have been able to use a little lift. Now, wouldn't THAT be something? We never, ever know what's going on in someone else's life. So don't be chicken. REACH OUT during this Christmas Season, even if it feels silly. Christmas is over so very quickly it seems.
Till next time....
Annie
PS: By the way, then we hit Cracker Barrell, ate like piggies, then went to Marshall's shopping. This was one of those days that was just "RIGHT" all the way around. WOW!
Did we ever need one of those!!!
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