April S. and Bobby...
The Day I Met Bobby - I had come all that way to make a dream of mine come true and though part of it had been realized by just being back in LA, but the other part of being at Rialto looked slim to none of coming true. You see I had problems with the car rental agency (long story) and I ended up being left without any way to get around except by taxi and I knew that I could not afford that. Still I kept hoping that something would come up until 10:30am that is, then I gave completely up.
I had waked that morning at 5:30am and that was when the tears started, my heart was breaking. I so had looked forward to that day, not only to be able to meet Bobby, but to give him the gifts I had for him, especially the clock. At ten thirty, I gave up on a miracle coming up and went down to the lobby to e-mail the ones I had promised tapes and autographs to. To let them know that I would be unable to make it after all. I had an e-mail from my friend Carole in England saying she knew that something would happen to get me there. She just knew that a miracle would occur. I didn't see one coming. I thanked her for believing, but I knew it was just not going to happen.
I closed the e-mail to her and then e-mailed the ones I needed to. Once I had done that, I stood up to go back to my room to have myself another good and long cry. The manager (whose name was Bobby) asked me if I had been able to find a way to Rialto. I told him, no. He asked me if I was all right and I told him I was, just really disappointed. He looked out the window of the hotel lobby and raised his hand as he said, "Let me see if I can work something out for you." I told him there was no way I could afford a cab to Rialto and back, but he insisted. So we walked outside so he could talk to the cab driver. He explained about the car rental thing and then asked the cab driver if he would try and help me.
We talked a minute or so and then he said that he would only charge me $150.00 one way and let me ride back for free. I told him that I couldn't do that and started to leave. He stopped me by asking how much could I spend. I quickly calculated how much I would need for the shuttle to the airport and then the amount I would need to pay for the parking fee at the airport in Atlanta (which usually isn't easy for me. LOL ) It was all I had left, but I told him, "All I can offer is $100.00, knowing that he would say no. To my great surprise, I heard him say he would do it. I had to ask him again before I would believe it and then I ran to my room, grabbed the money, the gifts and the things I wanted signed. I ran back out the door and down the steps to give him the money and then we were off.
As we drove toward Rialto, I still could not believe that everything was happening. Even when we drove into the parking lot and I heard "Easy Come Easy Go" on the loud speaker it still didn't register I think. I do remember thinking, "Oh Mom, I wish you were here." I was told as I started to get out of the cab that he would wait 15 minutes. So I was off and running. I couldn't help wondering how I was going to find him in that big parking lot in that amount of time when something told me to look for a crowd of women! LOL
So I did and there he was. I was almost running trying to hurry and I saw Barbara standing there and felt a sense of relief. I came up behind her and said her name. We talked for only a moment and I told her that I had only fifteen minutes. So she gave me a slight push and said, "Then you better make your way up front!" I did and as I did I heard her tell me to get Chris to tape it for me. Chris did tape it for me and I am very grateful to her. As I was showing her how to use my camcorder, I saw Bobby turn to face me and knew it was time. I stepped up and the rest is a blur!!!! LOL I remember him asking how to spell the name for a picture I was having signed, "With an I?" he asked. Thing was, the poor man had to ask me twice and my mind went blank! LOL I tried to remember and seeing that he was waiting I said, "Yes with an I". Turns out I was wrong. Oh well, I wasn't responsible for what I said during that time! LOL
When I handed him the clock I had bought him which was a mahogany book clock. I had his name engraved on the outside (just his first) and on the inside I had something engraved. I felt funny staring at him so close up trying to gauge his reaction, to see if he would like it so I looked back down at his hands until I heard, "Oh my", then I did look up at him. I remember dropping my eyes to the table I think where the pictures were and started to pick them up. I saw him turn to face me out of the corner of my eye and looked back up at him. That is when he surprised me by giving me a hug. Something I never expected, but very much enjoyed!
I then started to collect my things again when he put his arm around my shoulders and once again I found myself surprised until I remembered that he must be posing for a picture. I remember muttering, "Oh, sorry" but that's it. On the tape I have though I can hear Ginny asking me if I was going to pose for a picture and I answered her. Yet, I don't remember hearing her ask me at all! LOL I did collect my things then and moved away to let the next person up.
Every time I tell someone about that moment (and I have told a lot of people!) I always say, "It was the shortest fifteen minutes of my life, it was most definitely the most expensive fifteen minutes of my life, but it was the most FANTASTIC fifteen minutes of my life!!!!