Saturday, April 22, 2006



I remember wishing I had a car...

It was probably 1984, and I was still an earnest young student at Trinity Western University. I helped put out the school newspaper, and was given the lucky task of interviewing Larry Norman at his upcoming show. Yippee!! I loved his music, and I couldn't wait to grill him with earnest young questions.

I caught a ride into Vancouver, almost an hour away, with my friend, Walter. The show was fabulous. Larry was touring with his younger brother, Charles. (He looked EXACTLY like he did in this picture, which was the only one I could find on the internet of him in those days. Did he hide them all? I don't know why he would, he looked hot, or at least I thought so.) Anyway...after the show I got to go backstage and interview Larry. I found I didn't really have to ask any questions. He just talked and talked and talked, roving from one subject to another, all of it good. He wandered off to talk to someone else, and I got talking with Charles. By now it was late, 1 or 2 in the morning maybe, and I could see Walter looking at his watch and glaring at me.

I remember the next few moments very clearly. Charles, who was quite shy, looked up from beneath his glorious nest of hair and asked, "Umm...do you want to go to McDonald's or something and get something to eat with me?"

Yes! Yes, I did!!! I was 18 years old, and all of a sudden I wanted to go to McDonald's very, very much. "Uh...I have no ride back to school. Ummm...just a sec!" I ran and pleaded with Walter to come along, but he would not. Walter is a very stubborn person. He wanted to go back to Langley at that very moment. I did not know what to do. I couldn't remember ever feeling more frustrated at not being able to drive. I gave Charles my regrets, and Walter dragged me out of there before we could say anything else about it.

In hindsight, I think I should have gone with Charles and risk being stranded. What a wimp, to not take a chance, to not grab the adventure before me, simply because I did not have a ride home. I am pleased to tell you that six years later, when another stranger chased me down and asked me to go for coffee, I didn't worry about the consequences or schedules, but instead said yes. Then I married him, and fifteen and a half years later, I'm still not sorry I did it! Perhaps I learned something from Charles after all...

7 comments:

Spoke said...

Phhhht, I have more hair than that on my back !!!!!!!!!!

Avital said...

I remember when you opened for Larry Norman (also at Trinity) I'm pretty sure that was the best show of my life...mostly because Larry is so awesome, but also because I was in the front row, and because it was truly a once in a life time opportunity. Larry Norman was a mover and shaker in his time, and he is not remembered often enough and I'm so grateful I had such a great opportunity to meet him and see him in action. And also awesome because you opened and played all my favourite songs. I miss hearing your songs.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'd wish I had a car too....glad you learned to take chances like that...something I need to learn, maybe.

Now I need to go outside and enjoy the day....

layne (herman) said...

good story with a wonderful ending!!! (the dad/prison guard in me briefly worried how this story would end.) but "yea!!" for the ending!!!

seeing Larry Norman reminded me of the Tomfestival where Larry played with Grammatrain, and it was during that set that he told the crowd that Princess Diana had been killed in an auto accident. i will probably always remember that.

Paula said...

I was there at that show at TomFest that year. That was a very strange moment. I thought he was making it up to shock us or something. It was too surreal.

Funkyewe said...

Paula, I just love your blog. Reminds me of days I wished I had taken a chance but didn't.I can remember needing a car so badly during my college years. Always had to depend on others for a ride. That all changed when I bought my first car at age 24! I wonder now...what took so long?

Andrea
funkyewe.blogspot.com

Amber said...

I want the yellow, fake wood paneled,station wagon that's parked out front the Prairie mail room. It's my current object of affection.

Also, Lance told me about how you two met (when he came and helped me paint the basement a while ago)... and I honestly think that's my favourite story of two people meeting and ending up together. Seeing each other on a busy sidewalk! Definitely one of those slow motion moments, that tend to happen in some artsy, meaningful film.

Thanks for teaching me some 80s dance moves :)