(October 1997) And to think I wasn't initially going to attend this function when I heard that Dwight would be at Barnes & Noble in Los Angeles to help Kinky Friedman promote his new book!!! Well, it seemed to make sense at the time... I'd just been to L.A. on Tuesday of that week for the get together at Jack's Sugar Shack, and would be coming down again for the then-scheduled Nov. 13th Benefit Concert. I thought to myself "you just need to exercise a little restraint!" Of course as the week drew to a close I couldn't help but feel that I would regret not being there. And since I missed "the" birthday party last year ... well, it shouldn't surprise you at all to learn that I was in the car Saturday morning on my way to L.A.... Restraint?? What's that!

Down to Orange County to pick up a friend and then back up to L.A. (Sue likes Dwight, but is not a "fan" like we all are; still she was very patient with me.) As we got off the escalator outside Barnes & Noble there stood Karen Holley (big hug between Hi Tonk and Lambskin) who introduced me to Teresa. Into the store to buy Kinky's book (Road Kill) and get in line. (Hi Anita and thanks for saving our place.) Just waiting and chatting -- Dwight of course is late (LA traffic). In my mind I knew he'd be there but it didn't really sink in until I saw him come down the escalator and then... Oh my gosh, butterflies in my stomach, dry mouth, and brainfade. I was going to meet Dwight!! What would I say? What happened to all those things I'd planned to say all those times in my mind? (The Dwight line that comes to mind here is "If I can find my mind now I guess I'll just leave") I certainly had no intention of leaving, but being able to form coherent thoughts and have them issue forth from my mouth would have been nice.

Finally, our turn -- my turn -- I give him the book and American Airlines magazine. He signs. He speaks. He looks at me. I respond (I think) and give him the birthday gift I brought. He thanks me and stands for a photo. He puts his arm around my shoulders and I put mine around his waist (I could stand like this forever). No flash the first two photos, so Dwight reaches out and takes the camera from Sue and turns the flash on. Good thing, because even though it's my camera, I have not a clue how to operate it at that moment. And it's over.

I tell Sue we can leave, but she knows I don't want to, so we stay and do the "fan thing". I take photos and just look at him in amazement. He is so nice, so wonderful, and damn he looks good! I speak to other people, meet other people, but it's all really a fog. I can't, I don't, believe that I met him. It didn't really sink in until Monday. By then of course I had the photos and had told scads of people. It was a special day and I'm glad there were so many of us who were able to share it together.

And, next time Dwight, "I'll try not to be your fool" (well, I can hope!)

Copyright 1997-present, all inclusive
All stories are the personal property of Linda Lampkin
and may not be used, reproduced or excerpted
in any way without express permission

Photo copyrights as noted
Photos may not be used or removed
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