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I shook Jon Bon Jovi's hand

Friday, May 14, 2010

No kidding. This was probably 1993. We were at Deer Creek (they've changed the name since then) which, being an amphitheater, has rows that curve around all the way to the side of the stage. So, during one of the numbers, Jon goes to the side where, naturally, everyone rushes, and he did that low five/hand shake thingy rock stars do when fans manage to get close enough. And me, I was able to shake his hand.

So yeah, that's pretty cool. But even cooler was getting to meet one of my childhood idols: Barry Louis Polisar.

Yeah, I know you don't know who he is. But when I was little, he was about the coolest around. See, my Mom was an elementary school librarian (until I was about in second grade when she transferred to the high school) so she often brought things like records, cassettes and reel-to-reel films home. One set of records she brought home were the (early) works of Polisar. By his own admission, these were rough recordings of children's songs he wrote on an out-of-tune guitar. And, being a child, I loved them. Curiously, these records never seemed to find their way back to the library.

Back in 2004 or 2005, he visited our local library, so we took the kids. They had a good time and all, but I was literally ecstatic. Here he was, live and I got to seem him. Even better, after the show I got to meet him and the missus took our photo. Sad to say I gushed like, I'm sure, a teenage girl would to Jon Bon Jovi. It was truly a red-letter moment in my life.

If you're not familiar with Polisar, I suggest you check him out (especially if you have kids). He's still doing his thing and has had a great deal of success. (If you've seen Juno, then you've heard him.)

Thanks for the memories, Barry. You're terrific.