Leonard's Recent Meetings with Cohenites

[Juan Luis Corcobado]

"A strange met with Leonard Cohen in Lisbon the white city"

Wonderful story. Best regards from Cáceres.

[MaryB]

blue bird,
Appreciate your sharing of your encounter with LC. So glad you got to meet him no matter how uncomfortable you might have felt at the time. This has probably turned into a wonderful memory for you already.
Best regards,
Mary

[somewhat_nifty]

'You thought that it could never happen to all the people that you became...'

Still can't quite believe it, but I met Leonard today in Lille! I've always cherished the hope that I would meet him one of these days, just so I could thank him for how much his work has meant to me, but what are the chances? Oddly enough (and burningviolin will back me up on this), after I booked the tickets for Lille back in November last year, I had a dream that I would meet him in Lille (ok, so the dream involved buying him coffee, but minor details aside... ) - I very rarely dream about Leonard so it has stuck with me, and now feels even more spooky.

[edit: have removed gushing reminiscences]

Here's my dedication:



PS: - I'm wondering if 'to Ruth, with love' constitutes some kind of binding wedding contract, but I suspect not...

[sturgess66]

Ruth - did you really meet Frost/Nixon?

Actually - I don't know but I don't think so - because if you did - even though it would have been momentous - I just do not think it would compare to meeting Leonard Cohen.
Happy for you!!

[remote1]

Ah, thanks for that somewhat_nifty! I love these stories... Thanks for the picture too!

[gilly-rjd]

[quote][/quote]- from somewhat -nifty
I know as an encounter it's not exactly up there with Frost/Nixon,

Oh yes it is! I know who I'd rather meet! and yes, I too met him this morning at his hotel. Have only just got home, so will tell my story and include photo shortly.

[Evie B]

So happy for you somewhat_nifty - it was the hat we spotted first in the distance that wonderful morning we met Leonard in Kensington. It was the hat, after all...

Evie B

[MaryB]

Ruth - Fantastic! How wonderful for you! Wish everyone could meet him.

[somewhat_nifty]

- from somewhat -nifty
I know as an encounter it's not exactly up there with Frost/Nixon,

Oh yes it is! I know who I'd rather meet! and yes, I too met him this morning at his hotel. Have only just got home, so will tell my story and include photo shortly.

Yes - we were the lucky station people - and that nice man with his young daughter - I never caught their names...

Looking forward to seeing your pics

Thanks for the good wishes guys, still on a high!

[ScottM]

'You thought that it could never happen to all the people that you became...'

Still can't quite believe it, but I met Leonard today in Lille! I've always cherished the hope that I would meet him one of these days, just so I could thank him for how much his work has meant to me, but what are the chances? Oddly enough (and burningviolin will back me up on this), after I booked the tickets for Lille back in November last year, I had a dream that I would meet him in Lille (ok, so the dream involved buying him coffee, but minor details aside... ) - I very rarely dream about Leonard so it has stuck with me, and now feels even more spooky.

It was this morning as I arrived at the station to catch the Eurostar back to London after a fantastic show at the Zenith Arena the night before. I had been disappointed that it was so rainy in Lille, as it meant I could not do much exploring - it cleared up about half an hour before I had to go, so I had a quick wander round the Grand Place and then hurried to the station - a big glass building on the corner. Through the glass I could see the Crowne Plaza hotel over the road, and I saw a van being loaded, and next to this a group of people, one of whom was wearing a fedora.... As I had left plenty of time to check-in for the train, I wandered over for a closer look, thinking it was maybe one of the crew, but no, it was The Man himself, standing outside chatting to two younger ladies who looked to be part of the team (I thought at first it was the Webb sisters, but no). I was stood on the other side of the road, thinking 'can I ...?'. After a quick pep-talk with burningviolin on the phone, I decided to go for it and quickly crossed the road, narrowly avoiding several French automobiles (why do they drive on the wrong side of the road, ffs?! ). Conversation as follows (ok, so not very revelatory, but it's still special to me):

s_n: Mr Cohen, could I possibly ask you to sign my book? (1st edition of The Favourite Game)

LC: Of course. (chuckling) I haven't seen one of those for a long time.

(as it's an old book it already has a dedication written by someone else in the 60s)

s_n: It's the English first edition. It's been written in already, but not to me

LC: That's not you? What's your name?

s_n: Ruth

LC: R-U-T-H?

s_n: yes

LC: What's the date today? Is it the 27th?

s_n: (who has had the 25th September engraved on her memory for some time) no, it's the 26th. It was a wonderful concert last night, I came over from London for it.

LC: Thank you. There you go.

s_n: Thanks so much for this, it really means a lot. Enjoy the rest of the tour.


And of such commonplaces are unforgettable (to me) moments made. I felt too awkward to ask for a photo, but the experience will stay with me forever, and I have my signed copy to treasure.

After I floated back to the station I bumped into gilly-rjd who was catching the same train, and told her what had happened to me. She (naturally) decided that meeting Leonard was more important than catching her train, so she left the queue to go and see him too - luckily she not only met him and got a photo and autograph, she also still got the train! But I'm sure she will come and share the story.

I know as an encounter it's not exactly up there with Frost/Nixon, but I felt I had to share it, and have to add to the already large consensus that Leonard Cohen is the most charming, generous and kind man to his fans; I know that if I had asked him for a picture he would have been happy to oblige....maybe next time!

Here's my dedication:



PS: - I'm wondering if 'to Ruth, with love' constitutes some kind of binding wedding contract, but I suspect not...

Helen has just come bounding down the stairs in a state of amazement telling me I had to come and read your post on the Forum. I've rarely seen her so incredulous....She just keeps muttering "I can not believe Ruth has met him"..... "I can not believe she has met him".......and this only a few hours after sitting with you and Burning Violin after the concert discussing, amongst other things, what we might do, in the extremely unlikely event of ever actually meeting Leonard. How spooky was that? Now we wish we had gone for the same Eurostar train as you today!
Congratulations, on your dream becoming reality. We had a great time with you and Burning Violin chatting before and after the concert. See you in Vegas.
Cheers,
Scott & Helen

[somewhat_nifty]

Helen has just come bounding down the stairs in a state of amazement telling me I had to come and read your post on the Forum. I've rarely seen her so incredulous....She just keeps muttering "I can not believe Ruth has met him"..... "I can not believe she has met him".......and this only a few hours after sitting with you and Burning Violin after the concert discussing, amongst other things, what we might do, in the extremely unlikely event of ever actually meeting Leonard. How spooky was that? Now we wish we had gone for the same Eurostar train as you today!
Congratulations, on your dream becoming reality. We had a great time with you and Burning Violin chatting before and after the concert. See you in Vegas.
Cheers,
Scott & Helen

I know, I was remembering that conversation on the train back - how glad am I that it wasn't the worst case scenario we discussed! He was absolutely charming, as we knew he would be, and I still can't quite believe the whole experience was real - to have the man and that voice you've listened to hundreds of times in front of you and speaking your name! It was complete chance that I happened to see him, I shudder to think if I had been looking the other way...

It was lovely to meet you and Helen, and I look forward to seeing you again in Vegas

[mnkyface]

So happy for you Ruth!!!

[caz]

Hi Ruth - I'm so happy for you too, but (of course) smouldering with jealousy too!

Turns out we were in the hotel right next to the Crowne Plaza but I never thought for a minute he'd be there. As you say, it was really horrible weather that morning so we didn't venture to the Grand Place either. In fact it was so miserable we wandered over to the station early and had a coffee, otherwise we might have spotted Leonard ourselves. So near, and yet so far! I almost wish I didn't know how closely we'd missed him ..... Ah well, c'est la vie. And as I say, so happy for you - what a wonderful souvenir.

Best wishes
Carole

[Generations]

My first post on here, but I couldn't resist.
My partner and I stayed at the Crowne Plaza on Saturday night and we were very lucky to come down for breakfast at the same time as Mr Cohen. He sat down with his saxophonist (and ate two fried eggs, plus something in an bowl with milk), and his deep bass voice rumbled gently through the room.
I could not pass up the opportunity to make contact and so approached him from our table next door but one to his, apologising for disturbing his breakfast. He was very gracious, and accepted my thanks for the great performance the night before. I then rambled on for a bit (and can't remember very clearly what I said) and he smiled and nodded and said he was glad. I then told him he had touched my heart , and went and sat down, and spent the next 15 mins in a complete mind whirl.
We checked out of th hotel about an hour later and Mt Cohen was there again, sitting in the hotel lobby. He raised his arm in a wave of recognition, and gave me a smile. I was too over-awed to approach him again! As we left, I shot him another glance and shy smile, and he waved us off with another nod and smile. Swoon!
Fantastic.
The concert was great, total immersion for all the time he was on stage, but meeting him was amazing. I had had a conversation with my partner the night before, saying I wondered what he would be like to talk to and that I could not imagine what I might say to him. I never dreamt I would get the chance.
He has an amazing, still, and profound presence about him, and it is an experience I will never forget. I would just love to sit with him for longer, just to listen to his voice .
I couldn't sleep last night for thinking about it; his voice was just circling round my mind

[somewhat_nifty]

Hi generations - welcome to the forum, and what a lovely way to begin, sharing a meeting with Leonard. He is such a calm presence and a complete gentleman. I don't think I'd be able to eat any breakfast at all if he was in the room with me!

Thanks for the good wishes Esther

Carole - a shame you were so close and did not know it, maybe another time you will be lucky, I still can't believe my good fortune If the weather had kept up like it did I probably would have left it to the last minute to get the train and so missed him, I'm glad it cleared up!