I shook Leonard Cohen's hand earlier today
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:07 am
Dear Forumites:
I know life is not fair. This post has to start with that acknowledgment because I assume that will be the first thought of many readers.
I only recently joined the forum and that was only because I am a little more patient with technology than my girlfriend. She's the big Leonard Cohen fan (like the long time forum members) and I am only a casual admirer. She's been with Leonard since the first record. She owns the books. She has read the poetry and the novels. She's the true devotee.
As a result of my joining the forum, Jarkko's great efforts, and the information provided by other forum members, we now have great tickets to the April 1 show. The anticipation is building. It was building -- it has now gone to another level.
Today we had agreed to meet a friend who was in from out of town. On the way to the meeting place we were listening to the radio and the program director said he had it on good authority that Leonard Cohen was in town and in rehearsals for the beginning of his North American tour. "Wouldn't it be something if we met him?" she mused. We speculated about where someone like Leonard Cohen would go while visiting Austin.
After a good time with our friend and another friend who had unexpectedly appeared on the scene, the little gathering broke up.
The friends left, my sweetie went to the restroom, and I stood around waiting. I decided to go to the men's room and as I leaned in that direction my eyes fell upon Leonard Cohen. Leonard Cohen! Alive, in the flesh, and walking toward me. It was startling and I initially thought I was mistaken; just being wishful. I suppose I was staring. As he looked in my direction our eyes met. He didn't seem offended and he acknowledged my presence. I'm a Texan. We look at people and acknowledge them -- even strangers. He did the same.
His look didn't convey the assumption that I was looking at him because I recognized him. So I said, "Hello. Welcome to Austin," to signal that I knew who he was and truly did welcome him.
"Thank you," he replied as I leaned in his direction.
He knew by then that I knew who he was and that meant someone was going to interrupt whatever he was doing. He responded in a way that was gentlemanly, to say the least. He allowed me to approach him and shook my hand. I apologized for the intrusion and told him I wouldn't bother him except for the fact that he was my girlfriend's favorite and she would find it very meaningful if she could meet him. I asked him if he could wait a moment until she returned.
I know that's not what he wanted to do, but he allowed as how he would be willing to do so. "Is she nearby?" he asked. "She's in the ladies' room," I told him. He nodded his assent to wait a moment.
I thanked him for his graciousness and again apologized for the intrusion. He accepted the situation in a way that many people --especially people who have some degree of fame -- would not. To make small talk while we waited, I said, "We have second row seats for your Wednesday night show."
In a voice that could only be Leonard Cohen's, and with a look of humility, courtliness, and a sort of generous confidence that few can possess, he said, "Then we'll play for you."
Until then I was trying not to chatter or be annoying or fannish. I was happy he had agreed to wait and I didn't want to abuse his generosity by making him talk to me. But when he said that I was so charmed by the statement and so startled by the thought of it, that I beamed and responded, "Oh, we know you will. We've been listening to the NPR cuts and they are amazing. You've put together a wonderful band."
"It's a great band," he said. I agreed and said we were excited that he had chosen to start his tour in Austin.
I thanked him again and again apologized for delaying him, telling him my girlfriend would die if she learned I spoke to him and she didn't. He nodded his willingness to wait another moment just as she appeared. She was in a happy mood and it showed on her face. But when she made eye contact with me and I arched my brows toward the gentleman standing next to me, her demeanor went from pleasant to shocked. She disintegrated. She was, in an instant, confused, unbelieving, and then excited as the recognition sunk in. I cannot express the happiness I felt when I saw the delight pass through her entire being. She rushed over as Mr. Cohen turned directly toward her to accept her greeting and joy.
I said to Mr. Cohen, "This is S------- B---------." And "S-----, you know who this is."
She put out both arms in a gesture of disbelief and joy and possibly inviting a hug. He extended his right hand and she took it. She told him what an honor it was to meet him and was generally beaming and nearly speechless. To emphasize the significance of the moment for her I said to him, "To me, Van Morrison is The Man. To her, you are The Man."
She blurted out (if a whisper can be blurted), as if in a trance, "No! You are the world!"
He smiled a modest smile of appreciation. He was sweet as he thanked her for her kind words in a way that accepted her praise without conceit. It was moving to see someone accept a fan's attention with such grace. What must it be like to be so humble and yet so self-assured? We thanked him for allowing us to detain him and parted by thanking him for coming to Austin. And with that he was on his way.
Actually, we were going the same way and so we were sort of following him, but were sure to leave him alone and go about our business, not putting our attention on him or attracting attention to him. He had been more than generous with us and we owed him that from gratitude. Soon enough, he was off in one direction and we in another.
Sometimes meeting someone you have known of or admired is disappointing or at least not what you expected. Meeting Leonard Cohen was just the opposite. He was what you would imagine him to be only more so. That is what I am happy to report and why I have composed this little essay.
I know life is not fair. This post has to start with that acknowledgment because I assume that will be the first thought of many readers.
I only recently joined the forum and that was only because I am a little more patient with technology than my girlfriend. She's the big Leonard Cohen fan (like the long time forum members) and I am only a casual admirer. She's been with Leonard since the first record. She owns the books. She has read the poetry and the novels. She's the true devotee.
As a result of my joining the forum, Jarkko's great efforts, and the information provided by other forum members, we now have great tickets to the April 1 show. The anticipation is building. It was building -- it has now gone to another level.
Today we had agreed to meet a friend who was in from out of town. On the way to the meeting place we were listening to the radio and the program director said he had it on good authority that Leonard Cohen was in town and in rehearsals for the beginning of his North American tour. "Wouldn't it be something if we met him?" she mused. We speculated about where someone like Leonard Cohen would go while visiting Austin.
After a good time with our friend and another friend who had unexpectedly appeared on the scene, the little gathering broke up.
The friends left, my sweetie went to the restroom, and I stood around waiting. I decided to go to the men's room and as I leaned in that direction my eyes fell upon Leonard Cohen. Leonard Cohen! Alive, in the flesh, and walking toward me. It was startling and I initially thought I was mistaken; just being wishful. I suppose I was staring. As he looked in my direction our eyes met. He didn't seem offended and he acknowledged my presence. I'm a Texan. We look at people and acknowledge them -- even strangers. He did the same.
His look didn't convey the assumption that I was looking at him because I recognized him. So I said, "Hello. Welcome to Austin," to signal that I knew who he was and truly did welcome him.
"Thank you," he replied as I leaned in his direction.
He knew by then that I knew who he was and that meant someone was going to interrupt whatever he was doing. He responded in a way that was gentlemanly, to say the least. He allowed me to approach him and shook my hand. I apologized for the intrusion and told him I wouldn't bother him except for the fact that he was my girlfriend's favorite and she would find it very meaningful if she could meet him. I asked him if he could wait a moment until she returned.
I know that's not what he wanted to do, but he allowed as how he would be willing to do so. "Is she nearby?" he asked. "She's in the ladies' room," I told him. He nodded his assent to wait a moment.
I thanked him for his graciousness and again apologized for the intrusion. He accepted the situation in a way that many people --especially people who have some degree of fame -- would not. To make small talk while we waited, I said, "We have second row seats for your Wednesday night show."
In a voice that could only be Leonard Cohen's, and with a look of humility, courtliness, and a sort of generous confidence that few can possess, he said, "Then we'll play for you."
Until then I was trying not to chatter or be annoying or fannish. I was happy he had agreed to wait and I didn't want to abuse his generosity by making him talk to me. But when he said that I was so charmed by the statement and so startled by the thought of it, that I beamed and responded, "Oh, we know you will. We've been listening to the NPR cuts and they are amazing. You've put together a wonderful band."
"It's a great band," he said. I agreed and said we were excited that he had chosen to start his tour in Austin.
I thanked him again and again apologized for delaying him, telling him my girlfriend would die if she learned I spoke to him and she didn't. He nodded his willingness to wait another moment just as she appeared. She was in a happy mood and it showed on her face. But when she made eye contact with me and I arched my brows toward the gentleman standing next to me, her demeanor went from pleasant to shocked. She disintegrated. She was, in an instant, confused, unbelieving, and then excited as the recognition sunk in. I cannot express the happiness I felt when I saw the delight pass through her entire being. She rushed over as Mr. Cohen turned directly toward her to accept her greeting and joy.
I said to Mr. Cohen, "This is S------- B---------." And "S-----, you know who this is."
She put out both arms in a gesture of disbelief and joy and possibly inviting a hug. He extended his right hand and she took it. She told him what an honor it was to meet him and was generally beaming and nearly speechless. To emphasize the significance of the moment for her I said to him, "To me, Van Morrison is The Man. To her, you are The Man."
She blurted out (if a whisper can be blurted), as if in a trance, "No! You are the world!"
He smiled a modest smile of appreciation. He was sweet as he thanked her for her kind words in a way that accepted her praise without conceit. It was moving to see someone accept a fan's attention with such grace. What must it be like to be so humble and yet so self-assured? We thanked him for allowing us to detain him and parted by thanking him for coming to Austin. And with that he was on his way.
Actually, we were going the same way and so we were sort of following him, but were sure to leave him alone and go about our business, not putting our attention on him or attracting attention to him. He had been more than generous with us and we owed him that from gratitude. Soon enough, he was off in one direction and we in another.
Sometimes meeting someone you have known of or admired is disappointing or at least not what you expected. Meeting Leonard Cohen was just the opposite. He was what you would imagine him to be only more so. That is what I am happy to report and why I have composed this little essay.
! That is definitely a first 
. These chance encounters always reaffirm the fact that LC is indeed humble, gracious, and a true gentleman as you have pointed out through the telling of this experience. I thank you for this post (what a doozy for a first one!) and welcome you to the Forum. Hope to hear more from you.
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!
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. Fortunately, I thought to ask Dick and Linda to take a photo once they were using their own to take some.