Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Sunday November 11 2007
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Report by Robert Wagner
The evening started as we arrived at the cocktail reception.. All the fan club members at the reception all met and we were hanging out in the reception . I received an envelope with all our concert tickets.. Since I was so nice to the woman running the event, and I made a friend. We got 1st row concert tickets!!! So..The evening starts off on a high!
As we are mingling and talking, down in the distance I see Olivia making her way towards our area, just walking, talking, with everyone as she passed. As she came up to us, it was a cosmic moment - oh my - there we were, face to face. All the things I wanted to say to her went blank, and I said "Hi Olivia" and she turned, looked me right in the eye and said.. "Oh, hi!" real brilliant. But I would have many other opportunities!
She stopped to talk to people right next to us, said hello to who ever talked to her and took pictures with everyone. I was in Olivia heaven!! Olivia mingling with the crowd - and we were the crowd!! My wife Helen took lots of pictures of Olivia.. us.. me. I couldn't hold the camera. I finally got next to her and told her I was her fan for 34 (yes, its true ) years! And I thanked her for so many years of great music and for doing so many wonderful things like the benefit. I can't believe I actually got the words out. And she thanked me for being a great fan, and asked my name!! More pictures, and staring!!
Then we went to dinner. We had assigned tables and there was a gift bag with an Olivia CD and a few other goodies. A program for the evening was on our chair. Olivia was at her table, about 5 tables away, and part of the evening included a picture with Olivia with everyone at our table. They got our table ready, and here comes Olivia. They told us she would only take the one picture because she was on a tight schedule. When she got to our table we all lined up for our picture. Then she started taking individual pictures with our own cameras. She said no to nobody! I got another picture with Olivia, (thanks to my wife) and then she signed my program.. "To Bob, Love & Light, Olivia Newton-John" Bill Z then made a presentation to her with the additional contribution to her cancer center with donations from all of us in the Olivia fan club. She was very appreciative.
Then - onto the concert. Front row center, and she kept looking and waving to us in the front. She sang for approx 70 minutes - sounded great! Both Niels and I gave her a rose for her Never Give Into It song.
So that was it. It's over except for the memories of one of the most memorable evenings ..EVER!! And pictures.. lots of pictures...some of the good ones have been posted already.
Have You Never Been Mellow
Magic
Pearls on a Chain
If Not For You
Let Me
Be There
Please Mr. Please
If You Love Me Let Me
Know
Physical
Not Gonna Give Into it
Somewhere
Over the Rainbow
You're the One That I Want
Summer
Nights
I Honestly Love You
Every Time It Snows
Grace
and Gratitude
Photo:
Robert, John Easterling and Olivia Newton-John
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