SECONDS�
I MISSED HIM JUST BY SECONDS (as the song goes). Mother�s Day weekend (May 10, 2003), a vacation trip to Chicago, sponsored by my daughter, Melinda, who had purchased tickets for the both us to attend the Johnny Mathis concert held at the landmark Chicago Theater. My first memory of the Chicago Theatre was fifty years ago. My cousin, who was a beautiful young woman, took her younger brother, Woody, and myself to the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis show, as tagalongs on her date. Now, the love of my life, Johnny Mathis would appear on the stage as so many world-renowned performers before him, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and more.
I decided to go by Amtrak train, instead of treading the airport security lines. The 18-hour ride was divine. After a day of pampering, manicure, pedicure, etc.. I donned my burgundy satin pantsuit and glass slippers (to match my nails and toes), then Melinda and I rushed to downtown Chicago State and Lake streets. With only 2 minutes to spare she dropped me off at the corner, then went to park the car. I treaded the short walk past the many comments of Chicago�s colorful downtown genre. The marquee boldly proclaimed �JOHNNY MATHIS � SOLD OUT�. As I may have guessed by the scalpers who were taunting me �do you have extra ticket.�
Feeling slightly parched and a bit winded, I went to the refreshment bar and ordered fruit punch, and then proceeded to the aisle entry--- 9th row, right side of the middle aisle. Looking at the stage I could see Johnny�s familiar musical director as though he were right before me. My recent cataract surgery has given me near perfect vision. The idea of seeing Johnny Mathis up this close was exciting. I sat back to relax, while waiting for my daughter. Yet�it seemed�the more I tried to relax, the breathless feeling increased�a familiar feeling to me. Oh No! Marquita, you are not going to let your heart get worked up THIS evening. So I tried to mentally take control of my racing heart---to no avail. �Please hurry, Melinda,� I pleaded quietly. At this point I knew I would have to leave the theatre to get help.
Then, Johnny Mathis gloriously appeared on stage like an angel, dressed in a magnificent white suit. The audience gave him a very vociferous applause. Mathis blushed at the warm welcome, looking very similar to his 4-year old pic that appeared on his recent Christmas Album CD. But, I had to go. I knew if I stayed one second more, the paramedics in the aisles carrying me out of the theatre would upstage Johnny�s show. So I rushed to the lobby to wait for my daughter, who had decided to stop by a nearby store. There were many people who passed me in the lobby to ask me if I needed assist, but I refused. I wanted to make my exit as obscure as possible. As events developed, my daughter showed up to help me. She ran to the car for my nitroglycerin, however, after several tries, my meds were not working, so she called the Chicago Fire Department who rushed me to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital. By this time I felt a little better and pleaded with my daughter that we see the last half of Johnny�s show. ( Hearing Johnny�s singing from the lobby rendered me senseless.)
As it played out, I was admitted with a diagnosis of a mild heart attack. The emergency room personnel all kidded me about my formal dress. (I was decked out, if I must say so myself). After a few days of treatment and tests, I was released.
Now, bound to Chicago for the summer for recovery, it occurred to me that I had missed my probably only chance to actually meet Johnny. If, let say, I had stayed in the audience (seen the show), and the paramedics did have to interrupt the show. Johnny may have---no WOULD have come to me to see if I was okay. How do I know this for sure? Backstage McCormick Place in 1966, A fleeing Johnny returned to check on one of his fans, who had fell while chasing him for an autograph. That�s how I took an upclose picture of Johnny, that now appears on the cover of �Mathis Magic Place�.
My daughter, Melinda Jeanette (named for 2 of Johnny�s songs �Melinda� and �Jenny�), stated, �Mom, the parking lot levels at the hospital were dedicated to famous crooners, and Johnny Mathis is one, along with Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and others. When you enter each level, songs recorded by each star starts playing. (I missed that, too).
I still have the unused ticket for Johnny�s concert on his birthday on September 30. 2002 in Pittsburgh, when I mother became seriously ill. Also, missed his New Year�s Eve Concert December 31, 2002 for the same reason.
When will I see Johnny again? |
