Part II
We visited some more, then Jimmy went down to his “room” to prepare for the show. Nina stayed with us a bit longer and visited, then went down to where Jimmy was to steam his suit.
Dan and I sat there afterwards, just looking at each other. We DID really just have supper with Jimmy and Nina, didn’t we?
For the rest of my life, I know I will never forget what an honor that was! God really smiled down on us to let the four of us end up at the same table to eat together. What a thrill! It’s a Kodak moment in my heart.
Back down in the theater, they had placed tables with cloths over them down in front of the stage. The same lady who told us to go eat together led us to the center table right down in front of Jimmy. Carolyn and Charlie Cain were at the table to our left, and to our right was Phyllis, Mike, and Hollie, although Hollie ended up sitting with us.
The show went along perfectly. Jimmy did an excellent job as a most gracious emcee. At a break in the taping, Carolyn Cain and I got together for the first time and had some special laughs and giggles together. She and Charlie are super people. We had met Phyllis, Mike, and Hollie before at some pre-shows. They are all so sweet.
During that taping break, we saw a familiar figure crawling/creeping close to the floor coming towards our table. We took a second look and had to laugh. It was Nina! She didn’t want to be in anybody’s way or be seen! We talked for a bit and asked her if she’d like to sit with us. She indicated No Way, she didn’t want to be included in anything going on TV in any way, shape, or form! When taping was going to start up again, she crept her way back to the back row of the studio where she chose to fly beneath the radar!
It came time for Jimmy to do a solo. He sang “I Wrote It In Red,” and he sang that song with so much feeling and emotion that as I looked up at him, the tears rolled down my face. It was captivatingly beautiful. Jimmy put his heart and soul into those lyrics, many times with closed eyes, and the mike in his hand quivering with inspiration. That was totally priceless. I will never forget that performance, nor the emotion it evoked within Jimmy. That wonderful song took me to a place I had never been before and got me in touch with a part of me I hadn’t discovered before.
After the show, of course, Jimmy signed autographs and CDs and had his picture taken with anyone who wished to do so. Jimmy is always obliging and meets his fans so warmly, and it is only one of the many, many special things that set him apart from other entertainers. Jimmy loves his fans and Jimmy loves people. You will never find a more class act and two loving hearts any more tender than those of Jimmy and Nina.
Now, I hope you guys actually DID make a pot of coffee and put your feet up, because you were in for a lengthy read! I have a reputation on this website for never being short for words, and I am also never short on love for Jimmy and Nina. Guilty as charged.
Carolyn
The first time we ever heard Jimmy as a soloist was in Janesville, WI.,. at the fair. During sound checks, we walked up to the stage and in my excitement, I just yelled out, “JIMMY!” He looked at us and climbed down from the stage and came to hug us and talk with us. We took some pictures with him. His accessibility was astounding, and his friendliness was sincere and heartwarming. His concert was superb, and we told him so at the merchandise table after the concert. This was the first time we met Nina. She was both beautiful and wonderfully warm also. We talked like we had known each other for years. We got several pictures of Jimmy, and asked he and Nina to pose for one together. They did, and we gave a framed copy of that picture to them the next time we saw them. The other copy of that picture sits on our entertainment center in our living room.
End part II
Carolyn
