We arrive at WNCI, and meet a girl in the hallway outside of the office who has actually won a contest, and gets to be in the studio while he is playing. (I was unaware of any contest, since I normally do not listen to WNCI, because they usually only play Celine Dion & Hanson. I'm not certain whether or not Richie will stay on their playlist. But, I pretty much doubt it.) We talk for a couple of minutes, then she goes on in to the station. A couple of minutes later, 2 other girls show up, and we start talking with them. They didn't have tickets for the contest either.

Some of the radio people come & go and tell us he's on his way. We're standing around talking when David (my husband) says, "There's Richie." And, coming down the hallway is this tall man with a guitar case that can only be Richie, and some other people. He stops to talk to us, sign some things and do pics. It is one of the other girls birthday. So, he asks her what her name is, and she tells him Amanda. He jokes about how he is very familiar with that name. The other girl tells him that he looked great on Letterman last night (I fell asleep, and hadn't had a chance to watch my tape yet, so I didn't know how he looked or what he had played.) He does a voice and says, "You know darling, it's better to look good than to feel good." Or, whatever that joke was. I'm stuck in this dumbstruck mode, all I can do is laugh at his jokes, which WERE quite funny. This guy tries to push him on into the studio, but he sees me standing there with caseliners from my 3 different versions of Undiscovered Soul. He stops to sign my caseliners, and it's like I've died and gone to heaven. Here I am with the man whom I've dreamed of meeting for eternity! And, I can't say a word!!!!

He goes into the station and starts the interview. The front of the station is a HUGE window. And, the studio is right inside with a big window so you can see into the studio and see what's happening. David sticks his head in and asks the receptionist if it would be alright if we came in and watched the interview. She asks how many there are. He says, "There are 4 of us, and we're really calm." She agrees.

Watching the interview from inside was a really strange experience. They play the broadcast over the speakers so you can hear the music, news, etc. as kinda like background noise. The strange part was that it was on a delay - in case someone called in and said something inappropriate, they would have time to "bleep" it before everyone heard it. So, we would see him talk, but there was no sound. And then, a couple of seconds later, you heard what he said. It was a very odd experience.

He took some phone calls, and answered the obligatory, "How's Heather?" questions. Then he played Fallen From Graceland. He had Hook Herraera (I have NO idea how to spell his last name, but he's the harmonica guy) with him to play the songs. ~~I must at this point out, he was sitting in a wheelie chair, like from an office, except tall like a bar chair.

He got so into it, he was tappin his foot, which we could hear through the double-paned glass. He was bouncing on the wheelie chair and slid right off the end of it in the middle of the song. He didn't hurt himself, but he had to sing the rest of the song kinda hunched over so he would be close enough to the mic. Someone from the station decided to go find him a stool to sit on for the rest of the interview. He talked some more, then played Hard Times. After the interview, he went back into this other little room to sign some stuff for the contest winners. Hook went out to the hallway in front to have a cigarette, so we followed him out. He's a really nice guy. I had him sign the back of my US Japanese caseliner, since he plays on the CD. He talked to us for about 15 minutes. He was telling us about how they were both in the studio making new albums and he would come down and help out on Richie's album, then Richie would come down to his studio, and help him out. He said they were both kinda worried as to what Howard was gonna do to them yesterday. He said he's know Richie for a really long time. He was on the SITT tour with Richie, and they would hang out at the hotels and just play like crazy until it was time to go to the show. He told us that they had played San Diego, NY, The Warfield, and UCLA University One of the girls that we were hangin' around with had brought the boot CD cover to her copy of the San Diego show. Hook looked at it, and was telling us about the songs. He's just a really cool guy!

Then Richie, and all of those people that arrived with him, came out of the station. Hook stopped him and said, "Hey, they've got the San Diego show." Richie said, "That's cool! That's great!" I figured at this point, "I've got to say something. If I don't, I may not have this chance ever again." So, I said, "Richie, can I have a hug?" He turned to me and said, "Sure, sweetie. But, then I've got to go." And, he gave me a hug!!!

And, I must admit that he smelled really good! This is my story, and I just had to share with all of you!! I'm so excited, like a little kid in a candy store!!!! I am so totally amazed that I didn't pass out, and totally embarrass myself.