Hi all... After a long arduous Amtrak journey, I managed to reach Jimmy and Rick, and we cabbed it to the Theatre where Joni was to get her star on Canada's Walk of Fame. We found fellow JMDLer's Ashara, Sal, Stephen, Yael, Jim Johanson who I was so happy to meet, and some new folk whose names escape me right now. Of course, the theatre was roped off in red velvet, making room for dignitaries, and special guests and of course the press. A fabulous mixture of her songs played on the outdoor sound system, and people trickled to the event from the streets. Eventually, some bagpipers came out with pipes ablarin' and out came the goddess, following several others inclucing the mayor(is he the mayor? sorrry Mags, I don't know his title!) Margaret Atwood recieved her award first after an intro by the mayor, then Joni, who radiated warmth and beauty as usual. When she was given her key to the city, she asked "So what does it open?" Only our Joni! (The response was- t'he hearts of all the people of Toronto', BTW) Then she got her award, which looked like an asymmetrical star with a hole in it- made out of granite no less- she handed it to the mayor like it was in her way,and stepped up to the podium. After a few sentences she asked that folks curb their dogs and not to litter on the star- getting chuckles from us all, but she really wanted everyone to think of a light hearted moment that made them laugh or chuckle when they passed by it. "That" she said, "Would please me..." At one point I yelled out "Joni Rocks!", and she looked over to see who it was. I waived a little special wave, and she waved back to me with a smile. My only real Joni moment, sigh... So she and Margaret walked over and unvieled the walk, posed for pics, and the press flocked to her, leaving poor Margaret all alone with one reporter... lol (and ironic lol, at that...)She dissapeared whence she came, and eventually we looked at the walk ourselves. Right before that however, I was standing with Jimmy and Yael, and we were singing along to Chelsea morning, and a crew turned to us and shot a bit. With our stopping upon embarrassment, they encouraged us to sing more, and asked us what are favorite Joni lp was. I said "Depends on the day of the week..." So we all listed as many albums as we could, and the question was asked "why Joni?" I replied, "Who else is there?" I went on a bit, but don't recal my exact words. Didn't see it on the news, and did not recall which station caught us at that moment. I then headed back with most on the subway, waiting to get ready for the evenings festivities...
Steve
