DONNA SUMMER COVERAGE

BOOK SIGNING AT BARNES & NOBLE - A REVIEW

By Fernando

OCTOBER 15, 2003 

Finally, the 14th of October had arrived. When I first heard from Emerson, who is a member of the fan club, that Donna was going to be giving autographs at Barnes & Noble, I felt very excited. Actually, I could not believe it, since I had never imagined that such an opportunity would come at hand. Being a fan of hers since 1977, when I Remember Yesterday came out, many times had I dreamed of seeing her in person. Of course, all I thought could happen was going to one of her concerts. But meeting the diva? God, that was too much to ask! But then… 

It's 2003. I got to Barnes and Noble at about 6:30. The line was already huge. It started at the door of Barnes and Noble on 6th Avenue, turned around the corner at 23rd Street and kept getting longer and longer. The last time I looked back it had reached more than two thirds of the street. It almost got to 7th Avenue! Just look at the picture. 
When it was about seven o'clock, I could not just stay standing there, knowing that Donna was already there. I had to see her asap! So I asked a very nice couple from New Jersey, Jackie and Derryl, to hold my place so that I could see Donna. Sure enough, there she was, with Bruce standing next to her, and I was lucky enough to take a couple of pictures through the glass window. At that moment, it occurred to me that I was really going to see her and that it was not a fantasy anymore.

As I turned the corner, guess what? Bruce came out and was kind enough to let us know that we didn't have to worry. He wanted to assure everyone that we would all get to see her. Hey, that was very nice of him, right? A little later, about 9 P.M, (Yes! It took me more about 2 and ½ hours to get inside the store), I was finally approaching the great moment. As time went by, I had a flashback going on in my head. Quoting Sandro, for a long time Donna had been "the soundtrack of my life". Then, there I was, standing on the corner of 23rd Street and 6th Avenue, "eatin' my heat out waitin', waitin' for Donna to sign my book!" As I waited impatiently, the New York sky was getting dark as the night was being born. It sure was "One Night in a Lifetime"!
People inside the store were all very excited. Donna kept smiling and talking to her fans in the most casual way, and Bruce stood next to her chatting with everyone as well. After I spoke to Donna, he asked me where I was from. When I mentioned Brazil, he smiled and said: I love your country. Actually, to my amazement, Donna did the same when I told her where I was from. She even said:

"Oi! Tudo bem? Como vai você? (Hi! How are you? How's it going?) I was stunned! I was so nervous that I just replied in Portuguese and kept speaking in English since I was not sure she could go on speaking my language. (Sorry I didn't give you the chance to practice your Portuguese, Donna!) I think that was truly a sign of her appreciation for people from other cultures. 

As she sign my book, I told her how she had become important to me and all. But then, when I said that she had been on of my first English teachers since I would always translate every song I could, she simply looked at me with an ear-to-ear smile and gave me her hand. That was the utmost moment of all. Of course I'd wanted to do that, but I did not dare. However, it came from her so I felt on cloud nine. Right after that I spoke to Bruce, but I did not know what to say. I guess you can understand why! 
 

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