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When did you first hear Aerosmith?

Well… I was 14 years old, in the mid ‘80’s ish…
I was hanging out with my best friend Michael.  He was a little older than me (16), and a guitar player.  We were just sitting around and chatting, and I remember him changing the cassette tape.  Barely 10 seconds of Dream On had played, I got up from my chair and said “What…is… that…???” (but in French!!)  He said “Aerosmith”.  That was it.  I was hooked!! I had a “coup d’foudre” as we say!!

What is your favorite Aerosmith song?

Pick just one?  Really??
I would have to say “Dream on”. Yes, it was the first Aerosmith song I ever heard, but more than that: it gave me hope in what was a really difficult period of my life.  I didn’t really speak English at all, but I could understand “dream until your dreams come true”.  It gave me hope and strength.  Even to this day, the words just have a way to reach inside and lift my spirits.
And I just love  “Let the music do the talking”… just because! …and “stop messin’ around” and “sweet emotion” and “back in the saddle” and “same old song and dance”… and and and…. (gonna run out of paper here!!!)

Most memorable Aerosmith moment

SHORT VERSION: 
October ’87.   I went to see Aerosmith in Montreal.  Cameras were not allowed (and of course no one had a cell phone yet!!).  I snuck in a camera with a big zoom lens! …and …I got caught!!  The security guy brings me to the side area, but before he could see anything, I managed to get the film canister OUT of the camera, and into my jeans!!!  When I got back to spot right in front of Tom (the boys were playing “Dream On”!!) he came to the front of the stage and gave me a “so… what happened??” look.
I pulled out the roll of film from inside my jeans, showed it to him, and he gave me a big “Thumbs up”!!!   Yep!! I feel so much joy and pride every time I think back to that beautiful rebellious moment!!!

Funny Aerosmith moment:

Last year my daughters and I went to Disney Orlando for the 1st time.  My youngest (10) had never done a “big” ride before (mainly because I am not a amusement park fan myself!!).   But we just HAD to do the “Rock’n’Roller”.  It was her 1st ever fast ride!  She LOVED it, and came out singing “Dude looks like a lady”.  It was priceless!! And of course they both got the t-shirt!!


NOW… THE FULL LONG VERSION:

Here we go.  It was October 1987.  A bunch of us drove from Quebec city to Montreal to see my most absolute favorite band for the first time.   Saying that Aerosmith were like “Gods” to me is an understatement!  And don’t forget that this was the mid-eighties, ALL of my friends were into either A:  hair band (ie: Motley Crue, Poison, Cinderella (OMG!!!!),  or B: pop-ish bands (Michael Jackson, Duran Duran…)
I don’t know how I did it, but somehow I got a ticket in the 4th row, right in front of Tom!  In those days, there were chairs on the floor, and cameras were a big no-no!! As in absolutely NOT allowed!!  So being the little rebel that I was, what did I do?? Of course, I snuggled in a nice 35 mm, with a big zoom lens.
I should mention that one month before, I had just signed up for a little photography class in school, and the camera was school property!! 
The show starts and of course everyone is standing on the chairs!! I find a way to stand to somehow “hide” the camera from the security guys walking around… I am shooting away… when all of a sudden, I feel someone tapping on my leg.  I look down, only to see one of those massive security guys signaling me with his index finger to come down my chair and follow him!! Oh Sh*#!   I was in no place to argue!! So I came down and started to follow him outside the arena.  As I walked through the aisle, in front of all the people screaming and singing, I pushed the little button at the bottom of my camera and frantically started “rolling” the little device to “rewind” the film!!  I was walking slowly and even pretended to trip on a scarf on the ground to buy me some time!! Next thing you know, the entire film is rolled back into it’s canister.  I quickly hide the canister inside my jeans!!

So now, the big muscle guy and I are in the lit-up hallway just outside the arena. He asked me to open my camera and give him the film!!! Well…  here is what I said (with big wide innocent eyes…):  “I am so sorry… but this is not my camera… I don’t even know how to use it!! I just brought it to use the lens to see the band closer… That’s all…  I don’t know how to open these things…” 
He looks at it.  He doesn’t know how to open it either.  He calls one of his buddies… This other guy knows!! So he opens the camera, and… SURPRISE!!!! NO FILM!!!! The camera is empty!!!
At that moment, “Dream On” starts to play!!! I get really upset, yell at the guy “ See, I told you there was no film in here!! And now you’re making me miss my favorite song!!!”  The big muscle guy apologized!  And as fast as I could, I ran back to stand on my chair.
Well, the rest is even more incredible!! Tom Hamilton (Oh Tom!! I always wondered if I were to bump into you somewhere, if you would remember that moment!!??)
So Tom came to the front of the stage, looked right at me and signaled with his head something that kind of meant “so… what happened???...”.  Because he had actually witnessed the whole thing!!  I reached inside my jeans, pulled out the roll of film and showed it to Tom.  OUF…. My heart was pounding so hard!! Tom gave me a huge smile and… AND!!!!!... and he gave me a “THUMBS UP!!!” 
You cannot possibly begin to imagine the excitement for a young teenager, who was standing in front of her “Gods” and now to not only get noticed, but get approval for my rebellious actions!!! Aaaaahhhh… 

I have told and retold this story so many times!! Brings back so much joy and pride!!
I’ve also told  that story to my daughters of course.

FAVORITE QUOTE OR ONE-LINER:

“Live and learn from fools and from sages”.   (because I believe life is about
learning, growing, giving and LIVING!!)


FAVORITE WAY TO RELAX:

A good Yoga class!!


Favorite Breakfast:

3 egg whites with a rice toast and some berries!!! And green tea… Yum!!!


WORDS OF WISDOM:

“Every day:  be grateful, act with love, check your motives, watch your attitude, forgive”
(The Karma Cleanse)
 

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