Friday's Foto Finish Fiesta: The Night I Met River Phoenix

**Candid Carrie hosts the Fx4 extravaganza each week! So after you read my story, go check out her site and the others who join in with their cool pics!

It was a Friday night. March 1, 1991. The spring of my sophomore year in high school. I had spent years prior to this night combing magazine aisles for the latest issues of Bop! and Tiger Beat. I had collected pictures, decorated lockers and notebook covers and drew many a "River" with a heart dotting the "i" in his name. I saw his movies, watched all his t.v. interviews and even begged a movie theater manager for a poster of his WORST movie, all so I could have that gorgeous face to look at all.the.time. I was in lust.

My friend "G" & I set out for a local club downtown to see River's band "Aleka's Attic" perform at a benefit concert for our local food bank. The anticipation on the ride over to the venue had me in tears. Yes, I'm a crier. I was actually WEEPING at the thought of meeting my dream guy. That's a 15 year old for ya!



Here's "G" & I outside my parents home. I'm the one on the left rocking the tie-dye and acid washed jeans. Nice. What was up with my hair? I'll tell ya. My hair gets really light in the summer and I was growing it out, so there's a couple of inches of dark winter roots. I've never colored my hair. A decision I maybe should have re-thought back then.

Anyway, the happy look on my face is not only that I'm about to meet my dream guy, but that my parents have NO IDEA where I'm going tonight. Ha ha.





So, we make it to the venue and there are people EVERYWHERE. Not suprising because this event was well publicized and (imagine that) I'm not the only fan of River Phoenix in my town apparently. The nerve of some people. So, I elbow my way into the cigarette smoke-filled room and try to get a place to stand, remotely close to the stage. The venue wasn't huge, but nevertheless, it was hard to see the stage. The concert began and we were delighted to hear the very unique style of music that they performed. They had your typical guitar and drums, but they also featured an electronic violin and a trumpet. All the musicians were GREAT!


Here's River and his sister Rainbow singing a tune. River played lead guitar. Swoon! He was dressed so grunge that night. It was hot.









They performed several songs and then I watched while River was interviewed by a blonde reporter from the BBC. They sent a film crew all the way to my little town from England, just to film this little concert. I was SO jealous of that reporter. And she was totally macking all over River. Bleh.


This musical note is a sticker from my scrapbook that I couldn't remove. See, I had to pull these out of my scrapbook just to share them with you. I'll do anything for my readers!

This was a shot of the whole band with the bimbo reporter. And they were eating pie. Don't ask me why. I remember it being for some stupid publicity something or other. I just knew River was staring right at me. Delusional.

So, after the concert, River came out into the audience to be with his stalkers peeps. I knew this was my chance! Carpe Diem! It was now or never. I had to go talk with him.

I made my way through the droves of people and spotted him sitting at a table fawning all over a girl who was 2 years ahead of me at my school. I know I turned green with envy as I saw him taking a drag off her cigarette and laughing close to her face. How could that hussy steal my man? I marched over to him and stuttered a "Hi! Great concert!" He looked up for 2 seconds and shot me a smirk. And then, I held out a piece of paper and asked for his autograph. He looks up again and says "I don't do autographs." As the tears started to well up in my eyes, I know that a look of horror must've come across my face. Did he really say that to me? But, I'm his future wife biggest fan.

I guess the look on my face and the thought of dashing the hopes and dreams of an innocent starry-eyed teenager were just too much for him. He took the paper, scrawled his initials and handed it back to me and that was it. I walked away, somewhat disillusioned, but with a piece of my guy forever.


The picture isn't good, but I wasn't ripping the paper out of my scrapbook to scan. If I ruined it, I would cry all over again. But, there it is. His autograph. Sigh.

And so, was it all I thought it would be? No. Am I glad I met him in person. Yes. Do I miss him? Terribly.

And that was the night that I met River Phoenix.

Thursday Thirteen

Happy Thursday y'all! It's been another crazy week around my house, which resulted in my not posting yesterday. I hope everyone is enjoying my new look! I know that I am. If you scroll down on the right side, you'll see my new Monday Morning Eye Candy badge. Feel free to put it on your blog if you're so inclined. I'm working on next week's installment already and it's going to be fabulous!

So, I'm feeling very inspired to do a Thursday Thirteen today because of all the interest that was generated regarding my encounter with River Phoenix that I mentioned here. You'll have to come back tomorrow to read the actual story of that encounter, but here's something to tide you over until then.

Thirteen Facts About River Phoenix

1. We shared the same birthday month. August. When I was growing up, I hated having an August birthday because it always conflicted with back to school. Hence, I NEVER had birthday parties growing up because the parents were too busy with getting ready for school stuff and my friends were always on the final summer vacations. I figured River probably felt my pain and suffered the same misfortune.

2. He played the guitar. I don't know what it is about guys and guitars, but it's hot. He was a good singer too.

3. He was in the first rated-R movie that I ever saw. A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. Now, this was not a cinematic achievement (actually it's a pretty crappy movie), but he looked so good in it.

4. His name is actually River. His parents were hippies, so this isn't too surprising. His siblings include Summer, Rainbow & Liberty. And let's not forget his little brother Joaquin. I could do a whole list on why I love his brother too.

5. The hair. When he grew it out, he had the most gorgeous hair. Sandy blonde and kind of wavy. Kind of like my hubby's. Hmmmm.....

6. He stars in one of my all time fave movies: Stand By Me. If you've never seen it, you simply must get it TODAY.

7. He was an environmentalist. He actually bought up acreage in Costa Rica & Brazil so that it would never be developed.

8. He was an animal rights activist and a staunch vegetarian. He once told a reporter that he wouldn't eat a hamburger even if you paid him $40,000. I, on the other hand, would eat the whole cow for $40,000.

9. He claimed that he had a vision of his future wife and carried around a sketch of her in his wallet. Sadly, he died before the year he thought he would meet her in.

10. He spoke Spanish fluently. I love bilingual guys.

11. He was good friends with Michael Stipe, the lead singer of R.E.M. I love that band. R.E.M. album "Monster" is actually dedicated to River. He died the year before it was released.

12. Two of the acting gigs, that River had lined up prior to his death, were ultimately given to Leonardo Dicaprio. There are many times that I see Leo acting and get this weird chill like I'm watching River.

13. Despite his movie star status and his soapbox for clean living, he was deeply flawed. He was a chain-smoker and a drug addict, as it turns out. He died from a drug overdose in 1993.

So, there are some interesting tidbits about River. Come back tomorrow for the story on how I met this guy and what he was ACTUALLY like in person.