Beth

A Dream Come True 30 Years Later

Well, it took us 14 1/2 hours to drive to Newport! And it was worth every single mile and minute!!

We left at 5AM on Friday from Ohio. Boy, PA was the biggest state to drive through. I thought we would never get out of that state! New York was next and I had to drive over a VERY BIG bridge....you see I don’t do bridges very well. Just ask my friends!! So, over the Hudson I drive and on into Connecticut!!

HELLO, Hartford! And at rush hour no less! Already twelve hours on the road and we have to hit 5PM rush hour traffic in the capital of this great state of Connecticut! I thought we would never get to Newport!

As we were approaching Rhode Island, I suggested that we take the SCENIC ROUTE on Route 1. Well, it WAS scenic, but all we saw was trees. Where’s that beautiful coastline?? I wanted to see the water! Well, so much for MY good ideas!?

Fifty miles or so later we started seeing signs for Newport! We’re almost there! But oh no! Another bridge! The infamous Jamestown BRIDGE! Yikes! And what? Another EVEN BIGGER bridge....the Newport Bridge! Well, my fears should surely be conquered by now!

It was dark by the time we drove into Newport, but the harbor was so beautiful!! I sure hope my pictures of it turn out!

So it’s about 7:30PM when we finally found HoJo’s and Applebee’s!! Yippee! I’m starting to get very excited!!

We checked into our rooms and then we were off to meet the Hairheads!! I saw this very pretty little brunette with an enormous smile. She came up to me, "I’m JoAnn!" Her son Andrew and husband Joe had come with her! Beautiful family!! JoAnn, you were right! Andrew is the spit and image of you!!

The next face I sought was KathyR! My adopted sister! She is very beautiful! Tall and slim just like I pictured her! I recognized her immediately!! Then I met and hugged my "adopted daughter--now niece" Kristin! Talk about a beauty!! Well, we know who she gets it from!! Now where is that handsome Damon? There he is standing in the back! What a great guy!! Nice smile!! I got my hugs from the Wall family! I am very happy!

It is so wonderful to finally put faces with the names on the message board!

I met Barb Meade and NashvilleKat!! Very nice, those two!! Glad to have FINALLY met both of you!!

Then I recognized another very familiar face!! It was Louise!! It was great to see you again friend!! When you come to Amherst to see your sister, let’s get together, okay?

So many new faces! I was so overwhelmed!! I thought my cheeks would hurt from all the smiling I was doing! AWESOME!!

Okay, so where’s Jo, Connie, Becky and Jane? Oh, there’s Jane, my Minnesota friend! We exchanged big hugs and said our hellos! Boy, does she have a head of HAIR or what! Great meeting you!!

It looks as though I missed Jo and Becky! Guess I’ll meet them tomorrow! There’s another familiar face ..... Salia ..... but her hair is much shorter, but very attractive!! What a cutie-pie that Salia!!

Everyone was talking about going to Yesterday’s, but I thought I should sit down and try to eat something! However I’m too excited. I didn’t even finish my Chicken Quesadillas, but I sure did polish off that Strawberry Daiquiri! :-))

With all the other Hairheads gone, Sue, Janet, Barb, Vicki and I decided to head back to our rooms and settle down a bit, maybe we should try to get some sleep. NOT!

Saturday morning around 11AM, I headed down to the Connie’s room to meet even more Hairheads!!

As I was walking down to the next level, who passes by me, but none other than Rich Cowsill. He’s a very handsome man! Nice tan, Rich!! What’s he doing, but singing "Do Wah Ditty" with his headphones on!! Practicing his number for tonight’s concert!!

I helped JoAnn get her brownies into the meeting room and then the fun began!! Rich lead the group off with his exuberance!! "There she was just a-walking down the street singing Do Wah Ditty Ditty Dum Ditty Do...."!! Everybody join in!! Let the singing begin!

I finally got to meet Jo, my first friend at cowsill.com!! The very talented Jo Malone!! What a treat!! I also met ONE of "Barry’s #1 fans"--SNDG herself!! Continued to meet more and more Hairheads ...... Darlene, Lynne, Eddie and Nancy, Eileen, Kathryn, Carol Fritz, Stella and Becky!! So many names and faces!! I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet and chat with all of you! BTW ... thanks JoAnn for the little treats (kisses in a mini champagne glass!)

There was a lot more picture taking, video recording, singing and everyone just having a blast!! "Where is Beth from Ohio??" I was standing in the hallway and I thought "Oh no...what did I do?" It was my friend, Sue calling from our room. She just wanted everyone to say "Beth from Ohio!!" Private joke! I’m going to kill her!! :-))

The fun, singing and laughter continued for quite awhile. But my friends wanted to see some of the mansions! Sue, Vicki, Kristin, Salia, Barb, Janet, KathyR and myself ventured out to find some! We drove ....and drove.... and drove....Salia wanted to find Collinwood where they filmed the TV show "Dark Shadows"! Off to find the haunts of Barnabas and Quentin Collins!! But no such luck!! So we drove...and drove...and drove some more, finally stopping at a Mailboxes Etc. store. Salia went in and came out all excited!! There was someone who worked at Collinwood (which is really on the site of Salve Regina University!) So off we go!!

Yippee!! There it is!! The Dark Shadows mansion!! We took lots of pictures from the grounds and then all of a sudden....there’s Salia inside of Collinwood and then she disappeared. Oh no, had the ghost of Barnabas Collins captured her? Where did she go??

(BTW Ask Salia about her encounter with the young male student that she met in the dorm area! So that’s why she came out with her face all flushed!! LOL!!) Having seen Collinwood, we were off to other parts of beautiful Newport!! We drove past the Brenton State Park where kites were flying and more mansions...one even had its own little golf course right in the front yard!! WOW!!

The shorelines of Newport are awesome!! Truly beautiful!! I can’t imagine what it is like there in the midst of a hot summer!! My kind of place!!

Now it’s time to start heading towards the Newport Wharf area ...... Taste of Rhode Island here we come!! But first, back to HoJo’s to drop off Kathy, Kristin and Salia!! Time to get ready for ........

The Cowsills Reunion Concert Part 1!!

OH MY GOD!! In just a little while I will finally hear the C’s in concert again after over 30 years!! Now I’m really getting excited!!

We tried to get to TORI around 5PM to get good close seats. So there I am walking up to buy my ticket dressed in my beautiful new Cowsill reunion T-shirt! (Great job Jo on the Tshirt!!) Thanks for having extras!!

I found KathyR and Kristin. We starting walking around behind the tent area and there stands charismatic Bob! Is he ever handsome!! KathyR introduced me to him and instantly I was at ease around him!! I got a huge hug....OMG...and then he was gracious enough to allow a picture to be taken. So here I am with my arm around Bob Cowsill and his arm around me.....be still my heart!! :-))

(Okay, now this is the point where the 16-year-old girl in me comes out! So pardon the silliness!)

By now, it’s time to find a bathroom. So NormaK took us to a private marina restroom area. As KathyR and I waited for NormaK and DebbieG outside by another tent, a couple started walking towards us!! OMG....it’s John and Dale! My heart started beating very fast......OMG...it’s John Cowsill. I’m going to actually see John Cowsill up close and personal!! He stopped and gave KathyR a big hug. Then the moment......KathyR says to John "I want you to meet my friend Beth!!"" OMG.....he has my hand in his....OMG! Then KathyR says "She’s been waiting for a hug since she was 12!" OMG....I have my arms around John!! sigh!!! My dream has come true!! The 16-year-old girl in me loved every minute of it!! Handsome does not begin to describe how this man looks!! Gorgeous is still an understatement!! John is definitely a looker! And those dimples!! Dale is one lucky lady!!

At this point, I am on Cloud 9!! And I still get to hear all seven C’s in concert! It was like a dream world to be around this family that I have admired and cherished for so many years!!

Time to get to our seats. Oh My! They are on the stage warming up their instruments. Not too much longer now!!!

"Ladies and gentlemen, from Newport!! THE COWSILLS!!!!" Paul strikes the notes on his keyboard.....OMG...."The Rain, the Park and Other Things"!!! I started screaming at the top of my lungs!! Bill sings, "I saw her sitting in the rain. Raindrops falling on her. She didn’t seem to care. She looked up and smiled at me. And I knew......" that this would be something very special!! I couldn’t stop smiling, singing, dancing in my seat. I sat there mesmerized. I am truly seeing the Cowsills in concert again. sigh VBG!!

I think they sang about 11 songs and then took a break. Within those 11 songs, John did "What About Love". What a voice that man has!! Truly sensational!! I could listen to him for hours!! Sometimes I do!! :-))

I got up and walked to the back where everyone started talking to their friends. This is where I got my first good look at Barry. Becky was right. He got to my soul. I was very reserved about meeting Barry, but instantly I became very attracted to him. I was becoming a true fan. Who’d ever thought I would be a big Barry fan?

Time to sit down again and here some more wonderful music. I didn’t want the night to end. They did some old favorites!! "We Can Fly", "Hair", "Poor Baby". "Cross That Line" from Global. And Susan sang "Spring Day in Ohio!!" My friends started screaming.....Why? Because we’re from Ohio!!

So, there they were: Paul on keyboards (far left), then Susan, Bob and Bill all on their guitars (front right and center). Then in the middle was Rich with tambourine in hand, Barry and Robby on bass also on the middle right. Peter in the back on the left on keyboards and mandolin and on drums......JOHN!!! They did it.....THE REUNION CONCERT IS A HUGE SUCCESS!!

Afterwards, everyone kind of mingled around for more picture taking. Some people were talking about going to Yesterday’s again. Some were going to hear Barry perform at the Narragansett Cafe. And for some reason I didn’t do either. I guess I was still in awe of what I just experienced!

However, when I was getting ready to leave TORI, Susan (Rich’s wife) asked me if I was going back to HoJo’s. I said that I thought that we were. She wanted me to take their son Bryan and his friend home. Well, how could I refuse to take a Cowsill’s child home? Rich came out by us and handed a small poster to his son and told him to "make sure it gets home, or you’ll be packing your bags!" Sue told Rich that "Beth is taking Bryan home!!" She asked me to play mom for awhile!! :-))

We started walking to the car, but my friends wanted to stop at a shop to buy a few things. It was adjoined to the hotel where Barry and his family were staying. While my friends shopped, Bryan and John (his young friend) and I talked about the Vikings and the Indians!

He comes Barry with his guitar in tow. He asks Bryan where’s his mom and dad and his nephew tells him that they were going to the Narragansett and that "Beth" was taking him home!! That’s when I got my first hug from Barry!! :-))

Although Bryan knew the way home, I still think he took us the long, scenic way! But at least we made it!! He probably thinks we are all crazy for going nuts over his family! But he seemed to take it all in stride! A very nice young man!!

Back at HoJo’s, I tried to get some shut eye, but all I could see was....you’ll never guess...John and Barry!! Go figure!!

Sunday morning came quickly!! Time to get ready to go to the "Meet & Greet"! We got there around 10AM and there were a few Hairheads already in attendance. Quickly, one by one the C’s started to appear.....Paul, Bob, Rich, Robby, Susan, Barry, Bill....but where’s John??? I sure hope he makes it! I got in line to get autographs, but what am I going to have them sign?? My "Best of the Cowsills" CD cover! I also had my "Global" poster! First Susan signed, then Rich, Bill, Robby, Paul and Bob to follow. Oh here comes Barry!! So I got back in line to get his autograph!

Hurray! John made it! Better late than never! Again I got back in line!! I probably took a whole roll of film while waiting to get his autograph!! And I’m going to get to see him "up close and personal" one more time!! sigh... He signed my"Best of" CD cover and a picture that I had of him from back in 1972. Thanks JoAnn for sending it to me! John stated "You know, you can sell that on EBay!" And I answered "No way....it’s priceless!"

More pictures and more chatting. There’s Lisa C getting her picture taken seated next to John, so here’s my chance! Another dream to come true, to get my picture taken with John....his arm around me again!! big sigh!

Bob says it’s time to take some group pictures. All nine including Robby and Peter lined up along the dock area. Sailboats in the background, kind of a hazy, lazy day.....but they were there waiting patiently. A few snaps here and there....then quick "Everyone change positions!" They were so funny!! I wish I had video of that moment!!

"Meet and Greet" was officially over!! But, some still mingled around. Another photo opportunity!! My friend, Sue asked John if she could get a picture of me standing with him by the docks!! Poor guy!! He was probably getting very tired of all of this!!

"Didn’t we do this already, Beth?" "Sorry, John. You’ll have to talk to my friends!" His arms around me AGAIN! How much more can I take?? Much more!!! :-))

I caught up with Kathy, Damon and Kristin. We took a group photo....my new adopted family!! I love all of them!!

I saw John was standing over by his nephew, Colin. They were playing a game. "Okay, now put your hands together like this." "I’m going to take one on my hands and try to slap yours and you try to avoid it, okay?" Slap......slap......not quick enough Colin.....slap...slap......John teases, "Now this game will start to hurt your hands." No kidding!!

By now, the tent is almost vacated. I guess it’s time to get something to eat and do a little shopping before the 4 o’clock concert! We went to a few shops and lost Vicki in one of them!! I bought a postcard of the Newport Bridge. We ate lunch at the Red Parrot. Still no real appetite!! I wonder why?!

I looked at my watch......it’s almost 3 o’clock!! I want to get to the TORI tent!! I’ve got to get a better seat this time!! Oh no, I forgot that they were having a group who performed 60’s and 70’s songs. All the front row seats were taken. But that’s okay, I’ll just stand up next to the stage. That way I can get an excellent view!!

The Cowsills Reunion Concert Part 2!!

For the benefit of those who didn’t make Saturday’s concert, they started out with "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" again! Hey I didn’t care!!

I’m standing by the stage, singing and dancing, taking a lot more pictures!! Then I heard the notes to.....OMG....John’s going to do "Cryin"!! Bob told us on the message board that he wasn’t going to do it! That John sure is "a giver"!! He did that song just for us "John fans"!! What a guy!! Now I definitely need to get the video of Sunday’s performance!!

In between the sets, some of us went back out behind the tent area. I met and talked with Nanci Cowsill and took a pic of her kissing Tiffany on the cheek. Nanci is one beautiful and caring lady!! It was a pleasure to meet you, Nanci! I had my picture taken with Paul and Lou Ann. Those Cowsill wives are the greatest! Thanks for being so wonderful!

In the second set they did "We Can Fly" again, but this time with their Aunt Flo up on stage with them. Boy, you sure can tell that she is Barbara’s sister!! When they were done with "We Can Fly" Susan confesses, "Aunt Flo always asks me why we cry when we see her!!"" big sniff!! Barbara was definitely looking down on them tonight!!

"Could all the Cowsills kids please come up on stage!!" Tiffany, Brendon, Keira, Colin, Barbie, Marissa, Miranda, and the others I can’t remember got up on center stage. I know what they are going to do!! "HAIR!" The kids were so adorable!! They sang "and spaghetti" perfectly!! It can’t be over!! ENCORE!! ENCORE!!

One more time, they came back out on stage!! Paul sang "Shine" which I never heard before! Another song, one more!! ENCORE! ENCORE!! "There’s a place I remember, feels so long ago...." It was "Some Good Years"!! Bob said they didn’t rehearse it very much, but it sounded wonderful!! Mary Jo was on stage for all of the song....she too has a wonderful voice!!

The music was over!! The tears started flowing!! My dream has ended....or has it!! I waited 30 years to see this wonderful, talented group again and it’s over!! It was a mixture of happy and sad tears!! Some of the Hairheads stood together sobbing. You are the greatest!! Thanks friends, I needed those hugs!

Again, we were out behind the tent area waiting to see what everyone was going to do next.

The subject of going to hear Barry perform again at the Narragansett Cafe was being discussed!! Well, of course, I wanted to go this time!! And even better yet....Bob, Paul, Rich, Bill, Susan and Robby were going too!! John probably wouldn’t be there though!! That’s okay!! I’m a big Barryfan now!!

So back to HoJo’s to change!! I rode with Damon, Kathy and JaneR to the Narragansett!! As we were walking up the street, I noticed all the C’s and their families over by the dock. They wanted some private time so we accommodated them. Inside there were lots of Hairheads! Jo, her sister Cheryl, Barb, Connie, Tracy, Kathy, Norma, Eileen, Cathi......etc. Barry came up to me again and gave me a hug. However, this time a kiss on the cheek and he whispered, "Beth, you’re not a fan anymore. You’re a friend!" Awesome guy that Barry! He sure knows how to get into your heart!!

Barry sang a few songs. Bob played drums and did an excellent job. Eddie Starr sang "Beautiful Beige" with Susan. Paul’s son Brendon sang a couple songs. Marilynn Manfree sang a few. Terrific job Eddie and Marilynn! Everyone sounded wonderful. The night got even better!! John did show up!! I was very content! I just enjoyed his presence!!

Since I was riding home with Louise and Gary, they wanted to get going. I went in and hugged Barb, Tracy, Jo, Cheryl, Kathy, Jane and anyone else who wanted to hug! Then I went over to say goodbye to Barry! "What?? You can’t leave! What are you old or something?" "Hey, watch it!! You’re two years older than me!" Then another kiss on each cheek!! sigh I won’t see them again for awhile!! But it was definitely A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE!!