Excuse me, but stuff happens that causes other stuff to happen, and it makes your day. At the risk of sounding like a starstruck groupie, I offer this.
I was sitting at my computer earlier this evening when the phone rang. Before I tell you who was on the other end of the line, let me skip back in time and preface things by relating to you a few of my actions that resulted in this particular phone call. A couple of days ago, Monday, Jan. 18th, 1999, I decided that I needed to update my ever growing inventory of everything VAI. So I headed out to the WWW site that also happens to be everything VAI. Saw the new “Alien Love Secrets” DVD was on sale… hmmmm. I have the CD already… I don’t own a DVD player… still gotta have it though, don’t I? Of course I do. So I order the DVD and a subscription to GKS as well, something else I’ve been meaning to do for some time. I’m golden!
So I’m buying a DVD player just for this. Can you think of a better reason? Me neither.
Now it’s Wednesday, and I’m really impatient when it comes to stuff like this, so I got to thinking about how long it would take for the DVD to get here… my first issue of GKS… oh… I can’t stand not knowing! So I fire off an email asking about the shipping status of orders cause I’m an impatient maroon. Just the thought of knowing I’d asked the question seemed to ease the anxiety somewhat, but not totally. There was still something else that needed to be done. So, I went back to Steve’s site and ordered the Vai Signature Licks Book/CD as an afterthought to my first order. I got this brilliant idea that if I start now ordering things every few days, I’ll have a steady stream of incoming Vai goodies for a little while… sweeet! And I scoped another item to order in another couple of days to help bring my brilliant idea to fruition.
Anyhow, this really helped satisfy the inner demon crying for more Vai stuff. I felt better. So, I went on about my business. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t thinking anything in particular at the time the phone rang. I answered it. But as I always answer my phone I simultaneously looked at the caller ID message on the phone.
A sudden rush of amazement came over me as I read the name. No it wasn’t Steve… but the name was of someone very close to him. RUTA SEPETYS. Wooaahh! Being the Vai fan that I am, I instantly recognized the name. If you don’t know, you should. As I’m saying hello, I’m trying to figure out why she or someone from Light Without Heat, as she didn’t give her name, was calling, and also at the same time realizing that whoever this was, was probably someone that has some direct communication with Steve. What would I like to say to Steve if I had the chance and it might actually make it to him? Man, lots of possibilities on this one. As it turns out she was calling to confirm my order information and let me know that they would be going out tomorrow. I must admit I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t a call to be his second guitarist on the next tour. I guess that Keneally guy wins again! He deserves it – we think you’re cute too Mike!
I’m also thinking as this very brief conversation is taking place how cool it is that someone from LWH was actually taking the time to call me. In today’s world, it just doesn’t happen. I’ve ordered many things from many places, and never received a confirmation phone call from any individual/company/whatever, even when there was a problem. Now, I can only guess as to whether the e-mail I sent off only a couple of hours earlier had triggered this call. Regardless of that, I was just totally impressed and it only furthers my belief that everything that is VAI, is in fact VAI. Steve’s obvious love and passion for what he does, as well as that for his fans and fellow human beings, shows through in everything he does. From the amazing music he releases to us, to the actual machine behind the scenes that makes it all come together. A total 100% class act. It just doesn’t get any better than this, kids. Steve, you should know that the people working for you are the best on the planet I’m sure. Of course, how could they be anything less. Anyhow, when all was confirmed and the conversation was about to end, I quickly scanned my memory banks for that one quick message I could politely ask her to relay to Steve… fearing I’d miss my chance I said the only thing that made sense.
I said… Thank you.
Michael Timothy Biondolillo