I had the good fortune to met and know Rory Gallagher for years. (we
met in the early Seventies). I used to go to a club in Cleveland Ohio
called the Agora. I was talked into going to the club by a friend who
just wanted to "go out". I was up in the front as always. When Rory
started to play..I was mesmerized to the point that I couldn't take my
eyes off him.
Towards the end, I noticed a roadie keeping his eyes on me. He
wanted to make sure I didn't get away. When the show ended, this young
roadie ran up to me and said "How would you like to meet Rory
Gallagher?" I said "Yes" so fast that it made my brain spin. I walked
backstage with the friend I came with..Dixie Emory. She got his
autograph first and just walked away. I got mine next and shook his
hand. He just couldn't stop smiling at me. As I started to pull away, I
noticed he wasn't letting go of my hand, Iooked down at our clinched
hands and up into his bluer than blue eyes. I had a smile on my face
that wouldn't end. He had the same smile. I knew what he wanted. He
wasn't about to let go of my hand until I kissed him. I moved slowly
towards him. I made sure as I moved my hand to the right of
him..(trying not to touch any private area) I kissed him on the cheek.
Before I had the chance to let go of him he had pulled me back into his
arms and kissed me back. He had my heart from the get go. I belonged to
him from that day forward. Once I told him my name he never forget it.
By the way, I read the story about Marianne Murphy ( see story
#15). I know her too, she's a friend. pen pals, we talk on the phone a
lot. We share stories about Rory all of the time. Rory will forever be
the sweetest memory of my life. We lost track of each other the last
years of his life and the grief nearly killed me. I have a bookcase in
my den in honor of Rory. I still have the guitar slide he gave to me
decades back.
Dwana Horner