The Disclaimer: This Should be Good

 I feel that it is 100% oh-so necessary to give a full and complete disclaimer before I start the next series of blogs which will inevitably bring some controversy as well as some finger pointing my way.  There will folks who shout out "I knew it!" and others who will proclaim "Well, I knew something was up, I just didn't know what, but there she was!" Those are my favorite.  The tales and truths I'll be unleashing soon will be about the many (so very many) times I have found myself wondering if I could actually meet this or that person; if I could actually make it happen.  I have to tell you, there hasn't been a time yet that I haven't met the person I have set my mind to meet. The one I'm about to meet is possibly a bit clueless about the means and ways of my methods, but alas, I promise not to scare him too badly. Besides, not a single person I've set my mind to meet has been injured by said meeting - - some have fled; but most have been really fun...and now, the DISCLAIMER:

    "The story(ies) you are about to read regarding the various means, methods, and ways, I Jude Leigh Stringfellow, have come to meet (in person, over the wires, through glass walls, and/or through letters) are absolutely true. I will by necessity leave out some of the details in order to protect the innocent, if there are any innocents. I don't want to embarrass or harass anyone who may or may not wish to be called out in my blogs, but if I find it necessary to be honest I will in fact be honest. Most of the times I stayed within the boundaries of the laws of any given state or country; but there were times, I will admit, that I did not. I do know that no felonies were committed during such times, and I believe the Statutes of Limitations have all run out by today's date, which is May 3, 2022.  Any and all instances where I feel it is necessary to change the name of an individual I may do so, but I may also make it rather obvious as well. I don't think it will be too hard to figure out if you were party to, or knew someone who was party to the situation. AGAIN, NO ONE was injured and no major laws were broken; just a girl having fun with her silly thoughts and incredibly forward thinking and in some cases, her overt and blunt actions."

    I really should write another Blog Book and include more than 100 people I've met by hook or crook. I could start with the actor (and incredibly good looking man) John Richard Schneider, the one and only "Bo Duke".  I met John in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972. I was not quite 11, he was 19.  He was camp the counselor. Who knew he would grow up to be famous and so very wonderful? Well, I knew he sang and played guitar. I knew he loved dogs, and I knew he drove fast cars even before he became the more attractive Duke cousin for Warner Brothers television show "The Dukes of Hazzard". If I had to guess I'd say meeting John the first time was a fluke, but the second time was a bit more tricky.  I was about 21 by then, and by that time collecting rock stars, politicians, folk singers and other famous people was old hat.  It's a good story; one he'll remember. I think we both laughed about it.

    Over the course of my life I'd say I've been interested in meeting people, but I've never made a thing about it. I don't pose for photos with people just to say I've met them. No, that's not me. I look for ways to help them or service them, and even have them invite me to meet with them which is always better in the long run.  Now my mind is thinking and racing really fast -- I got my poor mother involved a few times. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith called for a meeting with my counter persona Judi Wise, who I pretended to be when I needed to be a venue producer.  Tyler spoke with Mom for about six minutes before leaving his number (this was before caller ID) and he was pleased to know the very busy Judi Wise had such a loyal and efficient secretary.  That Becky! I sure loved all the fun we had, let me tell you. How many secretaries do you know who will swat their boss on the backside before giving them their phone messages? (It was the late 70's, c'mon.) 

    It's gonna be fun I tell ya.  I think I'll make the list tonight to keep me grounded. I have to do this either in chronological order or close to it to make the most sense.  Because I worked for myself as a music producer under the hand of a real venue producer, I was able to meet hundreds of bands, which equals over thousands of artists; then there were the actors when I went out West.  James Garner was my real and actual boss!  You don't get better than that folks, no you don't. There is no disclaimer there. Everything was on the up and up - - he was even standing on top of a table singing one of my favorite songs "Boomer Sooner".  It was bound to happen.  After the actors came the politicians, and then the soldiers!  When you own a very very very famous dog you meet a few really cool people, so I guess God was just warming the world up for the finale which was Faith. (Google Faith the two-legged dog. She was really really awesome.)

    There we go, let's get this puppy off the ground. Tomorrow I begin, and I think I'll have to be as honest as I can be so I can impress my kids because I did all of this without the internet, without a cell phone, without a car in a lot of cases! GEEZ...all I can say is, God is so good!  I'm still standing....and yes, I met Elton John too. I said that because I said "I'm still standing" and it reminded me of Elton's songs. I need to go before I start telling that story and I need to hold back - - this may be harder than I thought. So many memories, so many smiles. My goodness. Yes, tomorrow. John Schneider; you're first buddy!

Photo Credit: Me. (19 years old, and full of piss and vinegar for sure)