I was met with whistles as rich and I walked back into my room, my mom had a smile a mile wide and tears in her eyes. She walked over to me and kissed me and held my face and kept calling me her baby over and over.
Rich saw my discomfort and moved to the door to distracted my mom,
"so, that's us then I guess, you ready Jonny?" I nodded so my mom would release me from her gentle embrace. she did and wished me luck, then Dot leant in and kissed me and said
"I'll see you tomorrow and you can tell me all about it. and Jon, behave ok?, we want no relapses" again I nodded. I just wished I could have walked like every one else, I was not comfortable having to go in the wheelchair, but if I wanted to attend the award that was the only way it would happen, so I sat waiting.
Rich wedged the door open and came back for me, and got behind my chair, "so you ready for the ride of your life bro?" I looked up and back at him, "You bet your sweet ass I am." "Right lets go!" Both Rich and I saluted to my mom and Dot as Rich set off at a fast pace out of the rehab centre to the waiting limo.
As I got in, Teek and Dave were all ready inside. "Hey Jon, you look smart." the banter started. "Do I?"
"Yeah, your not as good looking at me though."
"Is that right Dave"
"well yeah, one I'm younger than you, 2, I'm more sexy than you,..."
I couldn't help myself and finished his next sentence for him..." and three, you have a bigger head than me..." Teek laughed, "that told you. seriously you look good jon."
"Thanks Teek, I feel great, just wish I could walk.... it's embarrassing being in the chair ya know?"
"Why?"
"cause, well it is... I hate being treated like a cripple... especially when I can walk... I feel a fraud..."
"Jon, man, are you for real?, you have been at deaths door and have recovered to be here where you are today and your worried because you still need the aid of a chair?"
"It's not about worrying Teek... " I thought on what I wanted to say, but before I could answer
"It's not about worrying Teek... " I thought on what I wanted to say, but before I could answer
Dave joined in too, "Man how you think people cope when they have to use one forever cause they are paralysed?, sorry Jon but your being ungrateful."
Then Rich carried on, " I guess it's not cool right as far as the Bon Jovi image goes, aint that it Jon?."
"no that's not it at all Rich, look I've worked so hard to get where I am, I just think I deserve being able to stand on my own two feet now... that's all..."
"no that's not it at all Rich, look I've worked so hard to get where I am, I just think I deserve being able to stand on my own two feet now... that's all..."
"well as good as your doing Doc say's chair so I'm going with that... and no what, so are you Jon, so please stop whining ok, lets enjoy the night..." the guy's second Rich, which left me out numbered and having to ride with it.
thankfully spirits were high and the banter started again, and continued until we reached the venue.
The limo pulled up kerbside, Rich lent forward and spoke to the driver, it was decided that he will get the chair from the trunk and set it up passenger side, then Rich could push me round to join Dave and teek as they got out on to the red carpet. Dave and Teek nodded and agreed to wait until Rich tapped on the window to tell them to get out, that way we all arrived together.
The car rocked and the drivers door slammed as he went to the trunk, in a minute the chair was along side the door and it was time to make my move. The door opened and Rich got out first then assisted me to stand before getting me settled in my chair. "You want the throw on your legs?" rich had my reply I just gave him the stink eye, "I guess not" he laughed " so you ready" "Yeah, I'm ready, lets do this.."
Rich tapped the window and then pushed me round to the red carpet, like clock work we met with Dave and Teek, together with the flashing of camera's and press. We all posed briefly before moving along to the entrance.
The TV crew and TV camera's were set up by the entrance all trying to catch a word with the bands as they entered. Rich lent down, "you wanna go straight past?" "Yeah" I was not ready for the intimate questions they would ask, just in front of us was Bono from U2, Rich caught his attention and he hung back to chat, allowing Areosmith and Steve to have their moment first.
"Yo Jon, good to see you, how's it hanging?"
"Good thanks, getting better. Listen can you do me a favour?"
He nodded, "Sure"
"Can you distract the TV crew I want to slip by them, I'm not ready for there questions yet?" he lent down and hugged me, "You know me Jon, I'll do what I can for yer." his thick Irish accent, confusing Rich and the guy's, if I'm honest I only understood small bits he said too, but I was sure he would do as I asked. He took off and caught up with his band mates, while we hung back a little until he was next to face the camera crews, then we moved faster than road runner and went inside without any questions.
The venue was fancy and in true American style dressed out for an award ceremony not befitting the Oscars, I smiled to myself as we were lead to our table. We were on the middle table G which was centre to the stage, to the left there was a ramp, useful considering I was in a wheel chair, as directly in front of the table and leading to the stage were ten steps.
Dave, Teek and Rich were talking among themselves taking in the atmosphere, I too was absorbing the surroundings but making notes as to who was on our table. Michael Jackson had been honoured with a nomination and don't get me wrong he is a brilliant entertainer but when we met sometime ago, we didn't exactly hit it off, reason why I'll not go into, lets just say I was relieved to not see his name on my table or on the tables next to us.
It turned out we were sitting with Bono, Steve Tyler, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and Cher. We were the first to arrive the others arrived in dribs and drabs shortly after.
The start of the awards, the lights dimmed and we were asked to put our hands together for the host of the evening Robin Williams. Whoops and cheers greeted him as he took to the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you, I can't tell you what an honour it is for me to be here tonight to present these awards, so I won't..."immediate laughter and for ten minutes more Robin carried on building the audience, he only stopped the gags when he knew the audience were with him one hundred percent, then he began his job of presenting.
" Tonight as we all sit among music legends, there is one man that has fought harder than anyone to be here tonight,..... he has over come a near death experience, and thankfully won, so ladies and gentlemen, honoured music maestros please be upstanding and put your hands together for the one and only Mr Jon Bon Jovi"
the spotlight hit me front and centre, my heart was beating widely in my chest, but ever the professional I just waved my arms to the camera's and the crowds who were clapping and cheering, praying that they would move on quickly. they didn't however and it carried on for what seemed like forever.
As the clapping died down and the spotlight left, I held my head down in shame, and I wished to god that I had never come, the last thing I wanted was pity and from where I was sitting that is what I was getting, the smooze and smaltz.... I turned to Richie,
"Can you get me outta here?"
he looked at me with a puzzled expression, and asked "What?"
I could not answer him loud enough as they had already starting with the presentations and the noise from the audience had hit deafening proportions, defeated I just sat back and watched the awards unfold, now praying we did not have to go on stage and accept one, now, I really did not want us to win.
thankfully spirits were high and the banter started again, and continued until we reached the venue.
The limo pulled up kerbside, Rich lent forward and spoke to the driver, it was decided that he will get the chair from the trunk and set it up passenger side, then Rich could push me round to join Dave and teek as they got out on to the red carpet. Dave and Teek nodded and agreed to wait until Rich tapped on the window to tell them to get out, that way we all arrived together.
The car rocked and the drivers door slammed as he went to the trunk, in a minute the chair was along side the door and it was time to make my move. The door opened and Rich got out first then assisted me to stand before getting me settled in my chair. "You want the throw on your legs?" rich had my reply I just gave him the stink eye, "I guess not" he laughed " so you ready" "Yeah, I'm ready, lets do this.."
Rich tapped the window and then pushed me round to the red carpet, like clock work we met with Dave and Teek, together with the flashing of camera's and press. We all posed briefly before moving along to the entrance.
The TV crew and TV camera's were set up by the entrance all trying to catch a word with the bands as they entered. Rich lent down, "you wanna go straight past?" "Yeah" I was not ready for the intimate questions they would ask, just in front of us was Bono from U2, Rich caught his attention and he hung back to chat, allowing Areosmith and Steve to have their moment first.
"Yo Jon, good to see you, how's it hanging?"
"Good thanks, getting better. Listen can you do me a favour?"
He nodded, "Sure"
"Can you distract the TV crew I want to slip by them, I'm not ready for there questions yet?" he lent down and hugged me, "You know me Jon, I'll do what I can for yer." his thick Irish accent, confusing Rich and the guy's, if I'm honest I only understood small bits he said too, but I was sure he would do as I asked. He took off and caught up with his band mates, while we hung back a little until he was next to face the camera crews, then we moved faster than road runner and went inside without any questions.
The venue was fancy and in true American style dressed out for an award ceremony not befitting the Oscars, I smiled to myself as we were lead to our table. We were on the middle table G which was centre to the stage, to the left there was a ramp, useful considering I was in a wheel chair, as directly in front of the table and leading to the stage were ten steps.
Dave, Teek and Rich were talking among themselves taking in the atmosphere, I too was absorbing the surroundings but making notes as to who was on our table. Michael Jackson had been honoured with a nomination and don't get me wrong he is a brilliant entertainer but when we met sometime ago, we didn't exactly hit it off, reason why I'll not go into, lets just say I was relieved to not see his name on my table or on the tables next to us.
It turned out we were sitting with Bono, Steve Tyler, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and Cher. We were the first to arrive the others arrived in dribs and drabs shortly after.
The start of the awards, the lights dimmed and we were asked to put our hands together for the host of the evening Robin Williams. Whoops and cheers greeted him as he took to the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you, I can't tell you what an honour it is for me to be here tonight to present these awards, so I won't..."immediate laughter and for ten minutes more Robin carried on building the audience, he only stopped the gags when he knew the audience were with him one hundred percent, then he began his job of presenting.
" Tonight as we all sit among music legends, there is one man that has fought harder than anyone to be here tonight,..... he has over come a near death experience, and thankfully won, so ladies and gentlemen, honoured music maestros please be upstanding and put your hands together for the one and only Mr Jon Bon Jovi"
the spotlight hit me front and centre, my heart was beating widely in my chest, but ever the professional I just waved my arms to the camera's and the crowds who were clapping and cheering, praying that they would move on quickly. they didn't however and it carried on for what seemed like forever.
As the clapping died down and the spotlight left, I held my head down in shame, and I wished to god that I had never come, the last thing I wanted was pity and from where I was sitting that is what I was getting, the smooze and smaltz.... I turned to Richie,
"Can you get me outta here?"
he looked at me with a puzzled expression, and asked "What?"
I could not answer him loud enough as they had already starting with the presentations and the noise from the audience had hit deafening proportions, defeated I just sat back and watched the awards unfold, now praying we did not have to go on stage and accept one, now, I really did not want us to win.
