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My Story
The movie, True
Grit, was filmed in Ridgway, Colorado. To honor 100 years of John
Wayne, Ridgway held it's first annual True Grit Days festival
September 8th and 9th, 2007. When I found out Johnny Crawford would
be there, I had to go!
It's a beautiful area near the San Juan mountains with
a small town feel. The festival was held in the town park. The
weather couldn't have been more perfect with the bright sunshine and
gentle breeze. There were people dressed in period outfits and John
Wayne impersonators too. I sat at a picnic table about 50 feet from
where Johnny Crawford and Kim Darby sat signing autographs. It was
so relaxing, listening to the live music, chatting with the others
at the table, and watching Johnny interact with the people in line.
Angie Dickenson would be out to sign autographs later. I kept
thinking I'd get in line when it died down some. It never did.
I was so impressed with how personable he was. He took
the time to answer questions and be genuinely friendly with
everyone. At one point he came around the table and squatted down to
have his picture taken with a fan's two dogs she had brought with
her. He hugged one up in each arm. I thought that was so sweet of
him. However, all this extra time he was willing to take with each
person caused the line to move very slowly. He and Kim had been
scheduled for 1 1/2 hours for the first session. They had gone over
by 15 minutes and there was still quite a line left. The security
guards finally had to just cut if off and let Johnny and Kim take a
break so Angie could come out. I was beginning to worry I had missed
my chance.
I had come to the park just a little over dressed in my
dress slacks and heels. Everyone was very casual in their shorts and
jeans. Even Johnny was in jeans and a simple t-shirt. I decided to
rush back to my hotel room and dress down. I changed into jeans and
tennis shoes. All the way back I kept thinking, "Please Lord! Please
just let me make it through this last line. Please give me just 30
seconds. I've come so far! Please let me get through the line."
Angie Dickenson was still signing autographs when I
arrived. I went straight to the end of the existing line, which
wasn't very long at this point. It was time for Angie to be
finishing up any minute and I was confident I would easily make it
to the front within the hour that Johnny and Kim would be spending
in the second session. After the celebrities changed places, I
noticed the line seemed to be moving faster and I was getting very
close to the table. Before I reached it, a security guard asked me
what I wanted autographed and I showed him my booklet. He took it
and gave it to Kim to sign and then handed it back. I wasn't even in
front of her yet. I could tell the security people were trying to
rush things this time. Before, they didn't appear to have taken an
active part in the process. I was close enough now to overhear
Johnny ask another security person what time this session was
supposed to go to. I believe the guard told him 5:00. Johnny asked,
"Is there a reason we have to stop then?" The guard told him that
was what they were scheduled for. I could tell Johnny was concerned
about anyone being left out this time. What a wonderful person.
It was finally my turn! I handed Johnny the booklet
that Kim had signed and he signed it with a fine tipped marker they
were using. Then I handed him my 27" by 41" theater poster that was
folded to the spot I wanted him to autograph. He asked, "What's
this?" I told him it was my Broncho Billy poster. He wanted to see
it so we unfolded the large poster. I wouldn't have missed his
expression for anything. His face lit up when he saw it. "Wow!" he
said, "Look Kim!" She looked over at the poster. The guard standing next to him, and
others near by were leaning over to get a better look. "This is
rare!", Johnny said. I agreed and told him I snatched it up when I
saw it. I had been prizing it ever since I bought it off ebay.
"I brought it all the way from Georgia."
"From Georgia?!" Johnny seemed impressed. He was really
making my day. "Where do you want me to sign?" I showed him the area
and asked if he would us the sharpie I brought. It had a fatter tip
and I thought it would look better. I figured they'd be using ink
pens so I came prepared. After all, this poster was very special to
me.
He asked my name, which caught me off guard. I thought
he'd just sign his name. After a quick clumsy pause, I
told him my name and because it's unusual, I slowly spelled it - G I
N I A. He repeated the letters back to make sure he had them right
and then said, "Interesting name." I was so thrilled to be talking
to him and showing him my poster. Mostly I was very happy to see how
pleased he was that I brought it. Most of the people there were
locals and they were buying the True Grit festival poster that was
available at the park to be autographed. Seeing mine probably
sparked a lot of memories for him.
I saw him write To Ginia - then he paused like he was
thinking. I said, "You can just sign your name. That would be
great." He proceeded to write much more. I couldn't read it because
it was upside down to me, but this was far more than I expected. I
wondered what it could possibly say. At about that point the
security guard standing next to him looked at me and said that would
be $20. I thought he was joking with me since I had not seen anyone
else pay any money. I joked back and said, "I'd pay a hundred
dollars!" From the corner of my eye I saw Johnny suddenly look up at
me. Not looking straight at him, I believe it was surprise. I don't
know how to interpret it. I hope he didn't think I was trying to be
a show off or anything.
With a huge smile I thanked Johnny and started to fold
the poster with the freshly written area to the outside. This was
against the original folds, but I didn't want the ink to smear. He
quickly reached out for the poster and said, "No, that folds to
the inside!" He wanted to make sure I didn't mess up the creases
doing it wrong. Johnny started folding the poster very
carefully, which
was a little difficult because of the size, and I was worried about
it getting messed up too. I couldn't help but smile at all the
effort he was taking to protect it. Now that I think about it, I
guess he feels it is a part of himself.
While all this was going on, the guard repeated the
charge of $20. I realized he was serious. I didn't know if I had $20 on
me or not. My mind was racing, trying to recall how I had spent
today's cash and what might be left, as I reached into my pants
pocket. I pulled out the bills that were in it. Whew! There was a
twenty dollar bill. I handed it to the guard. I had never been to an
autograph event like this and had no idea it was customary to pay
for a celebrities signature. Just call me naive. I think, maybe purchasing the event's
poster allowed for a free signature, but I don't know for sure. I
knew that proceeds from the event were going towards the John Wayne
Cancer Foundation.
With the task of folding the poster over, I reached out
to pick up my sharpie from the table. Johnny obviously thought I was
reaching to shake his hand so he reached out and shook mine. I
giggled and said, "No, I was reaching for my pen. This one is
yours... but you can keep this for a souvenir if you want." What was
I saying? I was embarrassed as soon as it out of my mouth. He
gave me a kind of bewildered look, like he didn't know how he should
respond. I laughed and made a motion that I was just kidding. I was
nervous and my adrenaline was running sky high. I kept thanking him
as I carried my treasure away from the table. I hope whenever he
thinks back on my souvenir offer he chuckles to himself.
Finding a vacant spot in the shade, I carefully
unfolded the poster on the grass to see what he had written. It
read:
To Ginia -
Hold on to your dreams!
Johnny Crawford '07
My heart was about to burst. He had no idea of the things that had
happened recently in my life; how I had lost my mother about a month
earlier; how life was beginning to take new paths; how I was now
reaching towards dreams that before I wouldn't have thought
possible. I had to fight back the tears. He has no idea how this
simple gesture has touched me. He couldn't have written anything
more perfect and fitting for me. It was exactly what I needed at
that time and a wind beneath my wings.
From each person I tell about Johnny's response to my
Broncho Billy poster, I'm told I made his day. If that is true, I'm
so thankful that I did, but it can't compare to how he made mine!
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