About 14 Christmas's ago, my Mom had this smile on her face when she said, "I've got one more gift for you."
I unwrapped a very beautiful Washburn acoustic guitar - personally autographed across the front by Phil Keaggy.
If you ask most in-the-know guitar players to list the best of the best, Phil Keaggy will be at or near the top of their all time list, usually ahead of Jimi Hendrix. He's also one of the most prolific, beloved Christian recording artists of the last 30 years, and still a must-see-live performer. My mom had been at the local Christian book store to buy Phil's latest CD, "True Believers."
By coincidence, Phil was scheduled for an in-store appearance. Knowing my love for Phil's music (my first Christian album was also his first, 1976's "What a Day" ) mom decided to wait for Phil to show up and sign the CD.
She waited over an hour, but sure enough Phil appeared. Maybe a little surprised to have a grandma waiting for a signed copy of his Christian rock-genre music, Phil signed the face of the CD, "To Tom - Your Mom is #1 in Line."
The store owners were tickled by my mom's enthusiasm and told her to stay for the name drawing, one lucky winner to get the signed Washburn guitar. So my dear, sweet mother, with Christmas to prepare for and countless other errands to run, cooled her heels while Phil stayed and signed autographs. But sure enough, her name was called and she again got to chat with Phil.
"Your Tom's mom, you were first in line," is how mom explained the story amidst the family pandemonium and joy over my receipt of that very, very treasured gift of a lifetime.
Last night we drove four hours round trip to again see Phil in concert. Our tickets included a backstage opportunity to shake hands and snap a few photos. Each person seemed to have a especially favorite song or memory to share and Phil listened patiently, kindly and with a genuine warmth for his fans.
"You might not remember this Phil, but you signed a guitar for my mom many years ago - she was #1 in line and you signed that on a CD."
I'm not sure Phil recalled that exact moment among his storied career highlights, but he quickly asked, "and how is your mom?"
I hesitated for a moment, aware that we weren't the last in line to meet Phil, and his concert curtain only 15 minutes away.
"She's got cancer, Phil, and she's getting ready for hospice care. But she's still hanging in there."
Like an old friend of the family, Phil's diminutive form sagged a little, and I saw in those crinkling, kindly empathetic eyes that this is a man whose ministry goes far beyond CD's and concert tickets.
Our family stood beside Phil for one last photograph and he held out his index finger to form the #1. Conversations stopped for a moment and people leaned in a little to listen as Phil smiled and said,
"This is for Dolores, she's number one!"
