Forty Years Later

First, let me say that I’m a bit sketchy about the exact year of this memory, but certain about all the rest.
 At the time of this memory the Police Benevolent Association for the three county area making up the Greater Tampa Bay Area (Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco) sponsored a Christmas Show featuring big name country stars yearly.  Like clockwork I would get the call from them to buy tickets and I would buy.  When the call came that year they said they were doing something different and then they said that Fabian would be emceeing the show.  I nearly squealed with delight and assured them I wanted two tickets for sure.
 Back in his teenage prime Fabian was gorgeous and like most teen girls of the era I was a fan.  Though even then I knew he was far from a fantastic singer, but he was easy on the eyes and his story made your heart melt.  Most everyone from back then knew that he only got into the business because his father was ill and unable to work, and as the oldest of three boys he accepted the offer from talent scouts to make him a Teen Idol as a means to aid his family financially.  He was fifteen at the time. 
 Nearly forty years later I was a kid again as we waited for his appearance.  Armed with binoculars for a real close-up look, I wasn’t disappointed when he stepped on stage.  Yes, he looked older (age happens), but he was as gorgeous as ever in his maturity.  He sang, he told stories, and he made us laugh at him and ourselves.  What a wonderful evening it was.  Other performers graced us with songs old and new as well, which we enjoyed thoroughly, but it was Fabian I came to see and I’ll never forget it.

 Fabian has always said that he went into show business because his family needed the money and that his biggest regret is that he started too soon and hit too big too early.
 I think the timing was perfect.